Field Staff Manager

Lindblad Expeditions

4d•$85,000 - $105,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Field Staff Manager is responsible for managing and supporting shipboard Field Staff across Lindblad Expeditions’ fleet. Field Staff include Expedition Leaders, Assistant Expedition Leaders, Basecamp Coordinators, Naturalists, Cultural Specialists, Wine Specialists, Historians, Zodiac Drivers, and Community Ambassadors. The role oversees Field Staff needs and tools, develops systems and protocols to support staff, and serves as the primary Field Staff contact for shoreside departments. The manager works closely with Expedition Development, Human Resources, Marketing and Sales, Field Staff Logistics, Operations, Marine, Compliance, and Charter Operations to improve the guest experience, support staff retention, and maintain operational readiness. The position leads Field Staff performance and professional development, including coaching, performance feedback, reviews, training, mentorship, and continuing education. It also supports staffing administration, credentials, permits, medical requirements, drug testing, policy updates, and other operational processes. The manager travels approximately 60–90 days per year to ships and field activities to train and mentor staff, assess performance, gather feedback, and support shipboard teams. The manager may occasionally serve as an Expedition Leader to ensure operational continuity and guest experience. The role follows a hybrid schedule for positions based in the New York and Seattle offices: in-office Tuesday through Thursday, with remote work available Monday and Friday. Candidates must live within reasonable commuting distance of their designated office.

Requirements

5–7 years of relevant expedition travel, maritime, or related operations experience, including at least 3 years of direct people management.
Demonstrated experience conducting performance reviews, coaching and mentoring staff, handling sensitive personnel matters, and supporting retention.
Experience developing or coordinating training, mentorship, and continuing education programs, including assessing needs and facilitating sessions.
Experience administering departmental budgets, tracking expenditures, and prioritizing resources.
Ability to review feedback, guest survey results, and operational reports and translate findings into actionable improvements.
Experience coordinating with HR, Compliance, and operations partners on credentialing, required training, and policy adherence.
Strong written and verbal communication, organizational judgment, and ability to manage competing priorities across remote teams.
Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint, or comparable tools.
Ability and willingness to travel approximately 60–90 days annually, including shipboard assignments and field activities.
Ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos in English, and communicate effectively in writing and orally with a professional demeanor.
Candidates for New York or Seattle office positions must reside within reasonable commuting distance of their designated office.

Nice To Haves

Experience with geographically dispersed teams.
Experience managing expedition leaders, naturalists, guides, or comparable field-based professionals.
Experience aboard expedition cruise vessels, preferably with Lindblad Expeditions.
Knowledge of expedition destinations, natural and cultural history, and guest experience standards.
Experience coordinating maritime or shipboard training, credentialing, and safety requirements.
Familiarity with Zodiac and other expedition field activities, where relevant to occasional Expedition Leader coverage.
Experience with field staff scheduling, performance management, or learning/training systems.

Responsibilities

Manage and support shipboard Field Staff across the fleet, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback.
Conduct reviews and feedback discussions, support development planning, address personnel concerns with Human Resources, and contribute to retention efforts.
Communicate priorities, expectations, and operational initiatives to Field Staff through meetings, updates, and department resources.
Analyze performance and ship-visit data, guest feedback, voyage reports, and debriefs to identify trends, recognize success, and address development opportunities.
Lead the Field Staff training program, including its budget and role-specific training and mentorship for Expedition Leaders and Assistant Expedition Leaders.
Coordinate webinars, virtual meetings, and continuing education opportunities.
Partner with recruiting, scheduling, Operations, Marine, and Compliance teams on onboarding, training requirements, credentials, certifications, and voyage readiness.
Ensure Field Staff have the skills, tools, and resources needed to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
Serve as the primary liaison between Field Staff and shoreside departments, including Human Resources, Expedition Development, Marketing, Sales, and Charter Operations.
Partner with Field Staff Logistics, Operations, and Lindblad Compliance on staffing administration, credentialing, permitting, medical requirements, drug testing, policy updates, and operational consistency.
Travel aboard vessels to coach and support shipboard teams, gather feedback, assess performance, and mentor expedition leadership.
Support departmental process improvements and, when needed, serve aboard vessels as an Expedition Leader.

Benefits

Travel benefits for employees and their family.
Voyage of Discovery trips for employees to travel as guests.
Health insurance, including medical, dental, and vision.
401(k) plan with employer match.
Long-term disability, life, and AD&D insurance.
Flexible Spending Account for out-of-pocket medical and dependent care expenses.
Pre-tax commuter benefit.
7–8 paid holidays.
One floating holiday option.
Up to 15 days of vacation, prorated per anniversary year.
Parental leave.
Sick/personal days per city and state ordinance.
Pet insurance discount.
Hybrid work schedule for positions based in the New York and Seattle offices.