Seasonal Boat Handler

Description

Summary:

Next Adventure surrounds itself with employees who are passionate about the outdoors and want to make a positive impact in the company every day. The role of every Boat Handler is to promote our mission:

Inform. Outfit. Excite.

General Description of Position:

Boat Handlers are Next Adventure’s key on the water stoke masters. Boat Handlers are required to maintain the rental shop process, be knowledgeable about all rental equipment we offer, have outstanding customer service, be able to work efficiently, and have great attention to detail.

***This position is designated as a seasonal role, starting on April 8th, 2025, and ending on October 5th, 2025, with flexibility for the start date or extension based on performance and individual circumstances. 

 Please note that due to high demand during the summer season, time-off requests will be approved at management’s discretion. We appreciate your understanding and flexibility as we work to meet customer needs during this critical time. 

Job Responsibilities:

• Provide excellent customer service, every shift, every opportunity. Next Adventure has built a reputation for having friendly, honest and knowledgeable staff that is always willing to help guide customers through one of the best rental experiences.
• All Boat Handlers must develop their own personal and effective approach to recommending appropriate rental items.
• Gain the required product knowledge to answer any question that makes its way into the rental shop or boathouse. 
• Boat Handlers are expected to have effective written and verbal communication skills and use established communication systems to their fullest. 
• Be a positive part of the team. The rental shop and boathouse are a fast-paced environment that can only function with a cohesive team. 
• Maintain the organization and processes of the rental department and boathouse. 
• Be able to correctly rent out any equipment that is provided by Next Adventures robust fleet.
• Have a basic knowledge of how to operate rental software: issuing rental articles, returning rental articles, creating customer profiles, invoice receipts, issue reservation refunds, navigate inventory, and setting up reservations.
• Boat Handlers will be expected to complete daily shop duties and be accountable for keeping the store and rental gear clean and organized.
• Demonstrate integrity regarding company and customers' belongings. 
• Help customers take their rentals down to the water, help customers with their rental gear at the end of their day, and be able to provide a high level of customer service from the rental shop down to the bay.

Requirements

Qualifications:

• Previous experience working in an outdoor rental shop is preferred but we are willing to train the right candidate.
• Previous customer service experience in outdoor retailer (preferred)
• Ability to work under pressure while meeting tight deadlines 
• Previous experience working with a team
• Ability to talk about general paddle sports nomenclature
• Light to heavy lifting, with reasonable accommodation 
• Practicing safe lifting techniques
• Standing for long periods of time 
• Able to work outside in variable weather conditions for long periods of time.
• Basic math skills
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Proficient with, or a quick study on, Microsoft Excel 

Key Competencies:

Customer Focus- Anticipating, meeting and/or exceeding customer needs, wants and expectations.

Teamwork- Cooperating with others to meet objectives.

Flexibility- Readily modifying, responding and adapting to change with minimal resistance.

Continuous Learning- Taking initiative to regularly learn new concepts, technologies and/or methods.

Planning and Organizing- Establishing courses of action to ensure that work is completed effectively and on time.

Hiring Process at Next Adventure - What to Expect:

At Next Adventure, our primary objective is to hire the most qualified candidates and ensure their long-term success within our organization. We place great value in our hiring process, and we ask that all applicants submit a cover letter with their resume. We appreciate the time and effort that goes into submitting an application, please be assured that we will respond to all applications within 1-2 weeks, and we will maintain open communication with our applicants throughout the process. 

We use a generic email account to communicate with applicants, and sometimes our emails may end up in your spam or promotions folder. Please ensure that you check these folders for any correspondence from Next Adventure. To streamline our communication process, we highly recommend opting-in for text messages, as this will allow for quick questions and reminders about interviews. 

At Next Adventure, we take a personal interest in every applicant, and we read each resume and cover letter carefully. We value creativity, initiative, and a passion for the industry. Our goal is to hire the best candidates and retain them for the long-term, and we believe that this process begins with a strong application and a commitment to kaizen. 

Next Adventure provides the following benefits to regular full-time (FT) employees:

• Group health, dental, and vision insurance - UHC and Principal
• Short-term disability  
• Voluntary life insurance, and 25,000 basic life insurance  
• OregonSaves Retirement plan  
• Vacation up to 4 weeks, based on position and years of service. 2-week sabbatical added after 10 years.  

Next Adventure provides additional perks to any employee as follows:

• Employee discount: Max 35%  
• Free Demos & Rentals 
• Circuit Bouldering Gym Daily Passes
• The Source Climbing Gym Daily Passes 
• Membership discounts at Movement and PRG 
• Access to Industry Pro Deals on products, events, lift tickets, and more