Tourism & Hospitality Management

Position: Full-time Operations Manager
Organization: Wolf Den Hostel and Nature Retreat
Location: West Gate of Algonquin Park / near Dwight, Ontario

The Wolf Den Nature Retreat is a beautiful log cabin lodge situated on the Oxtongue River in the Algonquin Highlands, in the community of Oxtongue Lake, on the traditional lands of the Algonquin First Nation. We are located just 9km outside the West Gate of Ontario’s world famous Algonquin Park. wolfdenbunkhouse.com

Operations Manager

Timeline and Commitment: We are open to various timelines and models of employment and commitment. We can discuss specifics on an individual basis. Start date could be any time mid-October until early spring 2026. (We’re also hiring a full-time staff member for September and October. This could be an opportunity for a prospective new manager to get a feel for Wolf Den and gain some valuable training and insight before jumping into a managerial role immediately afterwards or at a later date.)

This can be a year-round position or a rotational position with a Winter Manager November-March/April and a Summer Manager May-October.

Work Details: The Wolf Den Nature Retreat is loved by Canadians and international visitors alike as a basecamp for exploring Algonquin Park. As the Manager, your goal is to ensure each guest arrives to a welcoming, clean, safe, well-equipped, happy space.

Our manager is both a team leader and an active participant in our daily operations. In the busy summer months, they lead a staff of three to four. In winter staffing is the manager and the owner only (with plenty of time left over for skiing and snowshoeing!).

Activities are diverse, from staff management to welcoming new and returning guests, managing the booking and payment systems, ensuring that the hostel and cabins are clean and ready for our visitors, laundry, and making sure that the grounds, gardens, canoes are all looking great. With the support of the owners, the manager is responsible for problem solving with quick and independent decision-making.

The interactive aspects of the job include answering phone calls, keeping accurate bookings through our web-based reservation system, checking guests in and out, keeping an eye on the campfire at night, chatting with guests about their adventures in the park, offering trail and canoe route tips, and answering questions about park ecology and history. Other tasks include grounds keeping, gardening, small repairs, and wood splitting/stacking.

The manager’s contributions to strategic planning and proposing improvements to the space and the guests’ experience are also greatly appreciated.

We are very much looking for a manager who shares our long-standing values:

• Inclusivity: The Wolf Den is an inclusive, safe space where all are welcomed.
• Staff well-being: We ask a lot of our colleagues, but we strive to ensure a healthy work/life balance through flexible shifts, regular time off, and providing an environment of collegial respect and appreciation.
• Community: Our staff are central and visible members of our hostel family and are encouraged to engage with guests to share tips about trails, hear stories of the day’s adventures, and foster a real sense of belonging.
• Respect for the Environment: The Wolf Den prides itself on being a model of sustainable travel. Our community rules include composting and recycling, upcycling furniture and kitchen wares, and keeping our carbon footprint as low as possible.

There’s work to be done and fun to be had. It's a full-time position but we’re willing to hear your ideas on how to make it work for you: for example, job-sharing between a couple; combining work with on-line education in the winter months, etc.

Housing & Living:

The Wolf Den was purpose-built to foster community, and this extends to our staff. The manager’s sleeping quarters are private. You’ll have your own two-room cabin. But all other facilities (kitchen, bathroom and showers, social areas) are shared with guests and staff in traditional hostel style. There are longer-term plans to build a new Manager Cabin with washroom, kitchen, and more.

The Wolf Den fronts onto the Oxtongue River, with great paddling and swimming. There’s a dock and full staff access to canoes and kayaks. There are also hundreds of acres of Crown land to explore just adjacent to the property.

Your colleagues are great — we are nature lovers, campers and gardeners. We like family potlucks and shared campfires but also enjoy our quiet space and respect the quiet space of others.

While we strive to give our staff ample private time, as the live-in manager it is important to understand that this is no ordinary 9-5 position. You may be called to lead problem solving or conflict resolution during your off-hours, although we try to empower on-shift staff to deal with issues as they emerge. Likewise, guests will not always know who is on shift at any given moment and may approach you for support during your down-time. Recognizing the likelihood of this and establishing your boundaries in a helpful and good-natured manner is vital.

Remuneration:

Starting at $2900/month NET take-home. Higher salary with direct hospitality managerial experience and/or renewed contract. Potential commitment bonuses and health bonuses depending on commitment and duration. If opting for rotational seasonal employment, terms may differ.

Free accommodation, utilities and internet. Reasonable transportation to and from Huntsville for grocery shopping, etc., is possible if you do not have your own vehicle. Food and drink are not part of your pay, but we enjoy creating and eating meals together, and hope to share with you and be mindful of your dietary needs.

Requirements and Attributes:

• Friendly, outgoing and able to multi-task and work hard
• Enjoys living in a community environment
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and delegate
• A quick thinker and confident problem-solver
• Additional languages are an asset
• Highly responsible & reliable
• Ability to work well under pressure in a sometimes fast-paced environment, and to maintain motivation in slower-paced times
• Ability to work and live cohesively with fellow colleagues as part of a team
• Most importantly, love of our natural world!
• Individuals, friends, or couples are welcome to apply.

How to Apply

Send us your CV and tell us a little bit about yourself and your passions. If you want, attach a piece of your art, a song, or an interesting web link. We can answer questions via email, on the phone or video chat before the formal interview process. References will be checked.

Email us at:
wden@wolfdenbunkhouse.com

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