Wilderness Safety Services LLC (WSS) provides professional field safety, wilderness risk management, and wildlife safety services for organizations operating in remote and challenging environments. We support industrial, exploration, engineering, environmental, scientific, and other field operations where wildlife exposure, rugged terrain, severe weather, isolation, and limited access create additional operational risk. What sets WSS apart is our field-focused approach. Our personnel integrate directly with client teams and combine strong wilderness experience, situational awareness, professional wildlife deterrence capabilities, remote communications, and disciplined safety practices to help keep field operations moving safely and efficiently. WSS is built around professionalism, sound judgment, preparedness, and dependable field personnel—not simply “bear guards.” We provide capable safety professionals who understand how to operate as part of a larger project team in demanding remote environments.

Wilderness Safety Guide / Bear Guard

Company: Wilderness Safety Services LLC

Location: Remote Field Assignments — Alaska & Project-Based Deployments

Employment Type: Seasonal / Project-Based Field Employment

Position Overview

Wilderness Safety Services LLC (WSS) is seeking experienced, professional, and highly self-sufficient Wilderness Safety Guides (WSGs) to support remote field operations in Alaska and other project locations.

WSS provides specialized wilderness risk management, wildlife safety, and remote field support services for companies and organizations operating in challenging environments. Our personnel support industrial, environmental, engineering, scientific, exploration, construction, and other remote field operations where wildlife exposure, isolation, terrain, weather, and limited access create additional operational risk.

This is not a recreational guiding position. Wilderness Safety Guides are field safety professionals responsible for maintaining situational awareness, managing wildlife-related risk, supporting safe field operations, and integrating professionally with client crews.

Assignments may involve active brown bear, black bear, or polar bear habitat depending on project location.

Successful candidates demonstrate mature judgment, emotional regulation, strong situational awareness, disciplined firearm handling, professionalism, and the ability to operate independently in remote environments with minimal supervision.

Primary Responsibilities

• Provide professional wilderness and wildlife safety oversight for client personnel and field operations
• Maintain continuous situational awareness in remote, wildlife-prone environments
• Identify changing wildlife, terrain, weather, personnel, and operational hazards
• Establish and maintain appropriate wildlife safety practices around work sites, camps, travel routes, and field activities
• Apply wildlife avoidance, deterrence, and response procedures appropriate to the circumstances and applicable regulations
• Safely carry, operate, inspect, and maintain firearms, bear deterrents, communications equipment, and assigned field safety equipment
• Maintain safe firearm readiness and strict muzzle, ammunition, and handling discipline at all times
• Assist with wildlife monitoring, site observations, and establishment of appropriate safety zones
• Communicate hazards and changing field conditions clearly to client personnel and WSS leadership
• Complete wildlife sightings, safety observations, daily logs, incident documentation, and other required field reporting
• Participate in daily safety meetings, job hazard assessments, and client safety programs as required
• Coordinate professionally with field crews, supervisors, contractors, pilots, equipment operators, guides, and client representatives
• Support remote field operations when appropriate, including navigation, communications, camp logistics, aviation-supported movements, and emergency response readiness
• Maintain assigned equipment in clean, serviceable, and field-ready condition
• Follow WSS policies, client requirements, site-specific procedures, and applicable wildlife regulations

Preferred Experience

Strong candidates will typically have one or more of the following backgrounds:

• Professional Bear Guard or Wilderness Safety Guide experience
• Alaska hunting guide or big-game guiding experience
• Significant professional experience working in brown bear or polar bear habitat
• Remote industrial, mining, exploration, environmental, engineering, or scientific field operations
• Military experience involving field operations, security, or small-arms proficiency
• Law enforcement or professional security experience
• Wilderness expedition or remote field leadership
• Wildlife management, wildlife deterrence, or human-wildlife conflict experience
• Search and rescue or emergency response experience
• Wilderness medicine or emergency medical training

WSS values professional judgment and relevant field experience over bravado or tactical appearance. The strongest candidates understand that wildlife safety is primarily about awareness, avoidance, communication, positioning, and disciplined decision-making.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants should possess:

• High school diploma or GED
• Significant experience working, guiding, hunting, or operating in remote wilderness environments
• Strong firearm safety practices and demonstrated firearm competency
• Familiarity with pump-action shotguns and wildlife deterrence equipment
• Ability to safely load, unload, operate, inspect, clean, and maintain assigned firearms
• Ability to meet WSS firearm proficiency and qualification standards
• Strong situational awareness and sound judgment
• Ability to remain calm and make disciplined decisions under pressure
• Ability to work independently with minimal direct supervision
• Strong professional communication skills
• Basic wilderness navigation skills using GPS, maps, and compass
• Ability to use radios, satellite communication devices, GPS units, and other field communication systems
• Ability to work effectively as part of a multidisciplinary field team
• Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record when required by assignment
• Ability to pass background screening when required
• Ability to pass drug and alcohol screening when required by WSS or the client
• Ability to meet project-specific training, safety, and credentialing requirements

Preferred Certifications

Depending on assignment, preference may be given to candidates possessing:

• Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
• EMT or higher medical certification
• CPR / First Aid
• OSHA training
• MSHA Part 46 or Part 48 training
• HAZWOPER
• Polar Bear Awareness training
• USFWS-recognized or project-approved polar bear safety / Bear Guard training
• Other recognized wildlife safety or remote field certifications

Certain Arctic or regulated assignments may require additional certifications before deployment.

Physical & Environmental Requirements

Wilderness Safety Guides must be capable of performing safely in demanding field conditions, which may include:

• Extended periods outdoors in severe or rapidly changing weather
• Hiking through rugged, uneven, mountainous, tundra, wetland, or river environments
• Carrying firearms, communications equipment, PPE, and other field gear for extended periods
• Lifting and carrying approximately 50 pounds
• Remaining alert and observant during long-duration field operations
• Working shifts that may include early mornings, nights, weekends, or extended hours
• Living and working in remote camps or temporary accommodations
• Working in isolated locations with limited cellular or internet access
• Safely boarding and exiting fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, boats, ATVs, UTVs, and other field transportation
• Working around industrial equipment and active field operations
• Traveling frequently and deploying with limited notice when project requirements demand

Professional Expectations

WSS Wilderness Safety Guides are expected to demonstrate:

• Calmness under pressure
• Mature judgment
• Emotional regulation
• Situational awareness
• Professional communication
• Reliability and accountability
• Strong safety culture
• Self-discipline
• Attention to detail
• Respect for client personnel and project leadership
• Ability to receive and follow direction
• Ability to operate independently when appropriate
• A low-ego, team-first mentality

WSS personnel represent the company while embedded with client teams. Professional appearance, conduct, communication, documentation, and decision-making are essential components of the position.

This Position Is Not a Fit For

This position is unlikely to be a good fit for:

• Individuals primarily seeking an adventure or tourism job
• Applicants with limited remote wilderness experience
• Individuals uncomfortable with the professional responsibility of carrying a firearm
• Applicants who require constant supervision or direction
• Individuals primarily interested in wildlife viewing or photography
• Applicants who struggle with long periods of routine observation and vigilance
• Individuals who approach wildlife safety as an opportunity to demonstrate toughness or aggression

Effective Wilderness Safety Guides are disciplined safety professionals—not thrill seekers.

Typical Assignment Environments

WSS projects may include:

• Mineral exploration and mining support
• Environmental and biological field programs
• Engineering and geotechnical projects
• Survey and mapping operations
• Construction and infrastructure projects
• Remote scientific programs
• Remote drilling operations
• Pipeline, utility, or energy projects
• Helicopter-supported field operations
• Remote fly-in camps
• Arctic and sub-Arctic operations
• Mountain, tundra, coastal, river, and wilderness environments
• High-density brown bear or other wildlife habitat

Assignment duration may range from several days to multiple weeks or months depending on project requirements.

Compensation & Deployment

WSS offers competitive project-based compensation commensurate with experience, qualifications, assignment requirements, and level of responsibility.

Depending on the project, compensation and deployment benefits may include:

• Competitive hourly compensation
• Overtime opportunities
• Mobilization and demobilization compensation
• Standby compensation when applicable
• Per diem or provided meals
• Company-arranged or client-provided lodging
• Project-related transportation
• Extended deployment opportunities
• Advancement into Lead Wilderness Safety Guide positions

Specific compensation, schedules, travel arrangements, and deployment terms are established for each assignment.

About Wilderness Safety Services

Wilderness Safety Services LLC provides specialized field safety and wilderness risk management services for organizations operating in remote and challenging environments.

Our Wilderness Safety Guides integrate directly with client field teams to manage wildlife exposure and other remote-environment risks while supporting safe, efficient field operations.

Our work requires more than simply carrying a firearm. WSS personnel are expected to understand field operations, anticipate hazards, communicate effectively, maintain professional standards, and make sound decisions when operating far from conventional emergency and support resources.

We are building a team of dependable field professionals who take that responsibility seriously.