Join The NMRA Team!
New Mexico River Adventures is a family owned and operated adventure business with a focus on providing the best experiences for both our guests and guides. NMRA was started by Wendy and Matt Gontram, both river professionals with over 55 years combined experience as river guides on a wide variety of rivers throughout the U.S and around the world. We have brought that experience to Northern New Mexico and believe in providing the best, most professional and unique river and adventure experiences available in New Mexico. Our tight-knit team consists of river professionals, teachers, students, adventure racers, parents and explorers. We are always looking for excited, hardworking and genuine people to join the team in a variety of capacities.
Becoming A River Rafting Guide For New Mexico River Adventures
If you are interested in becoming a river rafting guide with New Mexico River Adventures and feel that you share a similar passion for the outdoors and a high level of professionalism, please contact us at 505-983-7756. We are always looking for both experienced and non-experienced river guides.
Experienced Guides
If you have prior experience as a commercial river guide, please send us your professional resume including a summary of professional and medical certifications. Experienced guides play an important role at NMRA. The Taos Box section of the Rio Grande is world renowned as one of the greatest day trips in the country. This inaccessible box canyon has amazing class 4 whitewater combined with incredible wildlife encounters all within an 800′ deep sheer walled canyon. This class 4 section is a great reward for the experienced Guide. When the water levels are lower, we also have amazing hike-in kayaking sections as well as multi-day trips to keep the attention of the best river professionals. As an experienced or senior Guide, you will have ample opportunities to grow responsibilities and increase your earnings with NMRA. We value leadership, mentorship and experience and are always on the look out for talented Guides and individuals to help us each season.
New Guides With No Experience
If you have no experience but would like to learn and eventually become a New Mexico river guide on the Rio Grande and Rio Chama, please visit our Whitewater River Guide School page for more information. NMRA is proud to be the company setting the standard for Guide Training. Our 8 day comprehensive Guide School has produced countless career river Guides and many whom are still working for NMRA and instructing future Guides each year. Due to the time and monetary commitment both you and NMRA devote, we ask that new Guides only apply for our Guide Training program if they are committed to work for NMRA for a minimum of two seasons, but hopefully even longer!
For all guides, there is a minimum of Basic First Aid and CPR required by the BLM and US Forest Service to work on the rivers of Northern New Mexico. However, NMRA prides itself with having the best trained guides on the river and most have more advanced medical training such as Wilderness First Responders and EMT’s as well as Swiftwater Rescue certifications. More advanced training will certainly make you more valuable to the team as well as give you the opportunity to enter a higher pay scale.
Retail Associates/Reservationists/Drivers/Photographers
Most importantly we are looking for intelligent, outgoing team players for our office/reservation staff. We believe that our guests experiences starts with the first phone call or e-mail and continues until the drive away after their trip. We value, above all, kind courteous, intelligent and professional people to guide our guests through the reservation experience and help with any needs they may have off of the river. If you feel you embody these qualities and ideals, please contact us at 505-983-7756.
Unless you are a student or faculty member throughout the rest of the year, each person must be available for work from Memorial Day through Labor Day to be considered for employment.
NMRA is considered the leader in river outfitting in New Mexico. This is in large part due to the level of skill and professionalism that our Guides display on a daily basis. Because of this level of dedication from our staff, we strive to offer some of the most competitive wages in the industry. There are a variety of factors involved in the ranges listed below including experience, level of medical certification and type of trip. In addition to trip wages, our Guides depend on gratuities. As a company we work hard to inform all of our Guests about appropriate Guide Gratuities in both pre and post trip communication as well as on the website. Here are a few of the reasons why NMRA attracts the best Guides and sales associates in the region!
- We are one of the industry’s highest paying river companies
- Holiday bonuses paid to qualified staff with 3 yrs or more experience with NMRA
- Use of rafts, kayaks and SUPs for private trips. No one spends more time on the river after work than NMRA’s Guides. Learn to kayak, SUP or just go boating!
- Free NMRA Staff gear and discounts on all retail goods.
- Fun place to live for the season, in the river canyon with kitchen and restroom facilities
- Many company parties and events throughout the season
- Being a part of the most professional and influential company in New Mexico
- Professional discounts (pro deals) with a wide variety of outdoor equipment companies
- Community! The NMRA team is tight and you will likely meet lifelong friends, soaking up the sun and living life to the fullest!