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Employment

Be Part of Green Dream Tours!

We are a small, locally owned San Francisco tour company, specializing in wine tours of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. In 2018, we celebrated our 10th year in business, and in that time, we have welcomed thousands of guests and gained TripAdvisor Hall of Fame status thanks to countless glowing reviews!

We Value Our Guides

It’s our guides that really help to deliver a great tour experience — a happy guide means happy guests! We strive to be a great place to work so each of our guides feels valued, content and can let their fun and outgoing personality shine through during their tours.

Being a Green Dream Tour Guide

Our guides stand apart from the rest by providing personalized attention, plenty of information and keeping the tour fun! We take time on tour to chat with guests, get to know them and connect on a personal level. We check in with them to make sure they’re enjoying the day and recommend things to do and places to go while they’re in the area.

Our Expectations

We’re looking for outgoing, fun, friendly and personable guides who are also professional. You must be willing to go out of your way for guests, be enthusiastic and always do the best job possible. Guides must be flexible and willing, self-motivated, organized, systematic and detail-oriented.

The Role In More Detail

Requirements

• Tour guide experience and/or driving experience is mandatory
• Wine and Wine Country experience and knowledge is preferred but not mandatory
• Ultimately, you will be required to narrate 1 hour from SF to Wine Country and give a 15-20 minute talk on winemaking
• Must have current California Commercial Class B license, with a passenger endorsement or must be able to obtain one — we may be able to help you in this process
• Must be able to pass a drug test
• Must have a relatively clean driving record

A Typical Day

• 7:30 am: Pre-trip vehicle inspection
• 8:00-9:00 am: Guest pick-ups
• 9:15 am: Photo stop, group meet & greet and itinerary overview
• 10:15-11:15 am: First winery tasting, photos, purchases, restroom stop
• 11:30-12:30 pm: Second Winery tasting, tour and purchases
• 12:45-2:00 pm: Lunch (picnic at winery or during free time at Oxbow) and vehicle inspection (this could include refueling or vehicle cleaning).
• 2:15-3:30 pm: Third winery tasting & purchases, tour wrap-up
• 4:30-5:30 pm: Guest drop-offs
• 6:00-6:30 pm: Vehicle drop-off and clean-up

Work Commitment & Hours

• Positions start in spring (March through May, somewhat flexible start date) and require commitment through the end of October. The schedule will be cut back after October, but continued part-time work through the winter and beyond is possible
• Full-time and part-time positions available
• Guides work 1-5 days per week
• Shifts run 10 to 11 hours per day, approximately 7:30 am to 5:30-6:30 pm
• Must be available on weekends (some exceptions can be made)
• Must be available to be on-call some days
• Only one weekend can be guaranteed off during peak season from 4/1 to 10/31, by prior request only

Challenges

• Long days, early starts
• Managing group dynamics, especially when there is a diverse group from different cultural backgrounds and generations
• Breaking the ice for groups, getting them chatting with each other, setting the tone of the day and tour
• Language barriers
• Staying on schedule without making the group feel rushed
• Maintaining a balance between fun and educational tours
• Reading groups and adjusting guiding style to fit different needs, desires and expectations

Compensation

• Salary is $200 per day for full day tours + tips. Tips are typically $50 to $150+ per day
• Salary is $100-150 for half-day tours + tips
• Training wage is $150 per day/tour (training is typically around 10 days)

Employment FAQs

Is Green Dream Tours right for me?

San Francisco-based Green Dream Tours is locally owned and has a staff of 6-10 depending on the time of year. We are looking for guides who are team players and have a commitment to unparalleled customer service. Guides must be fun yet professional with an ability to help guests enjoy Wine Country to its fullest.

Where is the office?

The Green Dream Tours fleet is housed at a lot on 16th Ave. on San Bruno Street in San Francisco. This is where you would pick up and drop off vehicles. You may park your own vehicle in our lot while you are working. We have trailers here where we keep supplies. Administration, booking and marketing are handled through virtual offices at each staff member’s home.

Is experience necessary?

Tour guide experience and/or driving experience is mandatory. All guides must have or obtain a California Commercial Class B license with a passenger endorsement. We do not offer formal training to acquire your CDL, but we can offer advice, support and assistance. You may be able to practice driving on our vehicles, and use one of our vehicles for your DMV road test. Wine and Wine Country experience and knowledge is preferred but not mandatory.

What is the salary and how do I get paid?

For first-year guides, you will be paid $200 per day for full-day tours and $100-150 for half-day tours. Tips typically range from $50 to $150+ per day. Guides are given bonuses and annual raises based on guest reviews, safe driving and completion of peak season commitment.
Guides are paid by the 5th of each month through direct deposit. We are “at-will” employment and you will receive a W2. Of course, guides are further compensated by tips from guests. Our website and pre-trip emails to guests encourage tipping!

How long is the work commitment?

Tour guides are hired seasonally. Applicants need to commit to an entire peak season, which runs April/May through to the end of October.

Can I take a week off in peak season?

Guides can request time off throughout the year, but confirmed time off must be pre-approved by your manager. For unexpected issues that prevent a guide from leading a tour, he/she ideally must find their own replacement. Current policy requires guides to be available to work weekends (Fridays through Sundays) and we will only confirm off one weekend per guide per season unless arranged prior to being hired. This doesn’t mean you have to work every weekend, but we need you to be available. We try to be flexible with the schedule and expect guides to be flexible as well and available when needed. The more flexible you are with us, the more flexible we are with you.

What would my work schedule look like?

Guides work 1-5 days a week (part-time and full-time positions). Guides typically work 7:30 am to 5:30 or 6:30 pm.

What types of vehicles would I be driving?

Most tours are run in 14-passenger 2013-2018 Ford E450 mini buses. The fleet also includes an 11-passenger Nissan van, a 14-passenger Ford Transit and a 26-passenger bus. Experience with the larger bus is preferred but not mandatory.

Can I work with other tour companies?

Yes, but guides must be able to work a minimum of 1-3 days a week for Green Dream Tours during peak season and available weekends. We would consider exceptions to this.

Are there staff meetings?

The Green Dream Tours staff meets about 4 times a year. There will be a mandatory all-staff meeting in May to kick off the new peak season. The other 3 non-mandatory staff gatherings are typically casual dinner parties where we have drinks and share guiding stories.

Apply Today

Name
Do you currently live in the San Francisco Bay Area?
Do you have a current CA Class B Commercial Driver's License with a passenger endorsement?
Do you have tour guiding experience?
Are you available to work on weekends?
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