Our Job Vacancies
CURRENT AVAILABLE ROLES
Nau mai, haere mai ki te whānau o Whale Watch Kaikōura.
CAPTAIN (permanent position)
An exciting opportunity exists to join the team at Whale Watch Kaikōura as a Captain.
This is a permanent, full-time role based at Kaikōura as a valued member of our Fleet & On-Water Services team.
We have two tiers of Captain.
- Tier 1 being Skipper Coastal Offshore + Passenger + High Speed or ringfenced equivalent.
- Tier 2 being Skipper Restricted Limits + 24m + Passenger + High Speed or ringfenced equivalent.
- NOTE: The high-speed endorsement is operator specific so you would need to successfully complete high speed training alongside your general training requirements.
Whale Watch currently operates 2 x 24m foil assisted catamarans, quad engines driving Hamilton Jet units. Each vessel carries up to 116 passengers within inshore and restricted coastal limits.
As Captain you will play a critical role in the delivery of a high-quality on-water service to our customers. You will ensure the highest possible service standards are delivered and support the safe and compliant operation of our fleet and associated infrastructure.
The role is based on a guaranteed minimum of 40-worked hours per week across a 5-day working week but subject to customer demand and/or role requirements actual worked hours could be higher.
The role also maintains versatility with training and working within other areas of the company forming part of the role. The captain will be required to fill Watchkeeper and Safety Officer crew roles.
Desirable qualifications, attributes, skills and experience:
- Experience working within the tourism industry.
- Experience working within the maritime sector, ideally in command of a vessel.
- Experience with Hamilton Jet propulsion.
- Experience within a customer driven and focused environment.
- Computer literate. Tech savvy and embraces the integration of supporting technology.
- Can confidently speak to and engage with large groups of people.
- Excellent communication skills.
- A team player with a strong work ethic.
- Leads by example, and models positive leadership behaviors.
- Ability to work unsupervised, reliable and uses their initiative.
- Safety conscious.
- Trustworthy with Integrity.
- Cultural awareness.
- Workplace first aid.
- Skipper Coastal Offshore + Passenger endorsement.
- MEC6 Endorsement
- Full Class 2 License
Minimum Role Requirements:
- Skipper Restricted Limits + 24m + Passenger endorsement.
- Currently living in New Zealand.
- Legally permitted to work long-term in New Zealand.
- Must be based in Kaikōura.
If you think you have what it takes to fulfil this exciting role then please provide a letter and CV to Pakihana Hawke by Email: paki@whalewatch.co.nz Post: PO Box 89, Kaikoura 7340 or Deliver to: The Whaleway Station, Whaleway Road, Kaikōura.
Role remains vacant until a suitable candidate is identified.
MARINE MAMMAL RESEARCHER (volunteer position)
An exciting opportunity has become available to join the team at Whale Watch Kaikōura as a volunteer Marine Mammal Researcher.
This is a permanent role based at Kaikōura as a valued member of our Research team.
As a volunteer researcher you will play a critical role in conducting field surveys for marine mammals, primarily focussing on sperm whales and collecting photo-identification. The successful applicant will gain valuable experience in conducting marine mammal field research, identifying individuals based on fluke characteristics, and the use of databases for archiving field data.
Field work is physically and at times mentally demanding but it is a great opportunity to gain knowledge in visual cetacean surveying, to get hands-on field experience in relation to survey techniques, photo-identification, behavioural observations, and improve practical skills.
Fieldwork is weather dependent and can vary between weekdays and weekends.
Desirable attributes, skills and experience:
- Be reliable, adaptable, hardworking and patient as fieldwork is highly weather dependent. This means time in the office during bad weather and long consecutive days in the field when weather permits.
- Have a mature and independent attitude towards marine mammal research.
- Be able to work independently.
- Speak fluent English.
- Be sociable, enthusiastic and have a positive attitude.
- Strong interest in the marine environment and conservation.
- Comfortable working on boats.
- Experience including marine mammal data collection, including photo-identification.
- Experience working on research vessels.
Minimum Role Requirements:
- Upper-level undergraduate, recent graduates and graduate students who have a background in biology, marine biology, ecology, zoology or related fields.
- Basic proficiency in MS Office.
- Must be based in Kaikōura.
- Availability for a full three month period
- Available 30 hours per week
As this is a volunteer position, there is unfortunately no monetary compensation or living provisions provided. The successful candidate should arrange their own accommodation in Kaikōura, living expenses, travel costs and visa.
If you think you have what it takes to fulfil this exciting volunteer role then please provide a letter and CV to Krista van der Linde by Email: lucy@whalewatch.co.nz.