Employment

We are currently accepting applications for seasonal management, mechanic, and tour guide positions for the 2019 season. Our season runs from May through September. Click the links below to learn more about our positions or fill out an application!

Company History

Company founder Thom Ely arrived in Haines in the fall of 1982 to visit friends after a two-month sea kayak trip throughout Southeast Alaska. He spent a month visiting and had a great first impression of the area. After moving to Haines permanently in 1987, he bought an existing bike shop in 1988. He first developed the retail and service side of the business, then expanded into rentals and tours.

The Skagway business began with a small bike shack during the summer of 1992 to provide for the bicycle needs of the local and visitor industry. The business was expanded in 2000 and  a new store with an apartment and employee housing on the floors above was constructed, which was later expanded in 2009. Sockeye Cycle now has a full sales, service, rental and tour business in both locations.

Area Information

Haines is located eighty miles north of Juneau in the Southeast panhandle of Alaska on the Lynn Canal, North America’s longest glacial fjord. Skagway is fifteen miles by water north of Haines at the end of the Inside Passage. Haines has a year round population of 2500. Skagway’s population is 1000 year round and 2000 in the summer. You can drive to both communities from the Alaska/Canadian Highway.

The climate is somewhat drier then other areas of Southeast due to a combination of coastal and interior climates. We are at the northern end of the Tongass National Forest, the country’s largest at 17 million acres. It is the last remaining largely intact temperate rain forest in North America, home to grizzly bears, moose, mountain goats, black tailed deer, bald eagles, five species of salmon and a multitude of other wildlife.

Recreational opportunities abound depending on your abilities and cooperation from the Alaskan environment. Locals and visitors partake in running, climbing, skiing, biking, boarding, dog mushing, kite surfing, paragliding, fishing, hunting, hiking, kayaking, tennis and whatever else there is to do outside.

Job Qualifications

-You must have a desire to work in a fast-paced, structured, teamwork environment with clients of all abilities on a daily basis.

-Employees must be US Citizens or have a green card or work visa for the USA.

-Must be 21 years of age or older.

-You must have a clean driving record (no DUI’s) and provide us with a DMV report from your license state covering the past three years.

-All employees must obtain an Alaska drivers license.

-Guides and managers must have current CPR/First Aid certification.

-All employees will be required to sign a contract when hired and fulfill the terms of the contract.

Positions

Note: Not all positions may be currently open.

Guide – Public speaking and a desire to learn and talk about the local region is a major part of the job. You need to have solid leadership qualities and be organized and punctual. A positive, outgoing, friendly attitude is necessary at all hours of the day. It helps to have a basic knowledge of bike mechanics. You will also drive the tour vans and must be able to pass DOT and insurance requirements. You must be committed to fulfilling the term of your contract. You are responsible for following all company policies and procedures and report to the Tour Operations Manager. The majority of the positions are based in Skagway. Compensation is $12 – $15/Hr plus tips and is based on experience and seniority. After successful completion of your contract and based on performance evaluations, you will be eligible for a bonus.

Mechanic/Driver – Bicycle mechanic certification is preferred or at least two years of shop mechanic experience. You must have current component and sales knowledge. You will drive the tour vans and must be able to pass DOT and insurance requirements. You must be precise, focused, organized and motivated. You are responsible for following all company policies and procedures and report to the Shop Manager. You must be committed to fulfilling the term of your contract. This position is based in Skagway. Compensation is $13 – $15/Hr and is based on experience and seniority. After successful completion of your contract and based on performance evaluations, you will be eligible for a bonus.

Retail Sales/Driver – Retail sales knowledge of bicycles, accessories, apparel and POS computer experience is preferred. You must be outgoing, positive, focused, organized, motivated and possess excellent customer service skills. Duties include: customer sales, POS, stocking, pricing, cleaning, organizing and rentals. You will drive the tour vans and must be able to pass DOT and insurance requirements. You must be committed to fulfilling the term of your contract. You are responsible for following all company policies and procedures and report to the Shop Manager. The position is based in Skagway. Compensation is $13 – $15/Hr and is based on experience and seniority. After successful completion of your contract and based on performance evaluations, you will be eligible for a bonus.

Office Assistant/Dock Rep – Office administrative experience, sales and computer proficiency is required.  A positive and outgoing personality is necessary with the ability to be flexible and contribute to a stress free teamwork environment.  Duties include: settling, invoicing, scheduling, filing, cleaning, tour promotion, sales outreach, reservations, correspondence. You will drive the tour vans and must be able to pass DOT and insurance requirements. You are responsible for following all company policies and procedures and report to the Operations Manager. The position is based in Skagway. Compensation is $15 – $17/Hr and is based on experience and seniority. After successful completion of your contract and based on performance evaluations, you will be eligible for a bonus.

Lead Mechanic – You need to have certification and senior mechanic experience. An excellent work ethic, honesty, flexibility, and management skills to facilitate a stress free teamwork environment are required. Duties include: servicing and overseeing work on all customer and company bikes, scheduling repairs and overseeing mechanics, maintaining the highest quality of customer service, parts ordering, inventory and POS, special orders, and maintaining revenue targets. You will drive the tour vans and must be able to pass DOT and insurance requirements. You will coordinate with the tour operations. You are responsible for following all company policies and procedures and report to the Shop Manager. You must be available to work from April 15 – September 30th. You must be committed to fulfilling the term of your contract. The position is in Skagway. Compensation is $15 – $17/Hr and is based on experience and seniority. After successful completion of your contract and based on performance evaluations, you will be eligible for a bonus.

Shop Manager – You need to have inventory management/ordering, personnel management, retail and merchandising, POS and mechanic experience. Experience running a bike shop is preferred. Duties include: retail sales, inventory, servicing/building bikes, tour fleet oversight, cleaning and organizing. You will also be involved with logistics for the daily tour operations and driving as needed. An excellent work ethic, customer service skills, honesty, flexibility, and motivation to work in a small town bike shop are required. You are responsible for following all company policies, procedures and report to the General Manager. You must be available to work from April 1 – September 30th. You must be committed to fulfilling the term of your contract. Compensation is salaried, DOE, with a 30-day training and evaluation period. Based on evaluations and successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a bonus.

Tour Operations Manager – You need to have previous management, data entry, hiring, computer experience and excellent public relations skills. You need to be competent with marketing, sales and other retail business related tasks. Duties include: hiring, scheduling, managing employees, settling accounts, sales and marketing, inventory control, POS oversight, ordering, tour equipment maintenance and correspondence , driving and guiding. You will drive the tour vans and must be able to pass DOT and insurance requirements. You will work in tandem with the General Manager and oversee all Skagway tour operations. You are the representative and public liaison for the company. An excellent work ethic, organizational skills, attention to detail, honesty, flexibility, and ability to facilitate a stress free teamwork environment are required. The position is based in Skagway full time from mid April – September and possibly part time in the off season. You must be committed to fulfilling the term of your contract. You are responsible for following all company policies and procedures and report to the General Manager. Compensation is salaried, DOE, with a 30-day training and evaluation period and hourly pay for off season work. Based on evaluations and successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a yearly bonus.

Accommodations

We have company housing in Skagway available for our employees at reasonable, subsidized rental rates. The rooms are located in the same building as the business. There is a communal kitchen, living area and laundry facilities for staff use only. There are limited options for off site rooms to rent in Skagway or Haines. Vehicle based camping is an option in both communities. Because of the long hours left unattended and busy days we request that you do not bring any pets with you. Pets are not allowed on company property.

Training

There is a five day paid training session for guides and mechanics the beginning of May. Training involves a thorough review of all tour, shop and company procedures. It is mandatory that all new employees attend the full training session. Guides will receive a web link to training materials to study before you arrive. The more you know before you arrive the better. Managers go through a thirty-day training period that covers all aspects of the business and job description.

Synopsis

The majority of the seasonal positions are based in Skagway and involve our daily tour operations with the cruise ships. The tours are three to four hours long with groups of twelve and two guides. A typical day during the season from mid June to mid August involves guiding two trips and driving one. This is a customer service job and you must enjoy talking to and assisting people of varying abilities and needs all day long.

The service and retail work consists of maintaining our one hundred plus bike fleet, renting bikes, building/selling bikes, repairing customers bikes, selling apparel/accessories/components and maintaining our tour equipment. The managers/president participate hands on and oversee all aspects of the business. It’s a fun place to work in a beautiful and unique part of the world! The benefits include housing, pro purchase for bikes, accessories, apparel and eyewear, staff outings and competitive wages.

Based on your qualifications when we receive your application, we will conduct interviews, check references and hire as needed. Thanks for your interest in working for us!

Sincerely,

Thom Ely – Founder and Director

Dustin Craney – President and General Manager