Trip Leader Jobs

Trip leader jobs are open across outdoor adventure, educational travel, and eco-tourism companies, at every level from seasonal guide to senior program director, with specializations in wilderness expeditions, group tours, and youth programs. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.

Find Trip Leader Jobs

Overview

Open roles48
Top stateCalifornia
Top employerSteve & Kate's Camp
Top cityMenlo Park, CA
Work type100% On-site
Top credentialCPR Certification

Showing 5 of 48+ Trip Leader jobs

Jiffy Trip General Manager
We won't show you this job again
New 16h ago
Jiffy Trip General Manager
Jiffy Trip
Enid, Oklahoma
Business Analysis
Business Operations
Project Management
High school diploma or GED

Have you applied for this role?

Jiffy Trip Assistant General Manager
We won't show you this job again
New 16h ago
Jiffy Trip Assistant General Manager
Jiffy Trip
Enid, Oklahoma
Compliance & Risk
Health & Safety
Project Management
$17 - $19/hr
High school diploma or GED

Have you applied for this role?

Winter Break Field Trip Camp Counselor - Bothell
We won't show you this job again
Added 3d ago
Winter Break Field Trip Camp Counselor - Bothell
Steve & Kate's Camp
Bothell, Washington
Business Strategy
Compliance & Risk
Consulting & Professional Services
$23.25 - $25.75/hr
CPR Certification
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

MLK Day Field Trip Camp Counselor - Menlo Park
We won't show you this job again
Added 3d ago
MLK Day Field Trip Camp Counselor - Menlo Park
Steve & Kate's Camp
Menlo Park, California
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$21.25 - $23.75/hr
CPR Certification
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

Winter Break Field Trip Camp Counselor - Concord
We won't show you this job again
Added 3d ago
Winter Break Field Trip Camp Counselor - Concord
Steve & Kate's Camp
Concord, North Carolina
Healthcare Administration
Mental & Behavioral Health
Social Work & Counseling
$16.5 - $19/hr
CPR Certification
1,001-5,000

Have you applied for this role?

See All 48 Trip Leader Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Trip Leader Jobs

Trip Leader Job Market

Who's Hiring

  • Steve & Kate's Camp25
  • Jiffy Trip4
  • Nexplore1
  • Transdev1
  • World Fuel1

What Employers Look For

The qualifications that appear most often in trip leader jobs.

  • Current Wilderness First Responder or Wilderness First Aid certification
  • Minimum two years leading multi-day trips with groups of eight or more
  • Valid driver's license with a clean driving record for 15-passenger vans
  • CPR and AED certification current within the last two years
  • Experience managing trip logistics including permits, gear, and vendor coordination
  • Strong communication skills for pre-trip briefings and real-time group management

Tips for Your Trip Leader Job Search

Tailor your resume to the terrain

Hiring managers for trip leader roles scan for specific environments you've operated in, such as alpine, river, or international destinations. List the regions, trip types, and group sizes you've led rather than generic outdoor experience.

List certifications in your header

Wilderness First Responder, CPR, swift-water rescue, and similar credentials are often minimum requirements. Placing them prominently at the top of your resume prevents your application from being screened out before anyone reads your experience.

Apply early to roles that fit

Migrate Mate lists trip leader openings from across the United States in one place, so you can find roles that match and apply directly to each listing.

Target hiring windows, not just postings

Most adventure and educational travel companies hire trip leaders in January through March for summer programs and in August for fall departures. Applying outside those windows often means your resume waits in a queue until the season ramp-up begins.

Prepare a scenario answer for group crises

Interviewers almost always ask how you've handled a medical emergency, a difficult participant, or a sudden itinerary change. Prepare two or three real examples with outcomes, because vague answers about staying calm rarely advance candidates past the first round.

Negotiate schedule and benefit terms clearly

Many trip leader offers quote a per-diem or seasonal rate without specifying equipment stipends, travel coverage, or return transportation. Ask for the full compensation breakdown in writing before you accept so there are no surprises on day one.

Trip Leader Jobs: Frequently Asked Questions

Which companies are hiring the most trip leaders?

The companies hiring the most trip leaders right now include Steve & Kate's Camp, Jiffy Trip, and Nexplore, with the largest share of openings in California, New York, and Washington, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Demand is strongest during spring hiring cycles ahead of summer and fall programs.

How many trip leader jobs are remote?

About 0% of trip leader openings are fully remote or hybrid as of November 2026, largely concentrated in program coordination, itinerary design, and pre-trip client communication roles. Field-based guiding and in-person group leadership positions are almost exclusively on-site or travel-required by the nature of the work.

How do you become a trip leader?

Start by earning a Wilderness First Responder certification and CPR credentials, which are baseline requirements at most organizations. Build field experience by co-leading trips with an established outfitter or youth program, then progress to solo leadership of shorter day trips before taking on multi-day expeditions. A background in education, recreation management, or environmental studies strengthens applications for youth-focused or educational travel programs.

Can you get hired as a trip leader with little experience?

Yes, entry-level trip leader roles exist at summer camps, university outdoor programs, and community recreation departments, where organizations expect to train newer staff. Demonstrating current safety certifications, any group facilitation experience such as coaching or teaching, and genuine familiarity with the specific environment makes a meaningful difference when your guiding hours are limited.

What does the trip leader interview process look like?

Most hiring processes start with a phone or video screen focused on your certification history and availability, followed by a structured behavioral interview where you walk through past situations involving group conflict, emergencies, or itinerary disruptions. Some organizations add a practical skills assessment or a mock pre-trip briefing to evaluate how you communicate safety protocols and set expectations with participants before departure.

Where can I find and apply to trip leader jobs?

You can find and apply to trip leader jobs on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from across the United States in one place. Search for roles that match your certifications, experience level, and preferred trip type, then apply directly to each listing that fits.

See All 48 Trip Leader Jobs

Find roles that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.

Find Trip Leader Jobs