Jobs

Each summer we hire new staff as housekeepers and servers, kitchen helpers, cooks, operations crew members, and naturalist guides. We have completed our hiring for the 2024 season, but we are currently accepting applications for two year-round positions that will be vacated this fall. This is a rare opportunity, as we have a small team of year-round staff without much turnover! 

 

All of our jobs are physically demanding and require long days. Staff generally average 45-60 hours/week. A standard workweek is five days, with two days off through the majority of the summer. The start and end of the season are predicitably busier times. All staff must be able to lift and carry up to 50 lbs., stand and walk for long periods of time and on uneven foot trails, and independently traverse the one-mile, 500 vertical foot driveway from the park road to Camp Denali. Walking is our primary mode of transportation. 

 

The nature of our fly-in operation requires flexibility and versatility from every staff member. We’ll seek to discover what combination of roles will be best for you as part of our application and interview process.

Position-specific wage information is provided in each job description below. In addition to your wages, employees receive a share of pooled tips (averaging approximately $500/month), a uniform stipend, free room and board for the duration of the summer season, and a travel stipend upon completion of a full summer season.

Click to Apply  

We are currently accepting applications for two supervisory positions: Program Manager & Executive Chef. 

Executive Chef

The Executive Chef drives a high standard of ethic and execution in the kitchen and dining spaces and throughout Camp Denali. We are committed to good food, made from quality, responsibly sourced ingredients. The excellence, presentation, and timeliness of meals have a huge impact on guest experience and staff morale, and the food service team takes pride to ensure that the impact is positive and reflective of how we value our staff and guests. The Executive Chef has ultimate responsibility for the food service team, including, but not limited to, crafting an effective training plan for Orientation Week, providing day-to-day supervision and ongoing feedback, and leading by example both in the kitchen and throughout the greater Camp Denali community.

Program Manager

This position impacts the staff and guest services through educational experiences, including naturalist-led hikes, excursions conducted under a concession contract with Denali National Park, subject matter expert lectures, and more. The Program Manager also secures and oversees visiting guest speakers through the Special Emphasis Series (SES) and Camp Denali’s own naturalist guides.

The Program Manager works in close collaboration with Camp Denali’s guest hosts to coordinate and support the guest stay with a strong focus on excellent customer service and cultivation of a strong sense of community among staff and guests. The Program Manager serves as the direct manager to the team of naturalist guides.

Seasonal job descriptions are below.

We will begin accepting applications for seasonal positions in mid-November for the coming 2025 season. 

Naturalist Guide 

Naturalist Guides lead guests into the trail-less backcountry of Denali National Park and customize those outings to deliver the educational mission of Camp Denali in a compelling and personalized manner. Our Naturalist Guides are teachers of experiential learning, experienced backcountry hiking guides, and trained drivers.

All Naturalist Guides bring a solid background in the natural sciences, but that is merely a foundation for this position. The individuals who gravitate to this role are lifelong learners who bring endless curiosity and a deep commitment to becoming an expert on Denali National Park's six million acres. Our Naturalist Guides spend the short summer season geeking out about route finding, geology, bird migrations, wildflower identification, and so much more!

Dinner Cook 

Camp Denali is committed to serving wholesome and flavorful food, expertly presented, and prepared using the highest quality local and organic ingredients. We are proud to say that 100% of the meat, poultry, eggs, and seafood served in our dining room are Alaska-grown. Our onsite greenhouse and raised beds are the source of our very own organic produce.

The Dinner Cook prepares from-scratch meals that delight guests and staff alike. The dinners you present will make people feel nourished and cared for, be memorable highlights of their time in Alaska, and serve as conversation starters that bring people together at mealtime. 

Dinner Cook plates seasonal offering featuring local, organic protein and produce fresh from the greenhouse

Breakfast Cook 

A Breakfast Cook at Camp Denali is a leader in the kitchen. This staff member assists in the training and supervision of an Assistant Cook and Kitchen Helper, cooks breakfast for guests and staff, prepares staff lunch, is responsible for other food preparation tasks, and takes an active role in maintaining an organized and clean kitchen during the shift. The position can be combined with other food service positions, depending on education, experience, and company needs.

Hot Breakfast - Frittata

Assistant Cook 

Our Assistant Cook position is perfect for applicants who bring some kitchen experience combined with a desire to work as part of a team that produces inspired food. The the title suggests, the Assistant Cook often works in tandem with the Breakfast Cook or Dinner Cook, but there are several tasks for which they take lead responsibility: making guests' sack lunches, preparing and plating salads for guest dinner, and executing the nightly bread and dessert service according to the baker's instructions.

Summer salads made from organic greens grown onsite

Baker 

At Camp Denali, guests and staff alike sing the praises of our bakers. We look for bakers who delight in exceeding the expectations of what is possible at a remote wilderness lodge.

The baker is responsible for producing all baked goods for approximately 30 guests and 30 staff. These items include breakfast pastries and sweet breads, lunch sandwich breads, dinner rolls and breads (e.g. focaccia, sourdough baguettes, challah), cookies and bars, dinner desserts and sauces (e.g. panna cotta, fruit tarts, cakes, galettes, souffles). 

Bakers typically start the workday between 4 - 5 a.m. 

Morning buns, cinnamon rolls, and every pastry imaginable, all made from scratch, are one of the ways our bakers spoil us

Kitchen Helper & Dishwasher 

This is an entry level food service position. The Kitchen Helper spends a good portion of their day washing dishes, and in many ways they function as the primary housekeeper for the kitchen space. Outside of dishwashing they tend to a daily checklist of kitchen organizational tasks and cleaning duties, and also assist the Breakfast Cook with preparing components of guest breakfast and help plate that meal.

Dishwashers are a crucial part of our kitchen team, but everyone on staff shares dishwashing duties.

Housekeeper & Server 

Coming on as a Housekeeper & Server is a great way to join our team and gain valuable experience in Denali. There are a variety of housekeeping roles, but they all offer a nice balance housekeeping duties that are a bit more behind the scenes with guest-facing work as a breakfast and/or dinner server. Camp Denali takes a lot of pride in our attention to detail and much of that is demonstrated through providing immaculately clean public spaces and guest cabins. Housekeepers & Servers lay the groundwork for exceptional guest experiences. 

Housekeepers at Camp Denali also serve guest meals. Meals are single service, at communal tables.

Operations Crew &

Skilled Operations Crew 

These skilled and physically demanding positions assist the Facilities Manager in maintaining our property. Members of the "Ops Crew" work individually or with a group of 2-4 others performing daily tasks and specific projects related to maintenance of grounds, trails, buildings, vehicles, water and electrical systems, and more. 

Operations Crew members bring a range of skills, experience, and expertise. We denote individuals who bring past professional experience in the trades as Skilled Operations Crew members and they are compensated at a higher hourly rate. 

East End Host & Expeditor 

This staff member will provide support at the East End of Denali National Park. This role functions as the host for our East End office–welcoming  incoming and outgoing guests, tagging and organizing luggage, and escorting guests across the street for their flights departing from Denali Air. When guests are not present, this staff member manages the flow of all supplies, gear, and food headed to Camp Denali. This person will receive weekly deliveries, as well as unpack, organize, and maintain the inventory system for goods stored at the East End Office. Meeting pilots to load and unload planes for cargo runs will be a big part of the job. 

 

 

All jobs at Camp Denali involve heavy lifting, also known as schlepping. The pilots we work with at Denali Air are familiar with the routine.

Megan Meyer, Personnel Manager
PO Box 67, Denali National Park, Alaska 99755
907-683-2290   jobs@campdenali.com
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