Driver-Guide Positions

Here’s a request I just received from a tour operator looking for driver guides this summer.

Hi Cherie,

That's great! Here is our posting. Let me know if you have any questions about us, or about the posting. You can check out our website at www.at-west.com (be sure to type it in the blue bar and use "www." otherwise for some reason it won't pull up the site.). I'll keep you in the loop for future postings as well - our needs change throughout the season depending on the number of tours we run in a certain language. I'm looking forward to getting to know some of your students!

Thanks,

Jarmila

ADVENTURE TRAVEL WEST IS HIRING BILINGUAL TOUR DIRECTORS FOR SMALL GROUP TOURS THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST USA

Business is booming and we need excellent tour directors for a busy season! We operate small group tours of 5-13 pax and our Tour Directors act as driver/guides (you are the only staff member on the tour). Tours last typically from 13-21 days. Our season runs from mid-April through November; currently we need to fill a few spots in the program, so this is not a full time position. However, if you want to get your feet wet with us this year and commit to the entire season next year, we will keep you as busy as you like all season in 2012!

Tour guiding is not for everyone. It's a highly demanding yet rewarding job. We are very stringent in our hiring process so PLEASE RESPOND ONLY IF YOU HAVE THE FOLLOWING QUALIFICATIONS:

- Fluent in Spanish, French or German (at this time we are NOT hiring English-only tour directors); we especially need Spanish-speaking guides
- Excellent location knowledge (at least 60%) of the National Parks: Grand Canyon, Bryce, Zion, Arches, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Death Valley, plus Las Vegas and SFO
- Experience driving a 15-passenger van/pulling a trailer (or similar large vehicle)
- CLEAN motor vehicle record
- CLEAN drug test
- Current CPR/First Aid (WOFA/WFR a plus)
- OUTDOOR leadership experience (leading GROUP hikes, camping trips, etc.)
- Ability to think on your feet and act in a mature and professional manner at all times
- Excellent communication, driving, interpersonal and outdoor skills
- Genuine enthusiasm and desire to provide the best possible tour experience to your clients
- Passion for the outdoors and the west - these are NOT bus tours, they are 'get out there and experience nature' tours
- Physically fit and able to lead daily hikes of 2-6 hours
- Able to lead camping tours (includes some cooking duties)
- Able to commit to a minimum of two back-to-back tours (2 weeks each, for a minimum commitment of one solid month)
- Professional guide training a plus
- Willingness to provide all pre-hire paperwork within 2 weeks (see the information below about our web site/hiring process)
- Flexibility to be on the road for at least 15-23 days at a time per tour; this includes transfer to/from tour; usually we try to schedule people for two tours back-to-back which means more than a month straight on the road (or more!)

What we offer:
- Highly competitive pay (includes per diem plus year-end performance bonus); all expenses paid while on tour
- Flexible schedule (this pertains to full-time guides only)
- Comprehensive materials about your tour to help you prepare commentary
- Extensive library of resources to support your own growth and learning
- Excellent back-office support before your tour and while you're on the road (the easier we make things for you, the easier our lives are too!)
- Please respond with "TD extraordinaire" in your reply to show that you have read this entire job posting; otherwise don't expect a response from us
- Transportation to/from the tour
- Reimbursement for tour-related expenses such as first aid certification, etc.
- Limited training
- Chance to meet people from all over the world and the satisfaction of being an integral part of their trip of a lifetime

We hire only the best... but if you're new to guiding and feel you possess the qualities we're looking for... and if this position truly resonates with you, don't be discouraged. Let's talk.

Please send your resume and three professional references to:

Jarmila Gorman
Operations Manager
Adventure Travel West
operations@at-west.com
fax 303-697-5384

Interested parties may also visit our website, www.at-west.com (type into the blue bar, and make sure you type in "www.") Under the page titled "Our Staff", near the bottom you will find a link to our employment page that lists all of the materials we require pre-hire, and in what sequence.

Please, NO phone calls and NO recruiters. Thank you for your interest in ATW!