JOB OPPORTUNITY FOR A FRENCH SPEAKING ON-BOARD NATURALIST FOR ELDING WHALE WATCHING REYKJAVIK, ICELAND SUMMER 2015.

Elding Whale Watching Reykjavik is a family owned company established in 2000. We are the original operator in Reykjavik, abide by IceWhale guidelines as well as integrating our own and are the first environmentally certified whale-watching company in Iceland. We work together with IFAW, and every year we attend WhaleFest in the UK and are listed by Planet Whale. 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.elding.is.

Elding is looking for full-time whale watching naturalists for the summer season in 2015 and maybe longer if all works out for both parties. We are looking for those that are fluent in English (main language spoken in on tours) and French. All applicants must be National Residents of Iceland, have appropriate Working Visas or have a passport from an EEA country. PLEASE DO NOT APPLY IF YOU ARE NOT FLUENT IN FRENCH.

Duration: The position will start on May 1^st (maybe earlier) until 31^st September. Shifts work on a 2-2-3 schedule (two days on, two off etc. and you have three day off every other weekend, Fri-Sun). Flexibility is required in this employment due to the unpredictability of passenger numbers each day. We may need to call you on scheduled days off to work. We ask that any long holidays, 6 days or more, can be done before you start or after you finish but we usually can arrange an extra day or two extension on your weekend off once or twice during your working season.

Salary will be discussed at a later date but looking at about 290,000ISK/month.

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.
• Adapting the narration to the passengers, environment and behaviour of the animals.
• Spotting wildlife for passengers
• Cleaning – 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…

Important 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, a very good SENSE OF HUMOUR, 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.
• Photography skills are desirable
• Willingness to work long hours outdoors in sometimes unfavorable weathers i.e strong winds, snow, hail, rain etc.
• A Team Player - no job is too small or too big for any of our staff members.
• Physically fit - there may be some heavy lifting. i.e. moving cases of drinks or working with heavy ropes, being on your feet for most the day.

We are also looking for guides that would like to be involved in the research voluntarily through the summer. Taking data on the occasional Sunday and involved with the photo Identification.

How to apply:

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

Deadline for applications is no later than 20th March and those that are successful will be contacted no later than the end of March for a formal interview.