Jobs
LIVE AND WORK IN TOFINO
Swell Tofino, Tofino’s small surf school and rental shop with a big heart is always interested to hear from passionate people that enjoy sharing their love for the ocean!
We’ve currently filled all our full time positions and staff accommodation spots for the 2025 season. However feel free to still send in your application for future seasons or in the case that we have unexpected changes.
**To know for upcoming seasons – our hiring begins in November and usually wraps up in January**
On call contractor surf instructor positions are available for those with their own accommodation.
Available Positions
- Contractor Surf Instructor – Part Time – Paid $100 per lesson (or $120 if you have your own WCB number)
How to apply:
Please see details for the positions below. Please send your application including PDF version of your resume and cover letter to jobs@swelltofino.com
** please do not include expired certifications on your resume.
What makes these jobs different?
A little different then your typical outdoor industry instructor job; at Swell Tofino we value professionalism and view our full time employment opportunities as careers. We support all our staff to live a healthy and sustainable life in Tofino through numerous job benefits.
Guaranteed hours: For our full time positions we guarantee your work hours despite how busy it is. Staff with a full season position (March to October) are guaranteed 6 to 8 hours a day 5 days a week. We expect a commitment from our staff and in return we commit to them to create a dependable work schedule.
No overworking: It’s easy to burn out in the surf and outdoor industry when working in tourism. We don’t want our staff to be overworked, so you have time to surf and enjoy living in the most beautiful place in the world. We manage our schedule so that working more than 8 hours a day is not expected.
Tofino’s best staff accommodation: Housing in Tofino is always the biggest challenge. Our full time positions come with staff accommodation. We take pride in the quality of accommodation we offer for our staff. We have resources and process set up to assure a mature, clean, organized staff accommodation that is the backbone to healthy living.
We support your surfing: We love surfing and we’re here to surf. We have a number of additional benefits that help with the development of your own surfing. We provide instructors with a wetsuit, we have staff surfboards, and we provide weekly (bi-weakly in the summer) surf coaching with video feedback from team Canada’s surf coach Shannon Brown.
Overview of Swell Tofino’s regular full time positions and pay:
Surf/SUP Instructor – teaching 3 hour surf lessons
Booking agent and rental attendant – taking bookings and renting surf gear
Bike Mechanic – responsible for maintaining our beach cruiser bike fleet
$20/hour full time for first time surf instructors / booking agents.
$21 – $22/hour for surf instructors / booking agents with multiple seasons of experience. (Based on number of job roles able to be performed)
** $1/hour bonus will be paid upon completion of the contract.
*** staff accommodation is available for all full time positions at $600/month for a shared room including utilities.
Additional Benefits:
Professional Surf Coaching
Tofino’s best staff accommodation
Free work wetsuits and deals on personal wetsuit and surf equipment
Overview:
Swell Tofino is all about inspiring people to build connections with the ocean and others through getting on the water and outside together. As a surf school and rental company we offer two daily 3 hour surf lessons as well as SUP lessons and rental equipment: Surfboards, Paddleboards, and Bikes.
We are looking for organized, enthusiastic compassionate leaders to join our team both on the water and in the shop. The Surf Instructor and Rental Shop Attendant will be responsible for teaching surf lessons, SUP lessons and working at our surf rental rental renting gear and taking bookings.
Additional Job Duties:
Instruct recreational surf and paddleboard lessons and enforce safety rules, providing assistance and first aid when required. Assemble surf, paddle and bike equipment, ensuring they are excellent condition. Maintain, repair, and keep equipment in professional working order including surfing equipment, paddling equipment, bikes, safety equipment, and first aid supplies. Keep logs of weather conditions and equipment maintenance, maintain records of guests paperwork and prepare reports for inventory maintenance. Attend to projects and needs of the company related to any retail or maintenance.
The ideal candidate will exhibit the following experience and skills:
Professional, creative, energetic personality.
Responsible, punctual and well organized.
Outgoing and customer service oriented.
Teaching, Coaching and/or Instruction skills preferably in the outdoor industry.
Surfing experience (minimum 2 or more years of personal experience).
Paddleboarding experience is an additional benefit.
Compassionate Leadership and team building. You need to be a strong leader and a great team player. With a small team, we all need to pitch in to get the work done, even if it’s not in your job description.
Ability to lead outdoor activities pertaining to a wide range of age groups.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: Clear and friendly communication skills and professional demeanour, over email, phone, and in-person with both co-workers and customers.
Organized and self-motivated. You need to be able to take initiative.
Problem-solving and multi-tasking in a fast-paced work environment.
Flexibility and the willingness to adapt to changes in work routine based around changes in demand due to the seasonal nature of the surf industry.
Positive outlook and a curiosity to learn.
Required certifications:
First Aid with CPR-C certificate
International Life Guarding (ILS) or Bronze Cross (or higher level of lifesaving)
Valid full driver’s license (not new driver)
Additional useful certifications:
Paddle Canada SUP Instructor Certification
ISA lvl 1 certificate for surf instruction
We thank all applicants for their interest and advise that only those selected for an interview will be contacted. These positions are only open to those legally entitled to work in Canada.