JOB OPPORTUNITIES

We’re always looking for energetic, positive and ambitious individuals to join our team!

At River Drifters, we have developed an amazing collaboration of individuals who all share their love for the outdoors. Each person brings unique and valuable traits to the table that will ensure success towards specified tasks. Together everyone contributes toward achieving a common goal. We are blessed with many wonderful people from all walks of life and many of them have been working with River Drifters for several seasons.

River Drifters is always looking for energetic, positive and ambitious individuals to join our professional team. We invite you to consider joining our team. Whether your interest is on the water, working in the office, shuttle driving, logistical support, or to simply help with meal prep, we would love to hear from you! We are confident that you will find an equally rewarding experience that many our valued guides have.

Our office staff is truly the hub for communications within our company. They are the link that clearly brings logistics, operations, and trips together. One must be able to work effectively and efficiently in a very busy environment while dealing with several tasks at once. Ideally, we are looking for someone who thrives in quickly changing situations that require a solution-based mindset and leadership.

Qualifications

  • Basic computer & office equipment skills: MS Word, MS Excel, and quick learning skills to learn other computer applications
  • Clean driving record
  • Ability to be, look, and respond professionally at all times.
  • Exceptional organizational skills
  • Focused & Driven
  • Detail-oriented & Ability to multi-task a MUST
  • Ability to work as a team as well as solo
  • Honest & Hard-working for potentially long hours
  • Good human relation & communication skills
  • Ability to motivate people

Job Duties

  • Complete reservation process (via phone, web, or walk-in).
  • Retail restocking, selling, cleaning, organization, and data entry.
  • Willingness to complete other assigned tasks.
  • Build relationships with guests, partnerships with other outfitters, and communities we serve.

Compensation:

DOE

Work Location:

1. Maupin, Oregon.

Season Duration:

Part-time/seasonal based availability. You will need to have your own housing.

Application Process:

Resume, cover letter, all contact information, 3 work-related references, and 3 non-work related references.

Email office@riverdrifters.net with your resumes for this position.

The Operations Manager runs all aspects of trip operations, including managing seasonal guides and drivers, maintaining and repairing equipment, vehicles, trailers, equipment shop, and facility. The Ops Manager is in charge of scheduling resources to manage multiple day trips and multi-day trips departing daily. This person should have experience in the operations of a whitewater rafting or adventure travel company.

The Operations Manager should demonstrate empowering leadership through a growth mindset and strong collaborative ability, actively mentoring, supporting, and elevating team members to help them reach their full potential.

Qualifications

  • At least 1 season of guiding at our Maupin, OR location
  • Modest computer skills: Google suite, reservation software, and quick learning skills to learn other computer applications
  • Calm and effective in a busy environment and able to change directions and adapt plans at late notice
  • Good problem solver and comfortable operating in ambiguous situations, remaining optimistic and positive in difficult situations
  • Creative and strategic thinker
  • Works autonomously with minimal managerial oversight but knows the right time to check in
  • Excellent writing and strong verbal communications- and skills
  • Ability to effectively work in a fast paced and quickly changing environment
  • Clean driving record
  • Handy; possess general vehicle maintenance knowledge
  • Exceptional organizational skills
  • Focused & Driven
  • Detail-oriented
  • Task-oriented
  • Hard-working for long hours during the busiest and hottest of summer days
  • Able to live in a small community in a remote area
  • Excellent human relations skills & conflict resolution skills
  • Ability to motivate people
  • Previous experience with an outfitter, cooking knowledge including meal prep and planning and as always a CDL is huge a plus

Job Duties

  • Customer Service Operations & Leadership: Oversee daily service operations to deliver exceptional client experiences, enforcing high performance standards with firm, professional guidance while fostering an empathetic, fair, and non-judgmental team culture.

  • Oversee and directly engage in daily office and reservation center operations to optimize booking accuracy, streamline customer communications, and drive seamless team coordination across all trips.

  • Resilience & Professionalism: Maintain a composed, positive, and service-oriented demeanor in fast-paced, high-demand environments.

  • Team Management & Training: Supervise, evaluate, and train guides, drivers, and shop staff, ensuring proper protocols for multi-day trip preparation, gear usage, and cleanup.

  • Quality Assurance & Operations: Guarantee high-quality trip execution while managing partnerships and professional relations with external outfitters.

  • Inventory & Equipment Maintenance: Repair, maintain, organize, and allocate all rafting, camping, and shop gear across multiple concurrent trips throughout the season.

  • Logistics & Food Procurement: Plan, procure, and manage food supplies and operational logistics for multi-day excursions within established budget guidelines.

  • Fleet Management: Coordinate vehicle maintenance and schedule all shuttle operations and drivers.

Compensation:

Salary will depend on experience, commitment level and employee contract choice.  Benefits can include health, paid vacation, retirement contributions & more depending on commitment.

Work Locations:

1. Maupin, Oregon.

Season Duration:

March to Mid – October (minimum).

Commitment Term:

Year Round employment & salary available with generous vacation & sick time.  Please do not consider applying for this position if you cannot see yourself in this role for a minimum of 3-years.

Application Process

Resume, cover letter, all contact information, 3 work-related references, and 3 non-work related references.

Email info@riverdrifters.net is the preferred method of receiving resumes for this position.

River Guide Opportunities: For Experienced and First-Year Guides!

River Drifters is in the process of hiring both experienced and first-year guides for our upcoming season.

Our focus is on providing the highest level of safety, professionalism, and quality experience.  We focus on hiring individuals who are team players, who are highly personable, and have excellent customer service skills rather than a long river log. We can teach you or help you improve your technical guiding skills; customer service skills you either have or you don’t.

Whitewater Guide Training:

Our whitewater guide training is designed primarily for those who wish to seek employment as a professional river guide with River Drifters, however, we are confident that our training will enable you to positively contribute to the river community at large. We only offer training at our Maupin, OR location which includes the Deschutes day stretch, overnight trips, and the potential for occasional Clackamas river trips. The White Salmon is for experienced guides only.

River Drifters whitewater guide training will provide you an immersive experience with a curriculum taught by our professional senior river guides who are trained in swift water rescue and also have extensive backgrounds in leading whitewater rafting trips here in the PNW.

Experienced Guides:

Whether it is simply weekends or you would like a full-time position, we hire experienced guides at all of our locations!

Compensation:

Compensation based on experience.

Work Locations:

1. Maupin, Oregon – Deschutes river. New and experienced guides.

2. Husum, Washington – White Salmon river. Only guides experienced on Class IV+ rivers.

3. Estacada, Oregon – Clackamas river. Experienced guides only.

Season Duration:

The season for all of our rivers is mainly April – September (LABOR DAY Weekend). Our busiest days are typically those near and on holidays as well as all weekends throughout this time frame. Because of this, we do have dates that you are required to be available. If you are not able to work these dates and the weekends, then we unfortunately do not have a position available for you.

June 27th – July 6th 2027

July 15th – Aug 17th 2027

Sept 2nd – Sept 7th 2027

Application Process

Resume, cover letter, all contact information, 3 work-related references, 3 non-work related references, and a photo of yourself enjoying one of your favorite outdoor activities sent to office@riverdrifters.net

Please note that there are multiple factors to consider when hiring new staff. Due to these factors, a decision to hire is not usually made until the end of April.

CDL Bus Drivers:

Part or full-time CDL bus drivers in Maupin, Oregon. Must have clean driving record, task and detail focused, friendly with others! Ability to drive with a trailer a huge plus!

Compensation:

$19-23/hr

Van Shuttle Drivers:

Part or full-time van drivers in both Maupin and Estacada, Oregon. Must have a clean driving record and comfortable with driving with a trailer.

Compensation:

$18-20/hr

Work Locations:

    1. Maupin, Oregon
    2. Estacada, Oregon

Season Duration:

Seasonal, full or part-time. You will need to have your own housing.

Application Process:

Resume, cover letter, all contact information, 3 work-related references, and 3 non-work related references.

Email office@riverdrifters.net with your resumes for this position.

There are many other very important positions with River Drifters than just being a river guide. Often times these positions are excellent for those who just like to be out in the sun, are too young to guide or are retired and just would like a part-time job. We would love to hear from you!

Photographer:

Photographers must have a clean driving record, able to multi-task, have general knowledge of photography, mild computer skills and able to be punctual at work.  One must be able to work alone and be adaptable to a changing schedule. Photographers need to have their own housing.  Photographers can expect to earn $15-18/hr.

Season Duration:

June – Mid September. You will need to have your own housing.

Lunch Cooks:

River Drifters will be hiring a small number of people to help prepare and cook our lunches. These people will assist in meal planning, purchasing, forecasting, and multi-day trip packing. Lunch cooks and food prep workers can expect to earn $15-18/hr depending on experience and availability.

Season Duration:

Late May – September. You will need to have your own housing.

Maintenance:

At River Drifters we have a very gear intensive business that requires fixing, tinkering, and quality checks with our gear, transportation, and facility.  Looking for a motivated and self-directed individual that can complete tasks from start to finish. $17-22/hr DOE.

Season Duration:

March – September (Longer available if desired). You will need your own housing.

Work Location:

Maupin, Oregon.

Application Process:

Resume, cover letter, all contact information, 3 work-related references, 3 non-work related references, and a photo of yourself enjoying one of your favorite outdoor activities.

Send Resume to office@riverdrifters.net

Our internships offer an excellent opportunity for hands-on business experience as you are included in every aspect of the company. Unlike the typical corporate internship where you only see one narrow aspect of the business, our entrepreneurial internships offer the opportunity to see all aspects of what it takes to run your own business. These internship positions are excellent for a large variety or degrees. We can work with your college to provide an internship that will work for you. Please let us know what you are expecting to experience and learn from your internship!

Applicants should be highly motivated self-starters, who are able to see the big picture, yet still pay close attention to some of the smallest details. Owning your own business is a proactive and reactive exercise, so interns must be able to go with the flow while anticipating problems and being able to respond quickly to the unforeseen events.

Skills Needed

      • Creative & critical thinking skills
      • Good writing and communication skills
      • Ability to organize multiple, complex tasks
      • Ability to work effectively with people from diverse backgrounds
      • Proficient with MS Office programs
      • Excellent customer service skills
      • Ability to work effectively in a fast paced environment

Benefits

      • Excellent outdoor industry references
      • Summer Housing
      • Friends & Family Rafting discount
      • At least one multi-day river taken during the internship
      • Relationships and contacts for a lifetime
      • Stipend upon successful & satisfactory completion of program

River Drifters
PO Box 40
Maupin, OR. 97037

Whether it is simply weekends or you would like a full-time position, River Drifters would like to hear from you!

Please send resumes through email ONLY with the following items:

  • any and all related experience
  • requested days off
  • days or dates available
  • 3 work related references
  • 3 non-work related references
  • a photo of yourself enjoying one of your favorite activities

Email your resume packet to: office@riverdrifters.net