Tour Guide/Interpretive Naturalist (H)

TDX•St. Paul, AK

1d•Onsite

About The Position

St. Paul Island Tour is recruiting for the position of Tour Guide/Interpretive Naturalist. This is a seasonal (temporary full-time) position located in St. Paul, AK. This position reports to the Tour Manager. The Tour Guide/Interpretive Naturalist is responsible for visitor management, public relations, and interpretive services for the visiting public. This position will also be responsible for conducting guided tours of St. Paul Island and the management and escorting of the tour groups, with heavy emphasis on public relations and interpretive services covering the ecology and history of the island. Interpretive themes typically center on birds, marine mammals, and indigenous Unangan history. Under the Tour Manager’s guidance, Tour Guides make decisions concerning the daily scheduling of tour vehicles and participants based upon specific visitor requests and expectations. Applicants must be willing to work in adverse weather conditions in a very remote location. Normal conditions are overcast with drizzle, rain, or fog and an average high temperature during the summer of only 50°F. St. Paul Island is located over 750 miles from Anchorage within the Pribilof Islands and is only accessible by semi-weekly flights. This is a seasonal position. Candidates must be available to fly to Anchorage on July 28, 2026, with July 29-31 blocked for safety training. End date of employment will be approximately mid-October.

Requirements

Two years college education in natural science or the equivalent in work experience, familiarity with Pribilof flora, fauna and history and/or a demonstrated ability to quickly learn and be comfortable explaining these subjects to groups of up to 40 people.
Ability to identify difficult groups of birds with ease, including those in immature and juvenile plumages, such as: gulls, shorebirds, and Asiatic vagrants.
Ability to scan bodies of water, shorelines, and tundra and identify bird species in cryptic plumages.
Strong communication, interpreting, and people skills and willingness to work intensively with a diversity of people under difficult conditions is essential.
Guides must have strong people skills.
The ability to work independently with a minimum of supervision.
The ability to live and work cooperatively and cheerfully with others from many different backgrounds with different abilities.
A valid driver’s license required with a good driving record.
Must be 21 years of age or older.
A willingness to work up to seven days a week and long hours required, especially at the peak of tour season.
The ability to work and function and maintain a sense of humor in adverse weather conditions.
Guides should be in good physical condition.
Must supply your own optics (binoculars and spotting scope), rain gear, and any other gear of a personal nature.

Nice To Haves

Preference will be given to persons with strong birding skills and experience, knowledge of marine ecosystems, and those who can speak and/or write European languages.
Native and Alaskan preference.

Responsibilities

Communicate and interpret to the visitor in a pleasant and informative manner information on the wildlife, natural history and cultural history of St. Paul Island.
Provide exemplary customer service on a daily basis.
Work cooperatively with the Tour Manager, other Tour Guides, the Hotel Manager and other TDX Corporation staff to give the best possible tour for the visitor.
Guides are often an informal liaison between tourists, the tour program, and local residents.
Educate the visitors on the delicate balance of the Bering Sea ecosystem, the fragile nature of the tundra, and the rich culture of the Unangan people, in a manner that is non-political and responsible.
Conduct both driving and walking tours of the island, especially to seal and seabird rookeries. Many times, such tours will occur during inclement weather.
Lead tours to search for vagrant and accidental species of birds both for organized birding groups and independent birdwatchers of varying interests, expectations, and abilities.
Lead tours for groups of cruise ship passengers, Elderhostel participants, VIPs, and other special trips.
Tour Guides are required to extensively read and research the major themes and topics of this tour.
They should be prepared to spend at least some free time birding, botanizing, and “naturalizing” in the field.
Assist the Tour Manager with various special projects and clerical duties designed to improve tour programs, as well as with all aspects related to visitor services.
These duties may include cleaning tour vehicles and buildings, picking up garbage, and lifting up to 50lbs.
Tour Guides are to drive 12-passenger vans and a 22-passenger bus and be responsible for fueling and cleaning these vehicles.
Occasional light maintenance of these buses will be required.
Defensive driving and safe operation of vehicles is required.