Employment Opportunities!

Opportunities

• Whitewater Guide
• Kayak Instructor
• Guide Trainee
• Office/Retail
• Rock Climbing Instructor

Employment Application (100k pdf)

RMOC is the largest kayaking company's in the valley. Whitewater Kayaking is our main activity but we also specialize in rafting, duckie trips, rock climbing, and mountain biking. Since we offer so many activities we try and hire guides capable of leading several types of trips. The more you can do, the more money you can make. The goal of RMOC is that each guest should return from each trip not just satisfied, but excited to do another trip or another adventure with RMOC. We are all here to provide our guests the most enjoyable trip possible.

It is assumed that every employee at RMOC is an experienced professional in his or her field. You are hired on the assumption that you can make professional, mature choices and decisions on the job. Working together by communicating and cooperating with each other are the key components to making your job and ours more enjoyable. Guides must also possess a genuine interest in working with the public in a team environment.

Skills needed for each position:

Guide/Instructor Responsibilities

• Able to work long hours during rush periods and not be subject to burnout and moodiness.
• Maintain a good sense of humor and cooperative attitude in dealing with co-workers and guests.
• A guide expects to be given and complete tasks while waiting for guests to arrive for trips.
• Guides will be financially responsible for ripped boats, broken and lost equipment due to negligence.
• You will not be hired if start and finish dates do not meet RMOC’s needs.
• Enjoyment the outdoors under all conditions, including wind, wet, cold, and low water conditions
• Our staff members must possess a high degree of initiative. You must be a self-starter, prompt and responsible
• The ability to be flexible and adapt to change easily. You must be willing to help anytime, anywhere, doing anything.
• Must be able to participate in athletic and rigorous outdoor activities and be mentally and physically tough.
• The ability to communicate honestly and openly with colleagues and superiors and be able to accept criticism.
• Our staff must take pride in a job well done and be willing to give suggestions for improvement
• You must commit to working as close to Labor Day as possible. We will not be hiring people based solely on rafting skill. But rather on work ethic, desire to learn, and ability to be a team player within a group, friendliness, and intelligence.
• Treat customers the way you would like to be treated if you were on vacation!

We expect all of our guides to show up ready to work, clean cut, drug and alcohol free and with an open mind. We do not tolerate the use of narcotics or illegal drugs, we do not allow drinking under the age of 21, and we do not allow our staff to smoke or chew tobacco while working or while on RMOC property. You will need to pass a pre-employment drug test prior to your start date. All guides will then be placed in a random pool for the remainder of the season. We expect specific standards regarding personal appearance (no dreadlocks or body piercing other than ears) and we do maintain a dress code.

During employment your skills would need to continue to be enhanced and fine tuned through our continuing training program. All employees old and new are required to participate in these clinics, and programs. Unwillingness to participate will result in immediate termination of the employee. A professional guide never stops learning.

Required Qualifications:

Guest Services/Public Relations Experience
Familiarity with office machines (fax,cash register,calculator,copy machine, computer, e-mail)
Money management and cash receipts reports

We expect all of our office and retail store staff to show up ready to work, clean cut, drug and alcohol free, with an open mind. We do not tolerate the use of narcotics or illegal drugs, we do not allow drinking under the age of 21, and we do not allow our staff to smoke or chew tobacco while working or while on RMOC property. You will need to pass a pre-employment drug test prior to your start date. All RMOC staff will then be placed in a random pool for the remaining of the season. We expect specific standards regarding personal appearance (no dreadlocks or body piercing other than ears) and we do maintain a dress code.

Excellent customer service skills along with organization skills are critical for this position. Other important features of the job include:

• Flexibility with hours.
• Familiarity with geography of the area to provide good detailed directions
• Familiarity with all our trips
• Interest in outdoor recreations
• Sense of humor
• Working multiple seasons for RMOC.

Our training will give candidates the skills and know how to perform the job; however, proper attitude and attention to guest service must be a trait already possessed. If this is your first year seeking employment as a river guide, you will need to attend our guide training school. The cost is $500.00 and begins May 19^th, ending on the May 29^th. A $250.00 nonrefundable deposit is due when signing up and balance due on or before May 19^th, no exceptions.

If hired, training will continue on the Arkansas (unpaid) until you are ready to guide commercially (usually 3-4 weeks). Please realize there is much more training in May and June than commercially paid trips so you must be able to support yourself financially through those times.

Novices can expect to gross $1800-$2000 the first year plus $400-$800 in tips. We expect all of our employees to show up ready to work, clean cut, drug and alcohol free, with an open mind. We do not tolerate the use of narcotics or illegal drugs, we do not allow drinking under the age of 21, and we do not allow our staff to smoke or chew tobacco while working or while on RMOC property. You will need to pass a pre-employment drug test prior to your start date. All Guides will then be placed in a random pool for the remaining of the season. We expect specific standards regarding personal appearance (no dreadlocks or body piercing other than ears) and we do maintain a dress code.

Colorado River Outfitters are licensed by the Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and managed by the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. A minimum of 50 hours on-river training (30 hours must be with a certified training guide) are required by law. Rocky Mountain Outdoor Center has set a much hire standard for its guides, and we will require an additional 50 hours of training for a total of 100 before you will be able to take your qualifying run.

Our training program will greatly exceed the state requirements. All trainees are required to have a minimum of Red Cross Basic First Aid and CPR certifications before they arrive. Keep in mind that your certifications are one of the evaluators for job consideration. If it is down to two applicants of equal qualifications and one has more than basic first aid the job will go to that person.

• Training - lots of time on and in the water
• Rafts and essential gear (not personal gear)
• Shuttles from our center to various put in sites, and from the take outs back to center
• Excellent prices in our outfitter shop for all your personal gear

• Personal Gear - It’s still COLD here during training and candidates are required to spend time in the water as well as on the water. Dress warm - proper attire such as wet suits, dry suits, fleece, hats, gloves, booties etc. are a must
• P.F.D - guides are required to have their own proper life jacket. “Customer” P.F.D.’s may be used during training; however, your own will be needed for working
• Safety Gear - helmet, throw rope, knife, personal 1st aid kit

We will be willing to do what we can to help you out with any gear you lack during training. You will need to possess this gear before working as a guide

• Overview of all equipment used on day and overnight river trips. Maintenance and repair of boats, First Aid kits etc.
• Classroom discussion on basic hydrology, swiftwater rescue techniques, ropes and knots, State Park regulations and expectations.
• Hours of daily hands on experience:

• rigging and de-rigging
• boat maneuvering
• reading water
• flipping and recovering
• pinning and UN-pinning boats
• swimming in moving water
• become knowledgeable of all important aspects of several river sections, put-in take-out locations, rapid names, proper lines through rapids, emergency access points, backboard locations, lunch spots, photo spots...etc.
• history and Geology of the region
• equipment
• paddle strokes
• hazards
• rapids
• rescue
• training the commercial guest

• Keeping a river journal documenting river miles, hours and skills performed.
• Work on skills such as dealing with group dynamics, outdoor leadership and proper protocol.

Employment Application (100k pdf)