Director of Operations and Guest Experience

Job Overview

Job Title: Director of Operations and Guest Experience

Location: Dubuque, IA

Position Type: Full-Time Exempt

Position Summary: 

The Wanderwood Gardens is a 2 ½ acre outdoor, interactive children’s garden and woodland experience with a small, dedicated, and collaborative team. The Director of Operations and Guest Experience will have a powerful impact in ensuring operational excellence across all facets of the gardens and in championing our mission of inspiring lives through creative outdoor play.

The Director of Operations and Guest Experience will be primarily responsible for volunteer coordination, overseeing financial reporting and database management, human resources, facilities maintenance as well as collaboratively overseeing day-to-day operations of the gardens, creating a safe and engaging environment for children and their households to learn, grow, and explore.

Primary Responsibilities.  

• Oversee volunteer management program, including recruitment, training, scheduling, recognition, and volunteer service tracking system.
• Ensure optimal volunteer engagement and retention through effective communication and support.
• Oversee management of The Wanderwood Gardens constituent database, memberships, scheduling, and ticketing systems.
• Oversee preparation of financial statements, accounts payables management, revenue recording, treasury services, reconciliations, and payroll services management.
• Develop and implement attendance metrics, tracking, reporting, and analysis. Creating spreadsheets and managing databases as needed to support in the following areas but not limited to:
  • Visitor trend analysis
  • Visitor and Member survey collection and analysis
  • Grant outcome tracking and report creation
  • Annual, and other fundraising appeals
  • Constituent record reporting
  • Mailing list propagation
  • Additional reports and data tracking as needed
• Oversee HR functions including staffing, training, and performance evaluations.
• Ensure compliance with employment laws and organizational policies.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations.
• Develop, implement, and regularly review operational policies and strategies guided by the organization’s mission, vision and goals.

Collaborative Responsibilities:

• Oversee daily operations to ensure smooth and efficient functioning of WWG.
• Oversee ongoing maintenance of WWG facilities, including the supervision of a shared full-time, seasonal Groundskeeping and Maintenance Technician.
• Develop, implement, and regularly review operational policies and strategies guided by the organization’s mission, vision and goals.
• Manage day-to-day operations of the children’s garden, including scheduling, staffing, and budget management.
• Create and maintain a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for children of all backgrounds and capabilities.
• Cultivate a culture that reflects the organization’s values and enhances employee morale and productivity. Champion a guest-first culture across all touchpoints.
• Identify, create, and implement new guest experience opportunities.
• Enhance operational capabilities and community outreach by identifying, cultivating and nurturing community partnerships and initiatives.
• Manage front-of-house operations, including volunteers and interns, and the WWG’s facility rental program, with the goal of providing excellent guest experience in a safe, clean, and welcoming environment.
• Manage organizational budgets, financial planning, and resource allocation.
• Ensure financial sustainability and accountability, including reporting to stakeholders and supporting fundraising efforts.
• Serve as a play facilitator, ensuring all visitors receive high-quality, informative experiences that align with our educational goals.
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.
• Other responsibilities as needed to support the team and guest experience and ensure care of the gardens and grounds.

Qualifications: 

• Ability to design and implement organizational strategies that enhance operational efficiency and align with the gardens mission to inspire lives through creative outdoor play.
• Proven ability to manage and inspire a diverse volunteer workforce, including experience in volunteer recruitment, training, and retention strategies.
• Strong background in managing human resources functions, including recruitment, training, and performance evaluations. Knowledge of employment laws and regulations.
• Competence in budget preparation, financial forecasting, and resource allocation. Familiarity with financial reporting and supporting fundraising efforts.
• Experience in overseeing daily operations, enhancing organizational effectiveness, and managing business partnerships.
• Ability to serve as an environmental interpreter and promote educational programs that align with our goals of nature interaction and community engagement.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Nonprofit Management, or a related field; a Master's Degree in a relevant field is preferred.
• Familiarity with Blackbaud products and XTruLink integration preferred.

What We Offer: 

• The opportunity to be part of a vibrant community that values creativity, education, and outdoor engagement.
• A competitive salary.
• A supportive work environment where you can grow your career and make a lasting impact.

Interested candidates should submit a resume and a cover letter outlining their qualifications and interest in the role to Jared McGovern at jared@wanderwoodgardens.com and Debi Butler at Debi@treetop-properties.com

While this job description attempts to describe the essential functions of the position, it does not prescribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned. It does not restrict management’s right to assign or reassign duties or responsibilities to this job at any time. The overall work environment while performing this job includes exposure to weather conditions and the noise level is usually moderate. The employee is expected to adhere to all policies and to act as a role model in the adherence to the policies.