Snug Harbor Seafoods - Fresh Alaskan Seafood

Click to open: Job Application & Required Eligibility Documentation (PDF 188K, 9 pages)

Seafood processing is similar to production line work. The job entails constantly working with your hands, some heavy lifting, and standing for long periods of time. Our employees must work quickly in order to meet production deadlines. The work environment is very wet, cold and humid. Snug Harbor Seafoods takes pride in providing a safe work environment for all employees. It is important that our employees have the ability to understand and follow instructions and safety rules.

Snug Harbor Seafoods is looking for individuals who are energetic, hard-working, and can work well with others. The employment period is March until October or layoff, whichever comes first. Occasionally, promotional opportunities arise within the production department and production support areas. We encourage all interested employees to apply for these positions. There is no guarantee of hours.

Snug Harbor Seafoods Conducts Mandatory Drug Testing.

Position Requirements

Must be at least 18 years of age.
Must have valid proof of authorization to work in the United States (click here to see Required Eligibility Documentation).
Must be able to understand and speak basic English.
Must be able to perform repetitive work, stand, bend, twist and constantly work with your hands.
Must be able to work very long hours (up to 12-18 hours a day, 6-7 days a week) in cold, wet and humid conditions.
Must be able to lift heavy objects (up to 50 lbs.) and carry materials from one point to another.
Must be able to work well in close proximity with others.

Wages

Starting Hourly Rate: $7.25

Overtime Rate: $10.77

If the work is so hard, why would anyone choose to do it? Lots of overtime hours! Because seafood is a highly perishable product, it must be frozen as quickly as possible to maintain the highest quality. This is why the seafood industry offers more overtime than most summer jobs. All hours in excess of eight (8) straight-time hours in a day will be paid at the overtime rate of one and one-half (1-1/2) times the base rate of pay.

Transportation

Employees travel to Alaska by airplane. Airfare to Alaska is not provided by Snug Harbor Seafoods. Anchorage has an international airport and there are several carriers that offer hourly flights from Anchorage to Kenai. Snug Harbor Seafoods will pick you up from the Kenai Airport.

Accommodations

Some housing is available on a first come first serve basis. Often people choose to bring their own tents and set these up in the camp ground. During most of July, one meal is provided by Snug Harbor Seafoods, at no charge to the employee. There is a restaurant, grocery store and Laundromat next door to Snug Harbor.

Provided Protective Gear

Rain pants, rain coat, earplugs, and hair nets are provided by Snug Harbor Seafoods. Some boots are available. Some people prefer to provide their own rain gear. Processors are required to wear ALL rain gear and protective equipment during their entire shifts, without exception.

What To Bring

We recommend that you bring the following:

Warm, sturdy, washable work clothes - coat, jeans, flannel shirts, hooded sweatshirts, hat, thermal underwear and heavy, warm socks.
Towels and washcloths
Toiletries - soap, shampoo, toothbrush and paste, deodorant.
Medication
Alarm clock
Entertainment items - books, games, cassette/CD player, camera

Snug Harbor Seafoods does not discriminate against any employee or applicant because of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disability or other statutorily protected status. This policy applies to all decisions affecting employment.

How to Apply

Print and completely fill out the application [click here for application (PDF)]. You may either fax or mail your completed application form to us.

Snug Harbor Seafoods
PO Box 701 | Kenai, Alaska 99611

Phone: 1.888.283.1099
Fax: 907.283.6127

Applicants are recommended to follow up on their application with a phone call to the office to schedule an interview.

Work Availability

Throughout the year, work is available on a seasonal basis at one or more locations. Because of the unpredictable nature of these fisheries, it is best to call our job line at (907) 283-6122 for updates on timing and staffing needs. The fishing season in Alaska vary from year to year. How large or small the runs will be each year depends entirely upon the forces of nature. We have little control over how much fish comes in for processing.

The amount of work that we can provide depends upon how much fish we get. At the beginning and end of the season or during seasons with smaller runs, there may be days with little or no work. We cannot guarantee the number of hours employees will work each day. When there is no fish, there's no work.

On the other hand, when we have fish, we expect everyone to work all the hours available. During the peak of the season you may work up to 18 hours per day, 7 days a week. Several weeks may pass before there is a day off. Hours are more variable at the beginning and at the end of the season.

Working Conditions

Most of the work that we have is called "sliming" or cleaning fish. This type of work involves removing the viscera (guts) and cutting off heads, fins, gills, or tail. That means there are lots of fish guts and fish blood in the work area. The environment can be wet, cold, and drafty. Due to moving machinery, it is noisy and hearing protection is required. All work gear, including eye and hearing protection, are provided for you.

This can be very boring and tedious work. Sliming and other processing jobs may require standing in one spot doing the same task anywhere from 0 to 18 hours a day, 7 days a week. Breaks are every 2 to 3 hours, alternating between a paid 15-minute break and an unpaid 30-minute meal break. There may not be opportunities to switch jobs during your shift. Between periods of production, you may experience stretches of time with no work. During this time, you must find ways to occupy your time.

Not everyone is willing or able to do the labor that is required to process fish. It's hard work! The first week can be the worst as your body gets used to the job tasks and long hours. Seafood processing is physically and mentally demanding because it involves strenuous as well as repetitive tasks. You should be healthy and willing to accept this type of work. People with back or wrist problems should consider these conditions before applying for jobs in the seafood industry. If you have any doubts at all, it is in your best interest not to apply.

Drug and Alcohol Policy

Snug Harbor Seafoods, Inc. is a drug and alcohol free company with a zero-tolerance policy. The use and/or possession of drugs and alcohol are forbidden on company property and while under contract. We require employees to consent to random, post-accident, and for cause tests. If you want to work for us, you must be willing to live and work in a drug and alcohol free environment. Violation of our drug and alcohol policy will result in immediate termination.

Quality on the Job

Snug Harbor Seafoods is a food processing facility. We want to put out the best product possible. We want all employees to be aware that the fish that we process will become someone's meal.

During orientation and on the job, employees will learn how to properly handle seafood to preserve freshness and quality and to prevent contamination. The Good Manufacturing Practices or "GMPs" include rules for personal hygiene (keeping yourself and your clothing clean). They also cover rules for sanitation such as disinfecting your gloves, boots, and gear before going into the processing area. They include rules for preventing the product from becoming contaminated (such as by wearing hairnets, and not chewing gum, eating drinking, smoking, or wearing jewelry while processing seafood).

Safety on the Job

Snug Harbors Seafoods, strives to provide a safe and healthful workplace for all employees. We are proud of our safety record! We have developed policies, rules and safe operating procedures as part of our Accident Prevention Program. We expect everyone to follow these policies and take an active role in preventing accidents in the workplace.

Final Notes

Many people have unrealistic expectations about the amount of money they can make working in Alaska. The fishing industry is extremely unpredictable. Even during a good season, the wages you earn in Alaska may be comparable to or less than what you can earn elsewhere. Also, because this is seasonal work, you cannot depend on it for steady income.

Remember: No Fish, No Work; Lots of Fish, Lots of Work!

We hire many different types of people with diverse backgrounds. You must be tolerant of and able to get along with a variety of people and personalities.

Click to open: Job Application & Required Eligibility Documentation (PDF 188K, 9 pages)