Recreation Director

Recreation Director

The Recreation Director provides tactical leadership and oversight for the Recreation Group. This position is an integral part of the Forest Resources leadership team providing strategic vision while representing the Recreation business by addressing internal processes and external opportunities. The position is accountable for achieving desired outcomes and profit levels while protecting and growing the company’s outdoor recreation business.

This role leads recreation strategy, financial performance, customer and market development, organizational capability, risk management, and cross-functional alignment across Forest Resources, Real Estate, Corporate Communications, IT, Legal, and external stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities & Outcomes:

Area 1: Strategic, Financial & Organizational Leadership

Outcome: Recreation business goals, financial performance, and organizational priorities are clear, measurable, and aligned with Forest Resources objectives.

• Provide strategic direction and tactical guidance for the Recreation Group, including Lodge, WWS lease management, business development, systems/process management, and wildlife services.
• Lead annual business planning, budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, and performance analysis for recreation operations.
• Establish priorities, decision rights, accountability, and resource allocation across direct and indirect recreation leadership roles.
• Present key performance results, risks, and recommendations to Forest Resources leadership and other executive stakeholders.

Area 2: Business Growth, Markets & Customer Development

Outcome: Recreation revenue growth of $1mm by 2030 is supported by disciplined market development, pricing, customer acquisition, and external lease opportunities.

• Lead efforts to maximize recreational value from company-owned properties and expand external lease management opportunities.
• Guide business acquisition, prospecting, pricing, packaging, and partnership development for hunting leases, lodge offerings, and other recreation-related opportunities.
• Oversee customer engagement strategy, including CRM optimization, lead routing, customer records, communication improvements, reputation management, and digital marketing support.
• Build and maintain relationships with landowners, customers, industry groups, agencies, NGOs, and other partners that may strengthen the recreation business.

Area 3: Operations, Systems, Process & Risk Governance

Outcome: Recreation systems, workflows, compliance expectations, and administrative infrastructure are reliable, scalable, and consistently executed.

• Ensure the Recreation Group has effective systems, SOPs, workflows, data standards, dashboards, and reporting processes to support consistent execution and growth.
• Provide oversight and direction to the Recreation Systems and Process Manager as it pertains to CRM, lease management platforms, contract administration, customer records, social media workflows, and related digital tools.
• Maintain management focus on compliance with company policies, lease terms, access requirements, hunting and wildlife regulations, safety expectations, and escalation pathways.
• Champion continuous improvement and GrowEx opportunities that improve efficiency, reduce risk, strengthen customer service, or enhance profitability.

Area 4: Lodge, Lease & Wildlife Program Leadership

Outcome: Westervelt Lodge, hunting leases, wildlife services, and recreation field activities are coordinated to deliver safe, high-quality, profitable customer experiences.

• Provide leadership and support for Lodge operations, including planning, pricing, booking, customer experience, facilities, habitat coordination, marketing and revenue performance.
• Support lease managers and wildlife personnel with lease valuation, customer service, acreage transitions, inspections, policy enforcement, marketing and external management opportunities.
• Coordinate with forestry, land information systems, real estate, sustainability, and natural resources teams to align recreation activities with broader land stewardship objectives.
• Ensure recreation work is conducted with a strong safety culture, appropriate customer controls, and attention to asset protection.

Area 5: People Leadership, Stakeholder Influence & Brand Representation

Outcome: Recreation associates are coached and developed, while the business is professionally represented with customers, industry groups, and public stakeholders.

• Coach and develop recreation leaders and associates to strengthen accountability, communication, customer focus, business judgment, and professional growth.
• Lead or support recruiting, onboarding, succession planning, performance coaching, and organizational transition efforts within the Recreation Group.
• Represent Westervelt through professional wildlife, hunting, forestry, and recreation-oriented meetings, conferences, trade groups, and customer-facing events.
• Partner with Corporate Communications and relevant internal teams to strengthen the Westervelt brand through marketing, public relations, content, social media, and customer communications.

Required Skills & Experience 

• Education: Bachelor’s degree preferred in Wildlife Biology, Wildlife Management, Forestry, Business, Natural Resources, or a related field. Equivalent experience may be considered where appropriate.
• Experience / Knowledge: Significant experience in outdoor recreation, wildlife management, hunting lease operations, lodge/customer hospitality, business development, or related natural-resource business leadership. Prior leadership, budgeting, customer service, and financial-management experience preferred.
• Skills:  Strategic decision making; business and financial planning; customer focus; team leadership; communication; marketing and sales orientation; negotiation; relationship development; process improvement; data-driven decision making; knowledge of CRM, lease systems, and Microsoft Office tools
• Other: Ability to travel, attend industry conferences and customer events, work with field teams and customers in outdoor environments, uphold safety expectations, and represent the company professionally with internal and external stakeholders.

Summary: Create / Execute / Stakeholder-Customers

Create: Growth strategy, pricing and packaging concepts, external lease management opportunities, CRM-driven customer engagement, digital/social media direction, and new recreation-related business opportunities. 

Execute: Annual business plans, budgets, forecasts, performance reporting, Lodge and lease operating priorities, SOP/process improvements, safety and compliance expectations, and organizational transition plans. 

Stakeholder-Customers: Customers, lease members, lodge guests, landowners, industry partners, agencies, NGOs, local/state governmental contacts, Corporate Communications, Legal, IT, Real Estate, Natural Resource groups, Forestry, and FRD leadership.

A typical day may include reviewing financial and operational dashboards, coaching recreation leaders, aligning on Lodge and lease priorities with forest management objectives, reviewing external lease prospects, coordinating with forestry or land-use stakeholders, guiding CRM/process improvements, preparing leadership updates, and representing Westervelt with customers or industry partners.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Life insurance
• Disability insurance
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
• Tax-advantaged spending accounts
• 401(k) Savings and Investment Plan
• Team Incentive Plan (TIP) and Life Sustainable Program
• Educational assistance program
• Fitness program
• Paid holidays and vacation time

Equal Opportunity Employer:  Minority/Female/Disabled/Veteran/Gender Identity/Sexual Orientation