Backcountry hospitality in the mountains of Maine

About Maine Huts & Trails

Maine Huts & Trails is a non-profit organization whose mission is to establish a recreational trail corridor in Maine’s Western Lakes and Mountains region. Upon completion, our system of trails, backcountry huts, and waterways will run 200 miles through some of the most spectacular backcountry in Maine. Our trails ensure perpetual public access, and our off-the-grid huts provide ecotourism destinations that facilitate outdoor adventures and learning.

Maine Huts & Trails currently operates four backcountry huts accommodating up to 48 guests each, and 80 miles of trails open to the public free of charge, year round.  In the winter, trails are groomed for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.  In the summer the huts offer hiking, mountain biking, paddling, and fishing.

Maine Huts & Trails is based in the heart of Western Maine. The region includes some of Maine's highest peaks, and hundreds of glacial lakes, including some of Maine's largest.  The area offers four-season outdoor recreation opportunities, including hiking on the Appalachian Trail, world-famous fly fishing on Rangeley Lake, flat water and whitewater paddling, including the longest stretch of continuous whitewater in the northeast, hundreds of miles of mountain biking trails, and downhill and cross-country skiing destinations.

Summary

Hut crew are responsible for providing a welcoming, friendly, and clean environment for overnight guests and day visitors at Maine Huts & Trails’ backcountry huts. Hut crew undertake a variety of responsibilities on a rotational basis, including front desk, food preparation, housekeeping and custodial duties, and assisting with operation and periodic maintenance of green energy systems.

Successful applicants will have a proven commitment to customer service, the ability to work as part of a team, and the ability to maintain high standards in an isolated setting. Food service, hospitality, or related experience is preferred.

This position is a unique opportunity for someone interested in recreational or outdoor hospitality, green building design and operation, conservation education, or similar fields.

Responsibilities

• Customer service: welcoming guests and visitors and providing information
• Cooking: preparing and serving three hearty meals a day for up to 48 guests
• Housekeeping: cleaning and sanitizing food service and dining areas, washing dishes, sweeping, mopping, washing windows, and cleaning restrooms.
• Retail sales:  store, maintaining accurate retail sales records and inventories
• Operation and maintenance of facility: including solar array, propane generator, hydro generator, battery bank, wood boiler, composting toilets
• Provisioning:conducting scheduled inventories of food, supplies and retail, loading and unloading supplies, and properly storing items.
• Stewardship: Implementing energy conservation and environmentally sound practices in daily operations. Educating guests to promote outdoor ethics.
• Other related duties as required.
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Qualifications

• Prior experience in hospitality, food service, or facility maintenance.
• Exceptional customer service skills and a friendly, outgoing manner.
• Excellent communication skills and the ability to work as part of a team.
• Ability to perform work with minimal supervision and to work well under pressure.
• Enthusiasm for living in a remote wilderness setting. 
• Interest in outdoor recreation, especially hiking, biking, paddling, skiing and snowshoeing
• ServSafe certification or other food handling certificate preferred
• CPR/First Aid certification desirable, Wilderness First Aid preferred
• Physical abilities required: ability to stand, sit, bend at waist, lift and carry up to 50 pounds. All hut staff must be willing and able to ski or hike to the hut – there is no vehicle access.
• Excellent spoken English

Dates

June 15^th – November 1^st, 2013. Priority will be given to qualified candidates able to work the full season.

Schedule

Hut staff work 40-50 hours per week. The standard work schedule is ten days on/ four days off. The day-to-day work schedule is determined by hut managers, with a variety of morning, mid-day, and evening shifts.

Compensation and benefits

Hut staff are paid competitive bi-weeklysalary. Crew live on-site in staff quarters at the huts. Room and board are provided.

Seasonal staff benefits include free Maine Huts & Trails membership, free stays at Maine Huts & trails facilities for staff, family, and friends, pro discounts on outdoor gear, and free or discounted services at other local recreation businesses.

To Apply

Please visit our website at http://www.mainehuts.org to learn more.

To view all current openings, visit http://www.mainehuts.org/jobs/

Submit an application by email to employment@mainehuts.org, by fax to (207) 265-2209 or by mail to 496 Main St, Kingfield, Maine 04947.

Job Contact Info

• Chris Nilon
• Phone: 207-265-2400
• Fax: 207-265-2209
• http://www.mainehuts.org
• Send an Email
• Apply Now