Forest and Guest Manager

See Posting for the detailed job description at https://taigafarmandseed.com/pages/forest-guest-manager

Key Responsibilities

Land & Forest Stewardship

• Maintain forest health, trails, native plantings, and natural screens
• Monitor land conditions and wildlife activity; intervene early to prevent degradation
• Oversee fencing, signage, trail grooming, and seasonal land projects
• Ensure campsites and forest areas remain ecologically resilient and safe

Guest Operations

• Manage guest check-in and check-out
• Deliver property orientation and communicate current conditions
• Communicate and uphold the Guest Code of Care; a comprehensive set of standards covering land use, guest conduct, fire safety, pets, privacy, and enforcement.
• Enforce fire bans when in effect, consistent with Minnesota DNR standards
• Address guest concerns calmly and professionally
• Enforce boundaries to protect land, wildlife, and guest experience, including authority to remove guests for Code violations (no refund)

Guest Experience & Revenue Generation is achieved through three channels, developed collaboratively with the Founder:

• Programming: Design and deliver paid guest experiences that connect visitors to the land and the farm. These are pure-margin offerings built around the manager’s knowledge of the forest, the seasons, and the property.
• Retail: Manage on-site retail of branded apparel, campfire gear, local provisions, and seasonal Boreal Farm produce.
• Sales rhythm: Retail and programming happen at natural guest touchpoints, not on demand. Guests are independent between interactions. The goal is an exceptional experience, not a gift shop.

Planning, Budgeting & Revenue Support

• Contribute to annual planning for land priorities and guest operations
• Manage or assist with budgeting, expense tracking, and materials forecasting
• Track ancillary sales performance against targets and adjust product mix and programming accordingly
• Maintain all guest-facing systems, rentals, and equipment

Qualifications

Required

• Deep, applied expertise in northern forests, landscapes, wildlife, and ecological systems
• Paid experience in land stewardship, forest work, conservation management, trails, or outdoor operations
• Demonstrated ability to enforce rules and manage guest or public conduct in a professional setting
• Track record of generating revenue through programming, retail, or guest experiences
• Experience managing budgets, tracking costs, or participating in annual project planning
• Ability to make sound, real-time judgment calls under pressure
• Strong communication and conflict-resolution skills
• Comfort working outdoors in all northern seasons
• Chainsaw operation certification or demonstrated history of safe chainsaw use and forestry tool handling
• First Aid/CPR certification (or willingness to obtain)
• Equivalent experience, training, or certifications — a degree is welcome but not required

Preferred

• Experience in guest operations, outdoor recreation, or hospitality with revenue responsibility
• Experience delivering or supporting place-based interpretation
• Wilderness leadership or conservation coursework
• Experience with risk management or land-use enforcement
• Retail or point-of-sale experience