Sockeye Cycle Employment Opportunities

Company History by owner, Thom Ely

I first came to Haines in 1982 after a two-month sea kayak trip around Southeast Alaska. A few friends had just moved here. I spent a month visiting and had a good impression of the area. I moved here in 1987 and bought an existing bike business the end of the year. I picked up Trek and Specialized as my primary bicycle lines and concentrated on the retail aspects of the bicycle business, In 1989 I expanded in to the tour and rental business.

I built a small shop in Skagway the summer of 1992 to provide for the bicycle needs of the local and visitor industry. I expanded the buiness in 2000 and built a new store with some employee housing. We have a full service sales, repair, rental and tour business there. This year we had eighteen full time employees. The majority of the full time positions are in Skagway.

Area Information

Haines is located 80 miles north of Juneau in the Southeast Panhandle of Alaska on the Lynn Canal, North America's longest 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 700 year round and 1500 in the summer. You can drive to both communities from the ALCAN.

The climate is somewhat drier then other areas of Southeast due to a combination of coastal and interior weather. We are at the northern end of the Tongass National Forest, the country's largest at 16 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, 5 species of salmon and a multitude of other critters.

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, boardsailing, paragliding, fishing, hunting, hiking, kayaking, tennis and whatever else there is to do outside.

Job Qualifications - All Employees must be US citizens or have a green card or work visa for the USA. You need to have a clean driving record and provide a DMV report covering the past three years. All employees must be willing to obtain an Alaska Drivers License. Current CPR, First Aid certification and a DOT medical certification are required before you arrive. All employees will sign a contract when hired. Not all positions may be currently open for hire.

Guide/Driver - You need to be 23 years or older. It helps to have a basic knowledge of bike mechanics. Public speaking and a yearn to learn and talk about the local region is a major part of the job. You need to have solid leadership qualities and you need to be organized and on time. A positive, outgoing, friendly attitude is necessary at all hours of the day. Guides will also drive the tour vans, so you should feel comfortable driving a van with a trailer. You must be committed to staying the term of your contract. You are responsible for the client's welfare and following tour procedures. Positions are available in Skagway. Pay is $10/hour. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Mechanic/Retail/Driver - You need to be 23 years or older. Bicycle mechanic certification is preferred or at least three years of shop mechanic experience. You must have current component and sales knowledge. You will also drive the tour vans, so you should feel comfortable driving a van with a trailer. You need to be available from May 1st or June 1st - September 30th in Skagway. You must be precise, focused, organized and motivated. Pay is $12/hr. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Shop Manager- Haines - You need to be 23 years or older and have previous shop management or senior mechanic experience. Duties include: retail, inventory, repairing and building bikes, grounds, and all tour equipment. You will also be involved with daily tour operations. An excellent work ethic, honesty, flexibility, and motivated to work as the sole mechanic in a small town shop is required. You must be committed to staying the full season, April 25th - September 30th. This is a salaried position starting with a 30-day training and evaluation period. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Shop Manager- Skagway - You need to be 23 years or older and have previous shop management or senior mechanic experience. Duties include scheduling and overseeing mechanics, retail, inventory, bikes, ground, and all tour equipment. You will also be involved with daily tour operations and work in tandem with the operations manager. An excellent work ethic, honesty, flexibility, and management skills to facilitate a stress free teamwork environment are required. You must be committed to staying the full season, April 25th - September 30th. The position is in Skagway. This is a salaried position starting with a 30-day training and evaluation period. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Operations Manager - You need to be 23 years or older. You need to have previous management, data entry computer experience and excellent public relations skills. You should be familiar with marketing, sales and other retail business related tasks. Duties include scheduling and managing employees, settling accounts, correspondence, and guiding. You will work in tandem and oversee the shop manager. You are the employee, shore agent and public liaison for the company. An excellent work ethic, organizational skills, honesty, flexibility, and ability to facilitate a stress free teamwork environment are required. You must be committed to staying the full season, April 25th - September 30th. The position is in Skagway. This is salaried position starting with a 30-day training and evaluation period. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Assistant Operations Manager - You need to be 23 years or older. You will assist the operations manager with the above duties. This is salaried position starting with a 30-day training and evaluation period. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Office Administrator - You need to be 23 years or older. You need to have previous computer data entry and accounting experience with excellent organizational skills. You should be familiar with marketing, sales and other retail business related tasks. Duties include AP/AR, billing, reservations, filing, payroll, retail sales, advertising, inventory, ordering supplies, etc. An excellent work ethic, honesty, flexibility, and ability to contribute to a stress free teamwork environment are required. The position is based in Haines. This is a part time year round position averaging 10 - 20 hours/wk in the off season and 30 - 40 during the season. Pay starts at $12/ hr. Upon successful completion of your contract you will be eligible for a performance bonus.

Accommodations

We have company housing in Skagway available for our employees at $300/Mo. for a single room and $200/Mo. for a shared room. The rooms are located in the same building as the business. There is a communal kitchen and living area for residents only. A room or house to rent in Skagway or Haines can sometimes be found before the season starts. Camping in a tent or the back of your truck is an option in both communities either at a campground or free range. Because of the long hours left unattended and busy days we request that you not bring any pets with you. Pets are not allowed to roam or be tied up on company property.

Training

There are two 5 day training sessions for guides and mechanics the first week of May and June. Paid training at $8/Hr. involves a thorough review of all tour and shop procedures. It is mandatory that you attend one of these sessions. You will receive a training manual to study before you arrive.

The majority of the positions are based in Skagway and involve our daily tour operations with the cruise ships. The tours are 2 - 3 hours long with groups of 12 and two guides. A typical day during the main season mid June to mid August involves guiding two trips and driving one.

Based on your qualifications and when we receive your application, we will conduct phone interviews, check references and hire as needed.