Kayak Tour Guide Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Find Your Future in Paradise!
Catalina Island Company welcomes all guests and visitors to our very special island. Beyond being warm and courteous, our exceptional team members are knowledgeable and helpful - anticipating and personalizing their service on an individualized basis.
We seek individuals like YOU to create the finest personal service and extraordinary experiences for our guests.
WHY CATALINA ISLAND COMPANY?
The Catalina Island Company offers more than just a workplace - it is a destination for service, adventure and inspiration!
In 1919, chewing gum entrepreneur William Wrigley Jr. bought nearly every share of the Santa Catalina Island Company until he owned a controlling interest. He then invested millions in his vision to create a "playground for all" on Catalina Island, building infrastructure, a reservoir, Hotel Atwater, Bird Park, and other attractions. In 1921, he made Avalon the Spring Training home of his beloved Chicago Cub's, building the Catalina Country Club to house the team's lockers and provide a gathering place for players. The team continued to train on the island until 1951. In 1929, Wrigley built the iconic Catalina Casino, which boasts the world's largest circular ballroom and the first theatre designed and built to show talking motion pictures. During World War II, the island served as a military training facility and was closed to tourists. The island was a popular spot with Hollywood's elite during the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. It also became a popular location for production companies to shoot movies. More than 500 films, documentaries, commercials, and TV shows have been shot in and around Catalina over the years, especially in Two Harbors on the island's west end. To this day, descendants of William Wrigley Jr. still own the Catalina Island Company and carry on his vision to create a world-class island resort.
We are a welcoming community that believes in fostering a positive, team-oriented atmosphere where every team member plays a part in creating unforgettable memories for our guests. Join a team that is as vibrant, dynamic, and unique as the island itself!
JOB SUMMARY
As a Descanso Beach Ocean Sports team member, you are responsible for a variety of day-to-day operations tasks. Ensure that daily operations are running smoothly and efficiently and are available for guests to participate on a seasonal basis. Responsible for working together with team members to complete all daily tasks, and for ensuring that tours & activities are operated in a safe and effective environment to provide the highest level of quality rentals & tours for our guests.
JOB RESPONSIBILITIES
Job duties include, but are not limited to:

• Flexible position including working in the rental booth, safety orientations, land & launch kayaks, cleaning rental equipment & being a kayak tour guide
• Must be able to lift and move kayaks (60-90 lbs)
• Update tour board with daily tours offered, daily observations & tides
• Set up POS for daily rentals & knowledge of guest waiver requirements
• Use of Fareharbor for booking daily rentals/tours and for overnight camping rentals
• Maintain a clean & orderly work area, ensuring all tools and equipment are well maintained
• Communicating any rental gear deficiencies to supervisors
• Provide excellent customer service, both in person and over the phone
• Tour Guide for daily tours
• Stage large groups
• Ocean and tide knowledge
• Clean equipment, wash area and deck
• Wash Equipment after guest use (wetsuits, masks & snorkels, fins, pfds)
• Haul equipment to drying yard
• Put equipment away in storage lockers
• Safety of our customers while in our sight line-rescue & tow if necessary
• Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Passion and experience in kayaking and the outdoor industry
• CPR/1st Aid certified
• Conservancy Naturalist Level 1(training provided)
• Ability to lift 60+ lbs, work on a rocky beach environment with ocean awareness
• 1+ years of customer service experience.
• Ability to prioritize work, meet deadlines, achieve goals, and work under pressure in a dynamic and complex environment.
• Excellent interpersonal and team player skills; ability to work closely with other departments and communicate clearly and effectively with colleagues and guests.
• Strong time management skills: ability to multi-task, set priorities, and adjust to changing conditions.
• Experience in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to be innovative and self-motivated.
• Maintain a high level of professional appearance and demeanor.
• Ability to perform, with or without reasonable accommodations, the tasks assigned to staff.
• Communicate effectively and display excellent customer service skills.

DETAILS
Position Type: Seasonal
Season Dates: April-October
HOUSING
Employee housing is NOT PROVIDED for this position. Applicants must have secured housing on Catalina Island prior to beginning the application process.
PAY TRANSPARENCY
The pay scale for this position is $20.00 per hour. The pay is the hourly rate plus gratuities.
WORK ENVIRONMENT/ PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
This position primarily takes place outdoors and may involve exposure to varying weather conditions including sun, wind, and occasional rain. Employees should be comfortable working at heights, on uneven terrain, and performing physical tasks such as walking, climbing, or lifting equipment. Safety, communication, and guest engagement are top priorities while ensuring a fun and memorable experience for all participants.
Must be comfortable and able to stand for up to 6-8 hours per day. Must be able to lift up to 60 lbs. Requires dexterity, grasping, writing, standing, sitting, walking, repetitive motions, bending, listening and hearing ability and visual acuity. Talking and hearing occur continuously in the process of communicating with guests, management and team.
SCHEDULE
This position requires a flexible schedule, with rotating weekday and weekend shifts, including day, night, and holiday hours.
LIFE ON CATALINA ISLAND

• A fast paced, exciting work environment with upward mobility and growth opportunities.
• Meet and engage with people from all over the country and world!

COMPANY PERKS

• Employee discounts and perks - restaurant, hotels and activities.
• Beautiful island views and a summer of adventure!

BEING YOU AT CATALINA ISLAND COMPANY:
We are inclusive of, celebrate our differences, and welcome a broad range of perspectives and ideas without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, or veteran status.
We welcome applications from people with disabilities and provide reasonable accommodations as needed for our candidates. Please discuss this with our Talent Acquisition team during our selection process.