Field Staff Manager

Lindblad Expeditions is a true pioneer in Expedition Travel. From taking the first citizen explorers to Antarctica in 1966, opening the Galapagos and Easter Island to tourism in 1967, leading the first tourist expedition through the Northwest Passage in 1984, and launching our innovative partnership with National Geographic in 2004, we're now taking almost 30,000 guests a year to some of the world’s most remote and pristine locations on our fleet of 20 ships, and are committed to ensuring our guests experience the “Exhilaration of Discovery”.

 

 

 

JOB SUMMARY

The Field Staff Manager is responsible for managing all Field Staff throughout the fleet. Field Staff include ship-based members of the Field Staff department, such as Expedition Leaders, Assistant Expedition Leaders, Basecamp Coordinators, Naturalists, Cultural Specialists, Wine Specialists, Historians, Zodiac Drivers, and Community Ambassadors.

The Field Staff Manager oversees needs and tools for the Field Staff and works to create systems and protocols for managing and supporting all Field Staff. This position directly works with other departments such as Expedition Development, Human Resources, and the Marketing and Sales teams to innovate and constantly improve the guest experience and maintain high retention of Field Staff. The Field Staff Manager acts as the primary Field Staff contact for other departments and will work with the Field Staff Logistics Manager on various administrative tasks as detailed below.

The Field Staff Manager will spend approximately 60-90 days per year traveling to ships, training staff, and mentoring Expedition Leaders, and may occasionally fill in as Expedition Leader.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES

Field Staff Leadership & Performance

• Manage and support all shipboard Field Staff across the fleet, providing coaching, mentorship, and performance feedback.
• Conduct reviews and feedback discussions, support development planning, address personnel concerns in partnership with Human Resources, and contribute to retention efforts.
• Maintain regular communication through meetings, updates, and department resources to educate Field Staff on priorities, expectations, and operational initiatives.
• Analyze performance and ship visits data, guest feedback, and voyage reports and debriefs to identify trends, recognize success, and address growth and development opportunities.

Training & Professional Development

• Lead Field Staff training program including management of budget and position specific training such as  Expedition Leader and Assistant Expedition Leader training and mentorship.
• Coordinate webinars, virtual meetings, and continuing education opportunities to strengthen guest experience and operational readiness.
• Partner with Field Staff Recruiting & Scheduling and Operations, as well as Marine, and Compliance teams to support onboarding, training requirements, credentials, certifications, and voyage-specific readiness.
• Ensure Field Staff have the skills, tools, and resources needed to deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Operations & Fleet Support

• Serve as the primary liaison between Field Staff and shoreside departments, including Human Resources, Expedition Development, Marketing, Sales, and Charter Operations.
• Partner with Field Staff Logistics, Operations, and Lindblad Compliance teams to support staffing administration, credentialing, permitting, medical requirements, drug testing, policy updates, and operational consistency.
• Travel aboard vessels to coach and support shipboard teams, gather feedback, assess performance, and mentor expedition leadership.
• Support departmental process improvements and, when needed, serve aboard vessels as Expedition Leader to ensure operational continuity and an exceptional guest experience.

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS

• 5–7 years of relevant expedition travel, maritime, or related operations experience, including at least 3 years of direct people management; experience with geographically dispersed teams preferred
• Demonstrated experience conducting performance reviews, coaching and mentoring staff, handling sensitive personnel matters, and supporting retention.
• Experience developing or coordinating training, mentorship, and continuing education programs, including assessing needs and facilitating sessions.
• Experience administering departmental budgets, tracking expenditures, and prioritizing resources.
• Ability to review feedback, guest survey results, and operational reports and translate findings into actionable improvements.
• Experience coordinating with HR, Compliance, and operations partners on credentialing, required training, and policy adherence.
• Strong written and verbal communication, organizational judgment, and ability to manage competing priorities across remote teams.
• Proficiency with Microsoft 365 applications, including Excel, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint, or comparable tools.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 60-90 days annually, including shipboard assignments and field activities.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Experience managing expedition leaders, naturalists, guides, or comparable field-based professionals.
• Experience aboard expedition cruise vessels, preferably with Lindblad Expeditions.
• Knowledge of expedition destinations, natural and cultural history, and guest experience standards.
• Experience coordinating maritime or shipboard training, credentialing, and safety requirements.
• Familiarity with Zodiac and other expedition field activities, where relevant to occasional Expedition Leader coverage.
• Experience with field staff scheduling, performance management, or learning/training systems.

 

Positions based in our New York and Seattle offices follow a hybrid work schedule, requiring employees to work in the office Tuesday through Thursday, with the option to work remotely Monday and Friday. Candidates must reside within reasonable commuting distance of their designated office.

 

Using the English language, this person must have the ability to read, write, and comprehend policies, legal guidelines, correspondence, and memos.   Must also possess the ability to effectively communicate--both in writing and orally--with a professional demeanor. 

 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to sit, talk and hear.  The employee will also be required to write and type.  The employee is occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.