FULL-TIME ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND 2013

Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company and has been running since 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, abide by IceWhale guidelines as well as integrating our own and are the first and only environmentally certified whale watching company in Iceland. Elding also provides a platform for marine biologists to study the cetaceans we encounter on our tours to help build our knowledge and understanding. For further information please visit our website at www.whalewatching.is

Elding is looking for a full-time guide, one that can speak fluently English and German and is from a EEA country . Please specify if you speak other languages too.

Duration: Full-time starting as soon as possible. Shifts mainly work on a 2-2-3 schedule (two days on, two off etc. and you have every other weekend off Fri-Sun) but you maybe asked to work other times too if needed.

Employee’s will be responsible for their own accommodation, travel, travel insurance and living expenses. Accommodation can be provided at the beginning of your stay to give you time to find somewhere. Further information on living and working in Iceland can be found at

http://www.eures.is/files/Eures_1605012664.pdf and http://classifieds.grapevine.is/.

Salary is roughly in the area of 270,000ISK/month before taxes.

Employment Duties

·      Narrating clearly and fluently to passengers the biology, conservation and ecology of the marine life found in Faxafloi Bay and other areas around Iceland.

·      Spotting wildlife for passengers

·     Cleaning – the main cleaning is done at the end of the day or when cancelled due to bad weather and yes it also means cleaning up vomit and toilets.

·      Looking after the welfare and security of passengers onboard.

·      Bar work – Each vessel has a bar where light refreshments are sold

·      Hospitality – this is done both onboard and in the office when needed

·      Other work/tasks – i.e. selling tickets, distributing brochures, answering the phone, translating documents etc…

Preferred skills/qualifications

·      A strong interest and education in marine science specifically cetaceans and marine birds

·      A good knowledge of conservation issues related to marine life

·      Confidence to narrate and interacted with large groups of the public

·      Must be a quick learner, adaptive, hard working, outgoing and generally a very positive person (finding beauty in the little things)

·      Be able to work calmly and politely under pressure and sometimes in stressful situations.

·      Must have experience on boats preferably of boats above 17m and not acceptable to seasickness easily

·      Good spotting skills

·      Maritime safety and First Aid certified is an advantage but not necessary as qualifications can be taken when in Iceland.

·      Photography skills is desirable

·      Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable weathers.

Elding prides itself on teamwork, no job is too small or too big for any of our staff members. We work together to make sure everything is finished for the following day. So being a team player is also very important.

How to apply:

Please email your cv, covering letter specifying any relevant experience you may have with the contact details of two referees to Megan Whittaker (megan@elding.is). Please also specify the earliest you can start.