Jobs at Whittaker Mountaineering

Now Hiring Spring/Summer 2024 Seasonal Staff!

Interested in working at Whittaker Mountaineering? Below are the available jobs listed. We look forward to hearing from you!

Please send your resume to Ben@whittakermountaineering.com

Job Type: Outdoor Equipment Associate

Whittaker Mountaineering | Ashford, WA

Job Type: Summer Seasonal Hourly Wage: $17.00-$22.00 DOE

Date Range: March to End of September of 2024

Whittaker Mountaineering (WM) is a specialty outdoor retail and rental store located six miles outside of Mt. Rainier National Park in Washington State (MRNP). WM is the recommended outfitter for RMI Expeditions (RMI), www.rmiguides.com, one of North America’s largest Mountain Guide Service. WM and RMI are located at Rainier BaseCamp along with several other businesses serving the needs of hikers, climbers, and Park visitors. We are seeking a Sales Associate that is organized, customer service oriented, has strong communication skills, and a passion for the outdoors. Sales Associates are responsible for ensuring our customers have a positive and seamless experience when shopping or renting with us.

Job Description

Outfitting customers with outdoor gear and apparel
Creating a comfortable and welcoming atmosphere for all customers and getting RMI climbers excited for their climb
Educating customers on performance and technical aspects of mountaineering and outdoor equipment
Maintaining an orderly appearance throughout sales floor, rental shop, and BaseCamp grounds
Answering phones, responding to voice messages and email inquires

Executing various specific projects and tasks in both the rental and retail departments including but not limited to:

Retail:

Operating Shopify Point of Sales system and online data base
Counting, Receiving, Labeling, and Stocking new gear as it arrives to the store
Sharing information and status updates on local trails and conditions inside and outside the MRNP
Providing excellent customer service that may lead to increased sales

Rentals:

Preparing rental reservations and meal packages for pickup and international shipment
Maintaining, cleaning, and repairing rental equipment as needed
Maintaining a clean and organized rental shop at all times
Outfitting clients with the proper gear needed for each specific climb
Processing gear returns
Assisting with visual merchandising
Operating EasyRent Rental Point of Sale System
Assisting with other daily operations and various needs as needed

Desired Skills and Experience

Interest/experience in hiking, backpacking, mountaineering, climbing, snow/outdoor sports
Ability to work well as part of a small team
Experience with Shopify Online and Point-Of-Sale System Preferred
Proficiency in Microsoft Office – Primarily Outlook, Excel and Word
Detail oriented, ability to problem solve and think critically
Capable of being a self-starter
Strong communication/listening skills
Highly developed sense of integrity and passion for excellence
1-2 years of customer service experience (preferably in an outdoor industry retail environment) considered a plus
Must be able to lift approx. 40lbs

Benefits

Mountaineering Snow School with RMI Expeditions

Opportunity to climb Mt. Rainier with RMI (during climbing season May-September)

Use of outdoor gear from the Rental Shop at no charge

30% Off In-store purchases (does not apply to used or sale items)

20 % Off Rainier BaseCamp Bar and Grill and Whittaker’s Bunkhouse Café

Low-cost and on-site employee housing (Approximately $200/month including utilities)

Content & Social Media manager

Quick facts

Location: Hybrid (on-site in Ashford, Washington for content creation a few days a month, the rest remote) - Based in the PNW

Companies: Whittaker Mountaineering and RMI Expeditions

Salary: $60,000 - $80,000 per year, depending on experience

Company Overview

Whittaker Mountaineering is a specialty outdoor retail shop dedicated to equipping adventurers with the highest-quality mountaineering gear and apparel. Located in Ashford, WA, we strive to simplify the outfitting process, making it easier for enthusiasts of all levels to prepare for outdoor adventures. Our focus on delivering expert advice, exceptional products, and an engaging shopping experience to ensure our customers are ready for any challenge the mountains may present.

RMI Expeditions is a premier mountaineering guide service with a legacy of leading climbers to the world's most iconic peaks, including Mount Rainier, Denali, and Everest. With a commitment to safety, comprehensive guide training, and environmental stewardship, RMI provides climbers of all levels with unparalleled support and expertise. We aim to offer transformative experiences that inspire a lifelong passion for the mountains.

Job Summary

The Content and Social Media Manager for Whittaker Mountaineering and RMI Expeditions is a dynamic hybrid role based in Western Washington, combining creativity, strategy, and outdoor adventure. This position is responsible for developing engaging content and driving social media growth for two premier outdoor brands, requiring a mix of on-site content creation in the mountains and remote work. Ideal candidates will have a passion for the outdoors, a proven track record in social media and content management, and the ability to create impactful multimedia content that educates, entertains, and inspires.

Although the tone, content, and strategy for each company will be slightly different, both are located on-site in Ashford, WA, and share a similar customer base. Each will take up about 50% of your work week.

This hybrid role requires you to be on-site to capture content (or in the mountains), with the remaining days remote. The applicant must be based within commuting distance of Ashford, WA and physically fit enough to participate in climbs for content creation purposes.

The Ideal Candidate

The Content and Social Media Manager will drive growth of RMI and Whittaker Mountaineering’s social media presence, developing strategy and creating compelling content to educate, entertain, and inspire current fans and new audiences.

We’re looking for a creative, innovative, driven individual with a love for the mountains and a growth hacker mindset. Someone who has a proven track record growing social media accounts for small and medium size businesses, preferably in the outdoor industry. Someone who can pump out entertaining, informative content in a variety of mediums (posts, reels, blogs) on a consistent timeline. Someone plugged into trends and insights, always analyzing our competition and drawing inspiration from the broader industry. Someone who can self organize, working independently while not being afraid to ask for help or coordinate with others on the team; someone who genuinely enjoys being in the mountains, capturing content and showcasing our guides, gear, and knowledge.

Key Responsibilities

Social Media Management

Develop and execute social media strategies to enhance brand awareness, engagement, and website traffic for RMI Expeditions.
Distribute content across social media platforms (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok) to reach and engage target audiences.
Create and post at least 2x “content marketing” posts and 1x Reel/Tiktok per week for each brand.
Engage with followers, respond to comments and messages, and foster community around the RMI Expeditions brand.
Re-post guide and client stories they tag us in.
Monitor social media trends, competitor activities, and platform updates.

Written Content Creation

Create, write, edit, and produce diverse content types, including blog posts, articles, newsletters, product descriptions, and multimedia content.
Plan and execute engaging video content for Instagram Reels and TikTok platforms.
Develop compelling copy for social media captions, blogs, and other marketing materials.
Manage and maintain a content calendar in coordination with the Marketing Director, ensuring timely content delivery across various platforms.

Photo and Video Creation

Capture engaging video and photo content for marketing use, both on expeditions and at Rainier BaseCamp.
Develop compelling copy for social media captions, blogs, and other marketing materials.
Create and format trip report blogs from guide entries.

Content Management (P7 Program)

Organize incoming content in Sharepoint from guides using our in-house content capture program, P7.
Ensure guides are up to date on content standards and best practices.
Use established tagging systems to sort and update content according to use.
Ensure guides are paid promptly for the content we use, and generate quarterly usage reports for Marketing Director and C-Suite.

Trend Analysis and Reporting:

Use analytics tools to track the performance of content and social media campaigns.
Prepare regular reports to communicate insights, successes, and areas for improvement.
Assess content and social media activities' return on investment (ROI).
Stay updated on industry trends, emerging platforms, and new technologies to keep the content and social media strategy fresh and effective.
Adjust strategies based on the evolving landscape of digital marketing and social media.

Qualifications

Proven experience (2+ years) in content creation and social media management.
Strong writing, editing, and multimedia production skills.
Proficiency with social media platforms and analytics tools.
Excellent communication and collaboration skills.
Physical fitness and ability to participate in climbs and outdoor activities for content creation.
Passion for mountaineering and outdoor adventures is a plus.
Experience with video editing and production for platforms like Instagram Reels and TikTok.

Technical skills (not required, but a plus):

Microsoft Sharepoint
Social Media Scheduler Tools
Social Media Analytics Tools
Microsoft Excel
Canva and/or Adobe Express

Benefits:

Health Care: Health Insurance Coverage (75% covered by Whittaker Mountaineering; 25% of the premium paid by the employee). Spouses and dependents may be eligible for health care benefits (premium paid by the employee).
Vision Insurance: Employee’s premium is covered 100% by Whittaker Mountaineering. Option to add spouse/dependents with 100% of the premium paid by the employee.
IRA: Eligible for employee matching up to 3% of base salary.
Sick Pay: 1 hour for every 40 hours worked; Up to 40 hours of earned sick pay may roll over to the following year.
Vacation Pay:
- 1-2 years of employment: 1 hour for every forty hours worked.
- 3-6 years of employment: 1.5 hours for every 40 hours worked.
- 6 years+: 2 hours for every 40 hours worked.
Opportunity to climb domestically and internationally with RMI Expeditions.
Use of outdoor gear from the rental shop at no charge.
30% Off In-store purchases at Whittaker Mountaineering (does not apply to used or sale items).
Access to industry pro deal programs.
20% Off Rainier BaseCamp Bar and Grill (excludes alcohol) and Whittaker’s Bunkhouse Café.