Thank you for your interest in employment at RVA Paddlesports!
We would be so stoked to have you on our team, and we hope you will apply for one of our positions.
RVAPS is the #1 Outdoor Activity destination in Richmond, Virginia. Home to America’s only urban Class IV rapids, Richmond is the ideal place to experience stunning natural beauty, breathtaking skyline views, and thrilling rapids. We offer whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, climbing, and paddleboarding guided tours, lessons, and rentals to thousands of clients each year. We have year-round and seasonal positions. At RVAPS, we put a great emphasis on training our employees to help our customers feel safe, have fun, and, most importantly, make memories that will last a lifetime.
We are always looking for new staff. Whether you are highly experienced or looking to start your career as an outdoor adventure professional, we have a position for you! Browse our positions, and join our team today!
-
Raft Guide
A family enjoying a relaxing float on the Upper James River in Richmond, Virginia.
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is one of the two main rafting companies to take patrons down the James River as well as run clinics and classes on kayaking. The RVAPS Raft Guide is responsible for getting customers down the James River in fun and safe fashion. Guides should be able to effectively communicate with their guide team and customers on and off the river. They should bring excitement and knowledge to every trip they run making ensuring customers have the best experience possible.
Furthermore, they must be competent and capable in part or whole of the following: functioning in high stress environments, ability to work in large groups settings, communicating, and assisting participants in a manner that exhibits safety, proper technique, and follows the policies and procedures set forth in the RVA Paddlesports Handbook.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
Starting Pay Rate: $55 Per trip + Tips
Minimum Qualifications:
- 16 years of age or older
- Ability to lift objects 50 lbs or more
- Ability to attend and complete all training days ($450 cost of training)
- River experience is not a necessity, we will teach you everything to become a great guide
Preferred Qualifications:
- Some experience with outdoor equipment & activities
- Familiar with the greater Richmond area paddling
- Previous experience as a whitewater raft guide
- Certified in CPR and First Aid
- Certified in Wilderness First Response
- Training in Swift Water Rescue
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Be professional, fun, and approachable
- Meet and greet guests
- Load and prepare rafts
- Execute crash courses in rafting (paddle talk)
- Lead a safe and fun rafting trip
- De-rig and clean up post trips
- Maintain the cleanliness and organization of facilities and vehicles
- Assist with both directed and undirected tasks without direct supervision from the RVAPS management
- Others duties as assigned
To Apply:
- Submit a cover letter and resume/experiences through email at [email protected]
- OR fill out the form below
-
Operations Assistant
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is looking for an enthusiastic, hard-working individual to join our team as Operations Assistant. The OA will be in charge of day-to-day operations such as scheduling, responding to emails, answering phone calls, being a point of contact for the raft guides, and keeping an eye on various supplies in the office and replenishing them as needed.
Ultimately, you will work with the management team to ensure all administrative tasks are completed to keep the business running smoothly.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
Starting Pay Rate: Commensurate with experience
Job Responsibilities:
- Promptly answer questions of staff and customers
- Provide excellent customer service and maintain relationships with partners
- Assist with raft guide recruitment and onboarding processes
- Assist with weekly staff scheduling
- Assist with last-minute staff scheduling (especially on weekends)
- Assist with weekly staff communications (known as “Guide News”)
- Take inventory and order office supplies as needed
- Prepare and file forms and other documents
- Analyze all operations and forward suggestions for improvement to the manager
- Keep office organized and clean
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Previous experience as an Operations Assistant or other similar role
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Superb organizational abilities
- Outstanding interpersonal skills
- Hold a valid US driver’s license
- Have a current CPR and First Aid certification (if an applicant does not hold a current CPR/FA cert, one must be acquired prior to job commencement).
Preferred skills:
- Proficiency in Google Suite
- Previous experience working with platforms such as Mailchimp, Canva, WordPress, and FareHarbor
Desired skills:
- Previous experience working for an outdoor adventure company, especially within the whitewater industry
- Previous knowledge of the James River and Whitewater classification system
To Apply:
- Please send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]
-
Camp Counselor
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is seeking energetic, fun, safety oriented individuals to facilitate our camp programs! Counselors will be in charge of daily activities, parental communication, and maintaining logistical organisation. Counselors will participate in camp activities including canoeing, swimming, bike riding, trail hikes, kayaking, standup paddle boarding, and rafting. Camp will maintain a staff to camper ratio of 1:8.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220 and the surrounding Richmond area
Starting Pay Rate: Commensurate with experience
Job Responsibilities:
- Ensure a group of assigned campers is supervised and safe
- Facilitate and encourage participation in camp activities
- Utilize appropriate behavior management techniques
- Prepare and lead a variety of activities that are age-appropriate
- Model good behavior for campers as it relates to sportsmanship, manners, and respectfulness
- Perform all responsibilities in a manner that guarantees the safety of campers
- Interact with parents in a professional and polite manner
Minimum Qualifications:
- 16 years of age or older
- Ability to lift objects 50 lbs or more
- Valid US Driver’s License
- Flexible hours in the summer
Preferred Qualifications:
- Some experience with outdoor equipment & activities
- Familiar with the greater Richmond area
- Previous experience working with school-aged children
- Certified in CPR and First Aid
- Certified in Wilderness First Response
- Training in Swift Water Rescue
To Apply:
- Please send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]
-
Shuttle Driver
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is one of the main rafting companies to take patrons down the James River, as well as run clinics and classes on kayaking. RVAPS Shuttle Drivers will become familiar with company vehicles, trip times, and driving routes. They are responsible for making guests feel comfortable and safe when being transported on river trips.
Drivers must be competent and capable in part or whole of the following: functioning in high stress environments, possession of a US driver’s license, communicating, and assisting participants in a manner that exhibits safety, proper technique, and follows the policies and procedures set forth in the RVA Paddlesports Handbook.
RVA Paddlesports is a recognized training facility for CDL drivers, and is willing to train and assist suitable applicants in earning their CDL.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
Starting Pay Rate: $60 per trip, CDL additional $15 hr
Minimum Qualifications:
- 18 years of age or older
- Ability to lift objects 50 lbs or more
- Valid US Driver’s License
Preferred Qualifications:
- Some experience with outdoor equipment & activities
- Possesses or has the ability to obtain a Class B CDL with a passenger and air brake endorsement
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Drives 12- and 15-passenger vans/buses, or 45-passenger bus with air brakes
- Pulls 12-foot boat trailer, loaded or unloaded on shuttles.
- Backs these vehicles with trailers in tight spaces at put-ins and take-outs.
- Drives in various road conditions, on dirt roads and highways.
- Helps load gear into or out of vehicle or trailer when appropriate, and helps with boat loading at put-ins and take-outs. Assists with rigging and derigging of boats when appropriate.
- Conducts daily vehicle maintenance: Fills gas, oil, checks fluids, cleans windows, sweeps out vehicles, checks lights, trailer connections and lights, etc. Washes and waxes vehicles as needed. Reports needed repairs and parts to Operations Manager, completes repairs when possible.
- Helps with fitting, hanging out, or bringing in of equipment
- Communicates well with owners, managers and co-workers.
- Maintain the cleanliness and organization of facilities and vehicles
- Assist with both directed and undirected tasks without direct supervision from the RVAPS management
- Others duties as assigned.
To Apply:
- Submit an application and cover letter through email at [email protected]
-
Reservationist
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is looking for an enthusiastic, personable individual to join our team in the role of Reservationist. The reservationist will be responsible for answering daily communications that come into the bookings office and for assisting clients with creating, amending, and rescheduling bookings. The reservationist first and foremost will answer all incoming phone calls to the bookings office and if they cannot assist the customer with their query, will forward their call to the appropriate manager on duty.
Applicants should be comfortable answering phones, communicating in a professional manner, and multi-tasking or working quickly and efficiently to address issues that may arise with a customer’s booking.
To be successful in this position, you must be able to work with minimal supervision and have excellent customer service skills.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
Starting Pay Rate: Commensurate with experience
Job Responsibilities:
- Assisting and advising customers who call in to book an experience
- Providing accurate descriptions of all activities on offer
- Making reservations for customers over the phone based on their requirements
- Processing payments and sending confirmation details to customers
- Sorting out any issues that may arise with bookings or reservations, and directing customers to the appropriate manager should the need arise
- Selling and promoting experiences
- Answering any questions customers might have about the booking process as well as the experience itself
- Up-selling, when appropriate, by informing customers of other experiences on offer, seasonal promotions, special offers, etc.
- Providing support to customers who may need to amend or cancel a reservation, within the limits of the company’s cancellation policy
Requirements:
- High school diploma or equivalent
- Experience working in sales or public relations, preferably in the hospitality or service industries
- Customer service experience
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills
- Multi-tasking and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritize tasks
- Flexible working hours in the summer
- Hold a valid US driver’s license
- Have a current CPR and First Aid certification (if an applicant does not hold a current CPR/FA cert, one must be acquired prior to job commencement).
Preferred skills:
- Proficiency in Google Suite
Desired skills:
- Previous experience working with FareHarbor platform
- Previous experience working for an outdoor adventure company, especially within the whitewater industry
- Previous knowledge of the James River and Whitewater classification system
To Apply:
- Please send your resume and a cover letter to [email protected]
-
Intern
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is one of the two main rafting companies to take patrons down the James River as well as run clinics and classes on kayaking. The RVAPS Intern is responsible for receiving and inputting bookings pertaining to rentals or trip registration for customers. As well as assisting with the day-to-day up keep of the shop and office.
Furthermore, they must be competent and capable in part or whole of the following: organizing, directing, communicating, and assisting participants in a manner that exhibits safety, proper technique, and follows the policies and procedures set forth in the RVA Paddlesports Handbook.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
Starting Pay Rate: Commensurate with experience
Desired Knowledge Skills and Abilities:
- Computer, phone and excellent customer service skills
- Detail oriented, self-motivated and able to work independently without supervision
- Good communication and decision making skills
- Ability to communicate effectively and efficiently over the phone
- Awareness of safety concerns and risk management involved with rafting
- Good organizational skills
- Proficient in Google and Microsoft applications
- Ability to lift objects over 50lbs
Preferred Qualifications:
- Some experience with outdoor equipment & activities
- Familiar with the greater Richmond area paddling beta
- Experience in customer service
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Be professional, fun, and approachable
- Take phone calls to complete bookings
- Register customers for trips and clinics using Fareharbor
- Aid customers and Raft Guides in the planning and checking out of equipment for their trips and excursions
- Check out and maintain all RVAPS equipment
- Maintain the cleanliness and organization of facilities and vehicles
- Perform general office clerical work (i.e. filing, making copies, updating the bookings calendar)
- Assist with both directed and undirected tasks without direct supervision from the RVAPS management
- Others duties as assigned.
To Apply:
- Submit an application and cover letter through email at [email protected]
-
Kayak Instructor
A group of Intro to Kayaking students learning the basics on the James River in Richmond Virginia
Job Description:
RVA Paddlesports is one of the two main rafting companies to take patrons down the James River as well as run clinics and classes on kayaking. The RVAPS Kayak Instructor is responsible for providing students with a variety of kayak techniques accompanied with constructive, meaningful feedback in order to foster skill acquisition and long-term paddler development. They are to facilitate whitewater/ flatwater kayak instruction for individuals and small groups using an informative and enjoyable approach, while managing the inherent risks involved with whitewater activities.
Furthermore, they must be competent and capable in part or whole of the following: functioning in high stress environments, ability to work in large groups settings, communicating, and assisting participants in a manner that exhibits safety, proper technique, and follows the policies and procedures set forth in the RVA Paddlesports Handbook.
Location: 1511 Brook Rd, Richmond, VA 23220
Starting Pay Rate: $60, varies depending on group size
Minimum Qualifications:
- 16 years of age or older
- Ability to lift objects 50 lbs or more
- Valid US Driver’s License
Preferred Qualifications:
- Some experience with outdoor equipment & activities
- Familiar with the greater Richmond area paddling
- Previous experience as a kayak instructor
- Certified in CPR and First Aid
- Certified in Wilderness First Response
- Training in Swift Water Rescue
Primary Duties & Responsibilities:
- Be professional, fun, and approachable
- Meet and greet guests
- Load and prepare gear
- Teach the essential skills necessary to safely function in a kayak
- Execute a kayak safety and paddle talk
- Facilitate a safe kayaking trip
- De-rig and clean up post-trips
- Maintain the cleanliness and organization of facilities and vehicles
- Assist with both directed and undirected tasks without direct supervision from the RVAPS management
- Others duties as assigned
To Apply:
- Submit an application and cover letter through email at [email protected]