Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Expedition Guide

🎯 Role Definition

Are you a passionate naturalist with a spirit for adventure and a gift for storytelling? This role requires a dynamic and highly skilled Expedition Guide to join our world-class team. As an Expedition Guide, you are the crucial link between our guests and the incredible environments we explore. You will be responsible for leading safe and enriching excursions, delivering engaging educational content, and fostering a sense of wonder and community onboard. This isn't just a job; it's a lifestyle dedicated to exploration, conservation, and creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences. You will be a leader, an educator, a safety officer, and a host, requiring immense adaptability, resilience, and a deep-seated passion for the wild places of our planet.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Outdoor Adventure Instructor (e.g., Kayaking, Hiking, Climbing)
Park Ranger or Naturalist
Marine Biologist, Geologist, or Field Researcher
Adventure Travel Photographer or Videographer

Advancement To:

Lead Expedition Guide or Assistant Expedition Leader
Expedition Leader (Program Director)
Operations Manager or Product Manager for an adventure travel company

Lateral Moves:

Adventure Travel Consultant or Sales Specialist
Conservation Program Officer
Field Researcher or Logistics Coordinator for documentary film crews

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Lead and Guide Excursions: Expertly lead and guide groups of guests on various excursions, including Zodiac cruises, sea kayaking tours, alpine hikes, and shore landings, while ensuring a safe, enriching, and memorable experience in challenging and dynamic environments.
Deliver Educational Content: Develop and deliver high-quality, engaging, and scientifically accurate presentations and lectures on topics relevant to the expedition region, such as wildlife, geology, glaciology, history, and ecology.
Ensure Guest Safety: Act as a primary safety officer during all off-vessel activities, conducting continuous risk assessments, rigorously enforcing safety protocols, and being prepared to execute emergency response and rescue procedures effectively.
Operate Expedition Equipment: Skillfully operate and maintain expedition equipment, including Zodiacs (inflatable boats), kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and safety gear, ensuring all items are in excellent working condition and properly stored.
Foster Guest Engagement: Proactively foster a positive, welcoming, and inclusive atmosphere, actively engaging with guests during meals, social hours, and downtime to answer questions, share stories, and enhance their overall journey.
Wildlife Spotting and Interpretation: Provide expert wildlife spotting and identification for guests from the ship's bridge, outer decks, and during excursions, utilizing professional optics and effectively communicating sightings and behaviors.
Environmental Stewardship: Uphold and enforce all environmental regulations and company policies, including strict adherence to guidelines from AECO (Arctic) and IAATO (Antarctic), to ensure minimal impact on the pristine environments visited.
Logistical Support: Assist the Expedition Leader with logistical operations, including the efficient and safe loading/unloading of guests and equipment, managing shore-side permits, and coordinating with local contacts or authorities.
Drive Small Inflatable Boats: Safely drive and maneuver Zodiacs in various sea conditions, including ice-choked waters, strong currents, and surf landings, for guest transport, scouting, and close-up wildlife viewing.
Provide First Aid: Be prepared to provide immediate wilderness first aid and emergency medical assistance as required, utilizing your advanced certification and skills in real-world remote scenarios.
Manage Group Dynamics: Effectively manage group dynamics during excursions, ensuring all guests feel included, are proceeding at a comfortable pace, and are respectful of the environment and each other.
Conduct Pre-Excursion Briefings: Deliver clear, concise, and mandatory pre-excursion briefings that communicate the day's plan, safety procedures, environmental guidelines, and what guests can expect to see and experience.
Team Collaboration: Collaborate closely with the Expedition Leader, fellow guides, and the ship's officers and crew to plan and adapt daily itineraries in response to changing weather, ice, or wildlife opportunities.
Documentation and Reporting: Contribute to a detailed daily log or trip report, documenting wildlife sightings, route information, weather conditions, and any notable events for internal records, scientific contribution, and future planning.
Act as a Brand Ambassador: Represent the company with the utmost professionalism, enthusiasm, and a deep passion for exploration and conservation, embodying the brand's values in every interaction.
Crisis Management: Remain calm and decisive under pressure, playing a key role in the team's response to any emergency or unexpected situation, from medical incidents to mechanical issues.
Storytelling and Interpretation: Go beyond simple facts to weave compelling narratives that connect guests emotionally and intellectually to the destination, its history, and its wildlife.
Maintain Professional Development: Stay current with the latest scientific research, conservation news, and guiding techniques relevant to the regions of operation through continuous personal study and training.
Assist in Onboard Programming: Participate actively in all facets of the onboard expedition program, including hosting tables at dinner, presenting evening recaps, and being a visible, approachable presence for guests.
Equipment Maintenance: Take responsibility for the cleaning, maintenance, and inventory of specific gear caches, such as the kayak fleet, polar-plunge equipment, or hiking poles, ensuring readiness for each use.

Secondary Functions

Assist with onboard guest services and hospitality functions as needed during extended sea days or periods of operational inactivity.
Contribute to the ship's blog or company social media channels with written updates, photos, and short videos from the expedition.
Participate in regular team meetings, safety drills, and training sessions to maintain a high standard of operational excellence.
Support the logistical management of any "Citizen Science" projects or third-party scientific research initiatives conducted onboard.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Small Boat Handling: Proficiency in operating small inflatable boats (Zodiacs), often requiring certifications like RYA Powerboat Level 2 or equivalent, especially with experience in ice or rough sea conditions.
Wilderness First Aid: Advanced medical certification such as Wilderness First Responder (WFR), Wilderness EMT, or equivalent, with current CPR/AED.
Public Speaking & Presentation: Demonstrated ability to create and deliver compelling, informative presentations to diverse audiences.
Naturalist Expertise: A deep, applicable knowledge base in one or more relevant fields such as Marine Biology, Ornithology, Geology, Glaciology, or Anthropology.
Firearms Handling: For polar regions, a valid firearms license and proven experience in handling high-caliber rifles for polar bear protection is often mandatory.
Sea Kayak Guiding: Formal certification and experience leading sea kayaking tours in open water and challenging conditions (e.g., BCU/ACA certification).
Navigation Skills: Proficiency with GPS, charts, and compass for remote land and sea navigation.
Marine Radio Operation: A valid Restricted Operator Certificate – Maritime (ROC-M) or equivalent VHF radio license.
Risk Assessment & Management: Formal training or extensive experience in identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks in an outdoor adventure setting.
Photography & Videography: Skills in capturing high-quality images and video for use in recaps, social media, and marketing.

Soft Skills

Leadership & Group Management: The ability to command respect, make decisive choices, and manage groups with varying physical abilities and interests.
Exceptional Interpersonal Skills: Naturally personable, empathetic, and able to build strong rapport with guests and teammates from diverse backgrounds.
Adaptability & Flexibility: The capacity to thrive in a constantly changing environment, readily adjusting plans due to weather, wildlife, or other unforeseen factors.
Problem-Solving & Composure: The ability to think critically and act calmly and effectively under extreme pressure and in emergency situations.
Teamwork & Collaboration: A strong commitment to working cohesively within a tight-knit expedition team and ship's crew.
Situational Awareness: A constant high level of awareness of the surrounding environment, weather, and group wellbeing.
Compelling Storytelling: The ability to translate factual knowledge into engaging, memorable stories that resonate with guests.
Cultural Sensitivity: Awareness of and respect for the cultures, histories, and peoples of the regions visited.
Resilience & Strong Work Ethic: The mental and physical stamina to work long hours in demanding conditions for extended periods.
Patience & Empathy: Ability to handle guest concerns, questions, and physical limitations with grace and understanding.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High School Diploma or equivalent, supplemented by extensive field experience and relevant professional certifications.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD in a relevant scientific or historical field.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Marine Biology, Geology, Environmental Science, Climate Science
History, Anthropology, Ornithology, Outdoor Recreation Management

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

3-5+ years of professional experience in outdoor leadership, guiding, or field research.

Preferred:

Proven experience guiding multi-day trips in remote, expedition-style environments, particularly polar (Arctic/Antarctic) or other logistically complex regions.
A documented history of leading groups in relevant activities such as hiking, kayaking, or small boat cruising. Extensive time at sea on expedition vessels is highly advantageous.