General Manager

The Hike Inn is a sustainably designed, LEED certified facility, nestled in the Blue Ridge mountains near the Appalachian Trail.  Georgia’s only backcountry lodge is well-known for providing exceptional guest services with welcoming Southern hospitality and presenting quality environmental education programs. Our mission is to facilitate a connection with nature and to protect Georgia’s natural resources through education and recreation.

Open year round, the Hike Inn offers distinctive guest experiences in a beautiful backcountry wilderness setting. All guests hike in on a rolling five-mile trail traversing forested ridges and clear mountain streams of Amicalola Falls State Park and Chattahoochee National Forest. After a few hours in nature, hikers are welcomed with a friendly smile and provided comfortable lodging in an enchanting setting. Simple bunk rooms with fresh linens, hot showers, delicious home-cooked meals, a fun community atmosphere, and engaging educational programs provide satisfying touches of comfort and inspiration.

Guests are offered a relaxing setting and an interesting facility tour focusing on the history and sustainability initiatives of the inn before being served a hearty dinner presented family-style. After dinner evening programs offer a deeper exploration into various subjects from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail to the flora and fauna of the region. The community room is a guest favorite, providing a fun place to play board games, do jigsaw puzzles, play music, and connect with others. During clear weather, star gazing in the night sky and watching the sunrise over the mountains offer beautiful moments of quiet reflection. A nourishing, hot breakfast sets up folks for another great day outside on the trail. Changes in weather and seasons offer adventure and beauty.

Serving as a beloved wilderness retreat and learning resource center for 25 years, a visit to the Hike Inn inspires a love for hiking, nature and environmental stewardship. It is a special opportunity for guests to slow down, unplug, connect with nature, family and friends, learn something new, and refresh their spirits.

Our great staff is the key to our guests having a positive experience. We are a close knit team who share a common interest in hiking, the outdoors, sustainability and education. We work hard, have a lot of fun, and love what we do. If you enjoy people, are conservation minded, appreciate contributing your passion and skills to further an important mission, and value working and living in a remote area surrounded by beautiful nature, this position may be for you.

GENERAL MANAGER POSITION SUMMARY:

The Hike Inn is accepting applications for a General Manager for a live-on site, permanent position to start summer 2024.  We are seeking an outstanding professional with well-balanced management, outdoor recreation, and education experience capable of expertly leading our small team and overseeing daily inn operations.

The Hike Inn General Manager is responsible for ensuring the quality of services meet or exceed customer expectations and overall operations run smoothly. This opportunity will focus on developing team members, identifying ways to increase the quality of customer service, implementing best practices across all levels, and supporting the Hike Inn mission.

We are looking for a passionate individual with strong hospitality and property management experience, who has a great balance of welcoming customer service, strong administrative organization, productive leadership skills, and engaging educational expertise. A friendly, positive attitude and a supportive team player with strong interpersonal and communication skills is essential.

PRINCIPAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Ensure excellent guest services and daily operations are maintained as scheduled and best practices across all levels are achieved.
• Build, develop, and lead a team capable of carrying out organizational objectives that meet high quality standards and traditions.
• Execute the highest standards of service, cleanliness, quality, teamwork and safety.
• Train, supervise, and support staff in all areas of inn operations – front office, kitchen, housekeeping, maintenance, education, and Friends of Hike Inn volunteers.
• Promote positive guest, staff, and volunteer relations through personal involvement, skillful communication, supportive assistance, strong leadership and team development.
• Operate the front desk welcoming and assisting guests; conduct merchandise sales; organize and manage inventory keeping accurate records.
• Administer office duties; generate daily, weekly and monthly accounting and reports with sharp attention to detail and deadlines; prepare staff and volunteer schedules; conduct all required new hire paperwork and ongoing staff evaluations- coach and train as needed to improve employee performance.
• Coordinate the kitchen team in all aspects of meal service and food safety, including facilitating training of new staff and volunteers and ordering of food and supplies.
• Ensure the inn and grounds are being maintained in good working order; effectively communicate with offsite Executive Director and Board of Directors current status of inn operations.
• Manage the inn with short term (yearly) and long term (5- year) goals in regards to operations and capital improvements.
• Conduct interactive facility tours focusing on the history of the inn, green building, LEED certification, sustainability initiatives, and connection to the environment.
• Develop and present quality evening educational programs that engage and inspire.
• Coordinate, write, and publish content for a monthly newsletter and social media.
• Monitor solar energy generation with SolarEdge and Enphase software and maintain LEED certification data logs in the sustainability performance platform, Arc.
• Promote the Hike Inn’s mission of conservation of Georgia’s natural resources through education and recreation.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCES:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college in hospitality or management related field, natural science, or environmental education.
• At least two years’ operations management experience; hospitality and property management experience is desirable.
• Administrative and leadership abilities with proven accomplishments managing projects and coordinating people to achieve results; strong organizational and team-building skills; able to manage multiple projects, keep accurate records, work efficiently and effectively without direct supervision as well as work well with others.
• Outstanding communication skills with the ability to relate to diverse groups of people; ability to talk with guests and co-workers and work through any problems or misunderstandings.
• Exemplify a high degree of initiative and motivation, as well as display innovative and creative problem solving skills when working cooperatively and independently.
• Exhibit knowledge of regional natural history and ecology as well as conservation issues and solutions.
• Demonstrate outdoor recreation skills and experience; familiarity with the Appalachian Trail, the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club and Leave No Trace principles.
• Value green building conservation and sustainability practices; have familiarity with LEED certification program.
• Experience in education, program development and public speaking.
• Proficient with computers and use of Microsoft Office, Google Suite.
• Have current CPR, First Aid and National Restaurant Association ServSafe Food Protection Manager certifications or willingness to complete training shortly after being hired.
• Ability to hike five miles and perform physically challenging work outdoors in all weather conditions.

COMPENSATION:

• Starting hourly wage $20-$25 per hour determined by experience and qualifications; biannual bonus; paid vacation after 1 year.
• Telemedicine health insurance plan provided at no cost.
• IRA investment plan with up to 3% matching funds available after three months.
• Private room and board with all utilities included ($1000+/month value). The General Manager is required to live on site during work week; no dependents or pets.