Xanterra has plenty of jobs

Simply said, Xanterra Parks and Resorts is hiring.

The company, which will operate the major lodges and the red bus tours in Glacier National Park next year announced it needs people to fill key positions.

“If anyone is looking for employment, we’re hiring,” said Robert Yow, vice president of of business development at a recent economic conference hosted by the National Parks Conservation Association in Kalispell.

The company lists a host of jobs on its web site for Glacier Park — everything from management positions, to housekeepers, bartenders, cooks, chefs and red bus drivers. There’s even jobs as winter caretakers — Glacier Park Inc. kept winter staff at Lake McDonald Lodge and Many Glacier. The Many Glacier caretaker job is an isolated one to say the least. The road into the valley is snowed in — the only access in and out is 7 miles by snowshoes or skis from November until April, when Park plow crews clear the road.

The accommodations are also cramped — the lodging is a small cabin at the edge of Mount Altyn that in snowy winters is virtually consumed by snow.

Xanterra promises to run a different operation than Glacier Park Inc. did. Yow touted the company’s “green” accomplishments at other national parks where it operates. For example, in Zion National Park, the company eliminated the sale of bottled water and installed water fountains at its properties.

While the bottled water had a significant profit margin, Yow noted the change was positive for the environment. The company also takes pains to purchase food and beverages from sustainable sources and some properties utilize their own organic gardens to grow vegetables for their menus.

The company also has been working on energy efficiencies and has the goal to decrease its fossil fuel use by 30 percent by 2015.

Xanterra is a multi-faceted company, running the major lodges and concessions in several national parks, including Zion, Grand Canyon — where the company got its start more than 130 years ago — Yellowstone, and Crater Lakes.

For a direct link to jobs in Glacier, go to: http://www.glacierjobs.com.