Rafting operations Manager

Zoar Outdoor Adventure•Charlemont, MA

12d

About The Position

Zoar Outdoor is hiring a seasonal, full-time Rafting Operations Manager for March through October to lead rafting operations, develop the guide team, and help create exceptional guest experiences. The role emphasizes safe, efficient, high-quality operations and a team culture built on trust, open communication, accountability, psychological safety, and continuous learning. The manager is expected to uphold high standards without creating a culture of fear or perfectionism, and to approach challenges and mistakes as opportunities to improve both people and systems. The position combines technical whitewater leadership, guide training, operational systems improvement, team development, guest experience support, and administrative oversight. The manager reviews trip logs weekly with the General Manager, maintains communication across teams, and ensures payroll and administrative responsibilities are completed accurately and on time. Success means building a confident, well-trained team and an operation where safety is part of everyday decisions and teams continually learn and improve.

Requirements

Significant professional whitewater rafting experience, including Class IV technical proficiency.
Strong self-rescue and swiftwater rescue skills.
Experience teaching, coaching, training, or mentoring others.
Strong communication, organizational, and problem-solving skills.
A systems-thinking approach and attention to detail.
Willingness to have honest conversations, receive feedback, acknowledge mistakes, and hold yourself and others accountable.
Commitment to high standards without creating a culture of fear or perfectionism.
Current appropriate first aid/CPR and rescue certifications, or the ability to obtain them.

Nice To Haves

Commercial rafting management experience.
Instructor-level whitewater or rescue certifications.
Wilderness First Responder (WFR) certification.

Responsibilities

Lead safe, efficient, and high-quality daily rafting operations.
Design and deliver comprehensive guide training, including new-guide onboarding and ongoing skill development throughout the season.
Serve as a technical leader in Class II–IV rafting, self-rescue, swiftwater rescue, and whitewater instruction.
Build a team culture grounded in trust, accountability, open communication, and continuous learning.
Improve operational systems by identifying patterns, solving problems, and finding ways to work more safely and fluidly.
Review trip logs weekly and meet with the General Manager to recognize what is working, identify what needs revising, and turn lessons into action.
Maintain clear communication across teams.
Ensure payroll and administrative responsibilities are completed accurately and on time.
Support an exceptional guest experience.
Develop future leaders within the rafting team.