Eco-tourism & Hospitality

Hiring: Lodge Manager
Lodge: Great Bear Lodge
Location: Remote fly-in Lodge, departing from northern Vancouver Island. Candidates from anywhere in Canada are welcome to apply. Other positions: Great Bear

Great Bear Lodge is seeking a highly motivated candidate to work as the Lodge Manager at our ecotourism lodge on the central coast of British Columbia, in the traditional lands of the Gwa’sala-‘Nakwaxda’xw Nation. We host people from around the world to see the grizzly bears of the Great Bear Rainforest, and are proud to be part of the conservation economy in BC. If you have seen a video on social media of a whale bubble-feeding right next to a dock full of delighted people, that’s us!

There are 2 options for this position: the first is a seasonal option based at the lodge from mid-April until the end of October, and the second is a year-round option based at the lodge in season and wherever you like out of season.

Option 1: Seasonal (salary $48,000)

During season, you are the person that ensures that everything runs smoothly. Simple, right? That includes tasks such as:

• hiring and mentoring team members
• acting as onsite host for the guests
• managing external contractors
• ensuring supplies are being ordered
• trouble shooting maintenance issues
• communicating with our office in Port Hardy
• identifying and implementing changes that can improve the experience for guests and staff
• setting the daily schedule
• filling in where the team needs it
• basic operation of power/water systems

Option 2: Year-round (salary $75,000, negotiable based on experience, extended health and dental benefits, 6 weeks annual leave).

Your responsibilities during season are the same as for Option 1. During the off season, tasks include:

• recruiting
• planning for the upcoming season
• marketing
• applying for grants
• general business administration
• covering reservations for office staff
• liaising with First Nations, government, owners, etc.

For both options, accommodation and meals are provided while at the lodge, and you will get a share of gratuities. During season, you will work an average of 18 days at the lodge, then 6 days off, although we are open to other schedules. (We fly you to and from Port Hardy, which is a 30-minute floatplane flight). There is a staff apartment in Port Hardy for you to use. We’ll be there to give you lots of support, training you in everything you need to know and supporting your learning curve.

Ideally you will have:

• experience in tourism
• experience in leading a team
• great communication skills
• comfort on a computer

But more importantly, we are seeking someone who is:

• smart
• enjoys seeing results through their hard work
• likes learning
• likes solving problems
• is a great communicator
• gets along really well with people

And you would be really excited to ensure that the lodge continues to provide a world-class wildlife tourism experience. This is a great opportunity for someone from ecotourism to move into management. Or maybe you lead a team in another industry and would love the opportunity to live and work in the sublime Great Bear Rainforest.

If you would like to apply, please send a cover letter with 3 references to Tom’s attention at: info@greatbeartours.com . Please mention that you saw this on GoodWork.ca. There is no deadline for applications, we will be assessing applications as we receive them. If you are interested in the position and would like to hear more details to see if you would be a good fit, reach out in an email.

The team at the lodge includes owner Tom Rivest, who manages the bear viewing and oversees general operations, lodge manager, chef, housekeeper, relief chef/housekeeper, 1-2 lodge helpers, and 4-5 bear guides. The lodge manager will report to Tom and Marg Leehane (general manager). The floating lodge hosts 10-18 guests from May through October, flying them by seaplane from Port Hardy on Vancouver Island for a 3-night stay at the lodge. Guests go out on three safaris/activities each day, returning to the lodge for wilderness-gourmet meals and eco-chic accommodations.

Our ethos is threefold: to safely view bears in a natural setting while eliminating or minimizing impact on them, to make every aspect of our operation as sustainable as possible (from hydroelectricity to solar panels to green cleaning products), and to deliver a world-class wildlife tourism experience. Great Bear Lodge is a founding member of the Commercial Bear Viewing Association, and helped developed the best practices for bear viewing in BC.