WHO WE ARE
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”.
SUMMARY
The Food & Wine Specialist supports the expedition through their expertise in food and wine, working in collaboration with the field staff team to produce daily itineraries and deliver world-class experiences for guests.
As a Food & Wine Specialist, you can anticipate contract periods ranging from 3 to 5 weeks, with varying daily hours based on the itinerary. In this role, you will have the responsibility of curating and delivering captivating presentations, summaries, and experiences highlighting the region's culinary and wine specialties. Possessing exceptional social skills is essential, as you will be expected to dine with guests and collaborate in a diverse, international environment while living in close quarters.
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The Food & Wine Specialist supports the expedition as the expert and specialist in culture, food, and wine for our voyages. Today, we are looking for candidates with food and wine expertise specifically in the Eastern Mediterranean for voyages operating May- October 2025, and can only consider applicants who meet the following requirements.
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
- Proficiency in conveying the region's wine and food narrative, from cultivation to consumption.
- Expertise in hosting wine tastings highlighting the region, recommending wine pairings with the onboard menu.
- Experience presenting on local cuisine and its harmonious partnership with regional wines.
- Comprehensive knowledge of the destination's food and wine culture.
- Proven track record in guiding or working within the destination.
- Collaborative team player with exceptional training abilities and a proven educator.
- Ability to self-motivate and operate independently.
- Exceptional communication skills, maintaining composure under pressure when interacting with individuals and groups.
- Multitasking capabilities with meticulous attention to detail.
- Bachelor's degree or four years of relevant industry experience.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES
- Leading engaging experiences and offering relevant education throughout the voyage.
- Participating in evening recaps to highlight guests’ daily experiences.
- Preparing several PowerPoint (or similar) presentations of 30-40 minutes in length, highlighting particular and relevant themes of the voyage.
- Writing the Daily Expedition Report one or more times during the voyage, to encapsulate the guests’ daily experiences.
- Responding to requests in a timely manner and being highly visible to guests throughout the voyage.
- Accompanying guests ashore with local guides, and acting as the representative of National Geographic-Lindblad Expeditions.
- Possessing strong skills in public speaking.
- Consistently representing Lindblad Expeditions with integrity and professionalism.
- Eating meals with guests and making an effort to dine with a variety of people over the course of each voyage.
OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES
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Promotion/Sales- Should be familiar with the company philosophy and various programs offered by Lindblad Expeditions and be able to address and field questions from guests regarding the various programs offered.
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Conservation/Sustainability- Should become familiar with Lindblad Expeditions-National Geographic’s conservation and sustainability programs and be able to discuss the particular efforts in any itinerary where scheduled.
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Zodiac Operations- Should be prepared to assist with many aspects of Zodiac operations for shore excursions. Familiarity with Zodiacs and ability to drive a strong preference, but not a requirement.
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Safety- Should be prepared to participate in on-board safety training, meetings and drills, including abandon ship and fire drills. Will also participate in shore-based training as required by the Company. Must be very familiar with the Field Staff Handbook.
Communication Skills
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.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
While performing the duties of this position, this person is frequently required to sit, talk and hear. This person will also be required to write and type. Occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms. The physical demands per position are described in the Job Analysis sheet and are available to all applicants upon request.
COMPENSATION STATEMENT
Lindblad Expeditions determines the pay for contracts and positions using local, national, and industry-specific survey data. We evaluate external equity and the cost of labor/prevailing wage index in the relative marketplace for jobs directly comparable to jobs within our company. Our posted daily range is based on national data and may be refined for a candidate's region/town/cost of living.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER STATEMENT
At Lindblad Expeditions, we simply could not do our work without the diverse kaleidoscope of humanity that creates and delivers our remarkable offerings across the planet. As a Company that respects and celebrates the inherent diversity in the places we explore, we recognize the need to mirror that same diversity and all the interconnected perspectives within our organization. We are committed to building a community of different genders, races, ages, sexual orientations, chosen identities, and countries of origin where every person brings their whole self to work and whose skills, talents, and abilities are valued. We believe we can explore further and in a more meaningful way by actively creating a more diverse and inclusive organization where everyone feels they belong.
Lindblad Expeditions is an equal-opportunity employer. Individuals seeking a contract or employment at Lindblad Expeditions are considered without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability, genetics, marital status, pregnancy, unemployment status, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or veteran status.
