Operations Manager

Spirit Bear Lodge | Klemtu, British Columbia

Employment Type: Seasonal Full-Time 6 Months Contract (May - October 2027)

Spirit Bear Lodge is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to coordinate daily marine, guiding, transportation,and field operations in Klemtu, British Columbia. Owned by the Kitasoo Xai’xais Nation, the Lodge provides wildlife, cultural, and coastal experiences in the Great Bear Rainforest, supporting local employment, stewardship, and community economic development.

Reporting to the General Manager, the Operations Manager works closely with the Lodge Manager and Field Operations Supervisor to ensure staff, schedules, vessels, equipment, trails, and wildlife viewing sites are safe and ready for guest activities. This is a hands-on role requiring strong coordination, practical judgment, and clear communication between lodge and field teams.

Key Responsibilities

• Supervise operational teams: Provide clear assignments, coordinate staffing and schedules, and conduct daily briefings. Support onboarding, practical training, and consistent performance, referring significant staff concerns to the General Manager.
• Coordinate guest activities: Align excursions and transportation with meals, accommodations, departures, and returns. Work with the Field Operations Supervisor to confirm guide and field staff readiness.
• Respond to changing conditions: Adjust daily plans for weather, marine conditions, staffing, and equipment availability. Communicate changes promptly and pause activities when safety requires.
• Maintain operational readiness: Confirm vessels, fuel, supplies, communications, and emergency equipment are ready for use. Ensure routine checks, cleaning, and operational logs are completed.
• Coordinate maintenance: Arrange routine repairs within delegated authority, report major maintenance needs, and keep operational areas organized. Support seasonal opening, closing, equipment storage, and off-season servicing.
• Oversee trails and viewing sites: Schedule inspections and maintenance, assign work, and confirm completion. Address access and safety concerns, restrict use when necessary, and ensure work follows stewardship requirements.
• Implement safety procedures: Confirm staff training and certifications, coordinate immediate responses under emergency procedures, and ensure incidents, hazards, and near misses are documented and addressed.
• Support guest service and stewardship: Resolve daily service concerns with the Lodge Manager and escalate significant complaints. Ensure activities respect cultural protocols, access arrangements, and wildlife viewing requirements.
• Manage spending and records: Coordinate purchases within approved budgets, monitor fuel and supply costs, review timesheets, and maintain purchasing and maintenance records.
• Report to the General Manager: Provide updates on staffing, daily delivery, equipment and site readiness, spending, and unresolved issues. Obtain approval for matters outside delegated authority.