Paws for Adventure Looking for Tour Manager at Fairbanks, Alaska Full Time

Winter Seasonal (October 15, 2023 to approximately April 15, 2024)

Paws for Adventure has been a leading dogsled tour company in Fairbanks, AK since 1998.  We love what we do and want to share this with our guests.  We need a special person to help manage this successful and thriving operation.  

Duties and Responsibilities:

Business Professional: We are looking for a business manager for 6 + month winter seasonal position at our busy mushing site in Fairbanks AK (may evolve into a year-round position).  This self-confident person will serve as business leader in providing customer service and managing up to 5 employees, 5-10 musher/contractors and tour site management.  Tour Manager will serve as a co-leader of business (as you learn the business with the owner) and ultimately take the leadership role in absence of the owner.  

Good leadership and Management Skills: Tour Manager will manage tour staff and mushing staff (dog mushers and dog handler) to execute smooth operation of our dogsled tours. Along with the tour coordinator, the tour manager will fulfill requests from our group tour partners, as well as coordinate online and over the phone booking requests with independent travelers. Tour staff primary duties include managing bookings, organizing independent guests and tour groups who are taking dogsled rides. Work is a combination of onsite (Paws Mushing site) and offsite work and includes online/ telephone communication during evening hours.  Tour Manager will organize schedules and communicate with Mushing staff to coordinate tours each day as well as communicate and create task lists for dog handler(s).

Tourism Experience:  Prefer business professionals with interest and experience in tourism, especially Alaska tourism. Prefer someone who can help manage people, marketing, websites, social media sites as well as attend tourism-associated functions. 

Love Dogs, People, and Winter: And, of course, you must be interested in sled dogs and enjoy the sport as well as be ready to talk about them with guests.  You’ll also need to be able to think on your feet…circumstances and plans may change rapidly – the weather (snow, ice, frigid temps, unexpected melting…), vehicle problems in cold weather, additional late bookings/cancellations… You may need to think fast to adapt and change plans/ schedules according to changes! You may need to shovel snow or help tourists get their car unstuck or show them how to dress for -20F…all with a good attitude.  Must be a good listener and communicator and be able to inspire confidence in your crew and our guests.

Qualifications:

• BA in business administration, accounting, or comparable work experience
• Professional written and verbal communication skills
• Computer literacy and proficiency w/ MS Word, Excel, and experience with web-based booking software
• Attention to detail & good organizational skills
• Emotional Intelligence & ability to work well under pressure and with all personalities
• Knowledge of Fairbanks area and tourist resources
• Willingness and ability to work in cold weather and around sled dogs
• Familiarity with social media services such as FB, Instagram, Google, etc…
• Excellent Physical fitness is a must as you will need to walk a lot escorting guests to their dogsled guide, keep the woodstove burning & talk with guests inside and outside – a good portion of your time may be spent outside in Alaska winter weather – subzero temps, snow, icy conditions.

Pay: DOE & skills

Housing: possibly available

You must possess a valid driver’s license and will need/ want a vehicle