Sled dog guide

LAPLAND HOTELS & SAFARIS OY; Saariselkä; On-site; EUR 15,000 - 21,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

International team

Accommodation provided

Equipment rental perks

Restaurants & lift tickets

Job summary

Lapland Husky Safaris Saariselkä, part of Lapland Hotels & Safaris, seeks sled dog guides for the 2026-2027 winter season. Duties include kennel work, dog care, guiding safaris, and customer service in-terrain. Candidates should be in good physical condition; English is an advantage and a Class B license plus snowmobile experience are helpful.

EU work eligibility is required. The position runs from November 2026 to March-April 2027.

Qualifications

• Must be in good physical condition and able to handle changing conditions.
• English is considered an advantage.
• Class B driver's license and snowmobile experience are required/advantageous.
• EU citizenship or valid Finnish work permit is required to work in Finland.
• Previous dog-handling experience is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Care for the dogs, kennel duties, feeding and watering.
• Guide safaris and help maintain routes.
• Provide customer service at the kennel and in the terrain during safaris.
• Prepare safaris and dismantling tasks after the program.

Skills

Physical fitness

English (advantage)

Snowmobile experience

Class B license

Experience with dogs

Job description

Lapland Staff is looking for sled dog guides for the winter season 2026-2027 for Lapland Husky Safaris Saariselkä. Lapland Husky Safaris Saariselkä kennel is part of Finland's biggest sled dog enterprise. The working environment is international, and almost all of our clients are travellers from abroad. Lapland Husky Safaris' Saariselkä kennel is located about 20 km north of Saariselkä, on the shore of Lake Kuukkelilampi. Dogs have been present since 2011 and nowadays there are 153 Alaskan huskies. In addition to dogs, sheep, ducks and cats can also be found in the area. The trails run almost in the middle of nowhere, and the starting place is located on the shore of Lake Kuukkelilampi.

The duties of a sled dog guide include taking care of the dogs, daily work at the kennel, guiding safaris and possibly maintaining the routes. Kennel work includes taking care of the dogs’ well-being, feeding and watering them, socializing the puppies, and daily cleaning of the kennels. Guiding work includes preparation of the safaris and dismantling tasks after the program, customer service at the kennel and in the terrain during the safari, and guiding dog sleds. In your work, you need good physical condition, a brisk attitude, and the ability to tolerate ever-changing situations. Since our guests are international, knowledge of English is considered an advantage. As a sled dog guide, guiding in the terrain is mainly done by snowmobile, so at least a class B driver's license is necessary and experience driving a snowmobile is considered an advantage. In addition, please note that in order to work in Finland, EU-citizenship/passport or valid working permit to Finland is required. Please read more under the job advertisement We organize first aid training for our employees at the beginning of the season but previously acquired first aid skills are considered an advantage. Previous experience in guide work, outdoor work in winter conditions, regional knowledge and experience working with dogs are also considered as an advantage. The most important thing for us is a realistic understanding of the demands of the work, especially its physical nature, but also the reward - every morning, hundreds of colleagues greet you so enthusiastically that you almost need hearing protection. You should also have a flexible and fearless attitude to work, working hours are mainly between 7:00 and 16:00.

We offer you:

• A great international work team
• Variable work tasks and working days in fresh, clean air
• Diverse experience working in a large husky kennel
• Comprehensive staff benefits of Lapland Hotels & Lapland Safaris
• You will receive benefits for example from equipment rental, restaurants and Lapland Ski Resorts’ lift tickets.

The employment relationship is a fixed term seasonal contract by the Collective Agreement in the Adventure Services sector. Work will start in November 2026 and will last until the end of winter season (March-April 2027). Salary according to the Collective Agreement of Adventure Services grade A-C, hourly wage starting from 11,30 € (gross). Work will be done also during weekends and public holidays. Sundays and Finnish bank holidays are paid double. The workplace is approximately 20 km from Saariselkä, so your own car is necessary for moving between home and work, as there is no public transport. Accommodation will be organized, with reasonable rent in comparison to the local price level. Please note that Lapland Husky Safaris is a non-smoking working place.