Forest and Guest Manager
Taiga Farm and Seed
Duluth, Minnesota
| Job Type | Permanent |
| Salary | $65,000 - $72,000 per year |
| Benefits | See Posting at Taiga Farm and Seed |
| Deadline | Apr 24, 2026 |
| Min. Experience | 2 - 4 years |
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
Please submit:
Email: hello@taigafarmandseed.com
Please include in PDF:
- Your résumé
A short letter (1 page or less) describing:
- Your experience with northern ecosystems and land-based work
- Your track record generating revenue through programming, retail, or guest experiences
- How you approach enforcement, judgment, and team operations
- A brief example of a time you balanced human use with ecological integrity
Final candidates will provide 2–3 professional references able to speak to judgment, land stewardship, and reliability.
Application deadline is: April 20, 2026
When you apply, please indicate that you are responding to the posting on Conservation Job Board.
| Category | Forestry , Outdoor Recreation |