Outdoor Adventure Jobs in NYC: Join Our Team on the Hudson River
Experience the excitement of working on the water while sharing the joy of paddle sports to New York City. At Manhattan Kayak, you’ll be part of a vibrant community of passionate, fun-loving people who thrive outdoors.
Join us at our Hudson River Park location near Times Square. Take a leading role in rentals, classes, and trips for both beginners and seasoned paddlers from around the world, using sea kayaks, surf skis, sit-on-top kayaks, outrigger canoes, and stand up paddle boards.
River Guide
Responsibilities:
- Lead or assist river trips from 1 to 30 miles, based on experience
- Adapt float plans based on tides, weather, traffic, and hazards
- Teach paddling and safety essentials on land and water
- Entertain and build rapport among large groups
- Check in, outfit, launch, and land paddlers
- Set up and care for boats and gear
Required Skills:
- Prior on-water guiding experience
- Strong upbeat communicator who gives loud, clear, concise instructions
- Effective listening and observation skills, and ability to give supportive feedback
- Able to lift and carry kayaks and paddle boards up to 95 lbs with assistance
- Perform physical tasks like towing, rescuing self and others, and launching/landing boats
Nice to Have:
- Knowledge of NYC waterways
- CPR and First Aid certifications
- ACA or BCU paddling certifications
Schedule:
- Part-time including weekends from May to October, with potential to guide year-round if enthusiastic.
- While we offer flexibility to work around your schedule, weekend availability is required.
- We run a paid 30-day screening period, which includes reference checks and on-water evaluations. At the end of this period, a decision will be made on continued employment based on performance and fit.
Pay and Benefits:
- $17 per hour for entry-level to $30 for seasoned experts
- 100% of gratuities for all activities you participate in
Customer Service Representative
Responsibilities:
- Answer questions from visitors with warmth and confidence
- Check in, outfit, launch, and land paddlers for rentals
- Present basic paddling instructions before launching
- Bring order to the chaos, including gear organization and light tidying
- Carry kayaks and boards up to 95 lbs with assistance
Required Skills:
- Excellent English speaking and writing skills for clear communication with guests
- Calm under pressure and able to handle multiple tasks at once with a positive attitude
- Familiarity with Google Suite for daily computer tasks
- Able to lift and carry kayaks and paddle boards up to 95 lbs with assistance
Nice To Have:
- Experience in services, sales, hospitality, or fitness
- Familiarity with kayaking, paddle boarding, surfing, rowing, swimming or similar sports
Schedule:
- Part-time including weekends from May to October
- Weekend availability is required. Hours vary based on our activity schedule and your availability.
- We run a paid 30-day screening period, which includes reference checks. At the end of this period, a decision will be made on continued employment based on performance and fit.
Pay and Benefits
- $17 per hour for entry-level to $22 for seasoned experts
- 100% of gratuities for all activities you participate in