Employment
The Job
Our Guesthouse Hosts are in charge of welcoming guests upon arrival to McCarthy/Kennecott, providing them transportation to the Guesthouse, checking them in, answering questions, providing helpful services while guests are in town, checking guests out, providing transportation for guests on check-out day, and cleaning the units and getting them ready for the next guests. Hosts will also be tasked with some administrative work, managing aspects of reservations, communicating with guests prior to their arrival, and collecting feedback after guests' departure. There are 2 total units under the Host's management.
Some days are busy with multiple checkins, checkouts, and cleaning, while others only require a few hours at the start or end of the day.
The Position
Guesthouse Host
We are looking for hard-working individuals who are passionate about delivering amazing customer service and authentic hospitality. Our employees must have an adventurous spirit as they'll be spending their summer in the middle of Wrangell - St. Elias National Park, the largest in the country! We work and share living quarters with a local guiding company so the community is diverse and days off have a lot of adventure potential!
Season & Location
We are located in the heart of the largest National Park in the United States, Wrangell – St. Elias National Park. The McCarthy/Kennecott community grows to ~200 people in the summer and the entire area is off-the-grid. We are an 4hr drive from the nearest grocery store and an 8hr drive from Anchorage or Fairbanks. Chances are that once you arrive for the summer you will not leave the area until the end of your contract.
For our 2024 season, we are offering lodging starting May 23th and ending September 14th. Training will start in Anchorage on May 22nd and all new employees are required to attend. At the end of the season, there is a week or so of Closing Chores to winterize the units and the compound before departing. We will provide transportation between Anchorage and McCarthy at the start and end of the season.
Living
Housing and logistics are provided by our friends at St. Elias Alpine Guides. Guesthouse Hosts live together with about 40 guides and SEAG employees on our rustic compound, centered around the historic Motherlode Powerhouse, in McCarthy, AK. All employees take part in a variety of duties and chores unique to living and operating in an off-the-grid, Alaskan bush community in return for housing and other services. Every employee gets a canvas tent and use of communal grounds, garden patches, outhouses, kitchens, sauna, library, workout equipment, bouldering gym, and lounge with power and wifi. The company provides logistical support to employees such as food delivery and transportation at the start and end of the season. Guesthouse Hosts are part of the larger SEAG family and get to enjoy social events together as well as technical alpine skills training opportunities if they're interested.
Minimum Qualifications
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You have the legal right to work in the United States - citizenship, residency, or work visa. (Sorry, we cannot sponsor your visa application.)
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You have at least 2 years of college or life experience post-high-school.
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You are a people person with the ability to get along with and relate to guests, co-workers and roommates from all walks of life.
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You have experience working in customer service and/or hospitality
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You have experience with administrative work and are comfortable with basic office tasks like sending emails, answering phone calls, using an online calendar, etc.
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You are a hard worker and don't mind putting in long hours doing often non-glamorous tasks.
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You are an independent worker, organized and great at managing your time, and thrive in a workplace with more autonomy.
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You have experience living in rustic and/or communal environments.
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You must have current Wilderness First Aid and CPR certifications by the first day of training that do not expire until after the end of your contract.
Application Process
To apply for the Guesthouse Host position, please email the following application materials to info@mccarthyguesthouse.com:
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A cover letter stating why you are interested in working for us and how you plan to bring value to our small business.
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A current and detailed work history resume.
Upon receiving your complete application materials, you will receive an email providing more information about the position. The entire hiring process will include additional email correspondence, a short (5-10 minute) two-way video interview, reference checks, and a final (~1 hour) video interview. The entire process can last 2-3 weeks and applications will be accepted until positions are full.