Site Director – Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat (Dowling, MI)

Grace Outside is seeking a Site Director for Wesley Woods Camp & Retreat (WW). Located in Dowling, MI, WW is a year-round retreat center offering lodging, meeting and worship spaces for rest, connection, and renewal.

The Site Director will provide overall leadership for WW, oversee financial sustainability, staff/volunteers, daily operations, guest experience, marketing, facilities, programs, and long-term development. We seek a relationship-oriented leader who can balance ministry and hospitality with strong financial and organizational management.
Required: Management experience; experience supervising employees and/or volunteers; budget and financial management experience; strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills; ability to manage multiple priorities; valid driver’s license; commitment to the mission and values of Grace Outside.

Preferred: Bachelor’s degree or equivalent; hospitality, retreat center, camp, nonprofit, ministry experience; financial management and facility operations.

JOB DESCRIPTION

SITE DIRECTOR OF WESLEY WOODS CAMP AND RETREAT –
GRACE OUTSIDE

Location: Dowling, Michigan | Status: Exempt | Reports to: Grace Outside Board of Directors
Supervises: Wesley Woods staff and volunteers

Wesley Woods is a family camp and retreat center serving families, churches, retreat
groups, and community partners.

About Grace Outside
Grace Outside is a camp and retreat ministry rooted in the history of the United Methodist
Church and centered on the unearned love of God. We welcome everyone and create
spaces where people experience safety, hospitality, mutual respect, joy, and connection.
Our mission is GRACE: God’s love, Rest, Adventure, Community, and Empowerment.

The Site Director:

• provides overall leadership for Wesley Woods Camp and Retreat,
  ensuring it fulfills the mission and values of Grace Outside while providing an exceptional
  guest experience.
• is responsible for the site’s operations, hospitality, facilities, staff, financial stewardship, and long-term sustainability.
• leads with a commitment to hospitality, ministry, responsible stewardship, and inclusion.
• will work collaboratively with other Grace Outside site leaders and Grace
  Outside leadership to strengthen the ministry and operations of Wesley Woods and the
  broader Grace Outside ministry.

Key Responsibilities

Mission & Hospitality

• Lead in a manner consistent with the mission and values of Grace Outside.
• Foster a welcoming, safe, and respectful environment for guests, staff, and
  volunteers.
• Build relationships with families, churches, retreat groups, volunteers, alumni
  campers, and community partners.
• Lead the on-site guest experience and ensure the property is prepared to welcome
  guests.
• Financial & Organizational Leadership
• Provide financial leadership and promote the long-term sustainability of Wesley
  Woods.
• Develop and manage operating budgets, monitor financial performance, and
  oversee financial controls and resource stewardship.
• Identify opportunities to increase appropriate facility use, strengthen revenue, and
  manage costs.
• Provide financial and operational information and recommendations to the Board.

People & Operations

• Lead the day-to-day operation of Wesley Woods and ensure a high-quality guest
  experience.
• Recruit, train, supervise, and evaluate staff and coordinate volunteers.
• Oversee guest services, including reservations, food service, lodging, scheduling,
  and event logistics.
• Foster a healthy, collaborative, and accountable workplace.

Marketing, Relationships & Development

• Promote Wesley Woods as a destination for family camp, retreat, renewal,
  meetings, fellowship, and special events.
• Develop relationships and marketing strategies that increase awareness and
  appropriate use of the facility.
• Oversee guest communications, website, social media, tours, and related
  promotional activities.
• Encourage repeat participation, referrals, donor engagement, fundraising, and
  stewardship in collaboration with Grace Outside leadership and the Board.

Facilities, Safety & Stewardship

• Provide leadership and hands-on oversight for Wesley Woods’ facilities, grounds,
  equipment, vehicles, and other physical assets.
• Perform or coordinate routine maintenance and establish priorities for
  maintenance and facility needs.
• Oversee contractors, vendors, capital projects, and major repairs within approved
  budgets.
• Develop plans for preventive maintenance, facility improvements, and long-term
  capital needs.
• Ensure compliance with applicable health, safety, environmental, employment,
  building, fire, insurance, and camp licensing requirements.
• Maintain effective emergency preparedness and risk-management practices.

Strategic Leadership

• Work with the Board to establish goals, priorities, and measurable performance
  objectives for Wesley Woods.
• Identify opportunities for new programs, partnerships, services, and revenue
  streams that align with the mission.
• Establish systems to monitor occupancy, bookings, revenue, guest satisfaction,
  maintenance, safety, and other meaningful performance measures.
• Regularly evaluate operations and implement improvements in service, efficiency,
  facilities, programming, and financial performance.

Leadership Characteristics

The successful Site Director will be a visible, engaged, and relational leader who can move
comfortably between strategic planning and hands-on problem solving. This person will
demonstrate:

• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills and a genuine
  commitment to hospitality.
• Strong business judgment and an entrepreneurial approach to appropriate revenue growth.
• The ability to hold staff and volunteers accountable while maintaining a healthy, encouraging culture.
• A proactive, practical approach to facilities, safety, and operational improvement.
• The ability to remain calm, organized, and decisive during busy seasons, emergencies, and competing demands.
• A collaborative approach to working with the Board, Grace Outside leadership, churches, volunteers, donors, and community partners.

Qualifications Required

• Demonstrated leadership and management experience.
• Experience supervising employees and/or volunteers.
• Experience managing budgets and financial resources.
• Strong organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a hospitality environment.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Commitment to the mission and values of Grace Outside.

Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in hospitality, retreat centers, camps, nonprofit organizations, ministry,
  or a related field.
• Experience in financial management, facility operations, marketing, or program
  development.

Work Environment & Compensation

• This is a year-round, on-site leadership position requiring a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, holidays, and occasional emergencies. Occasional travel may be
  required.
• Residence on the Wesley Woods property is a condition of employment. Grace Outside provides on-site housing, including utilities. The Director is responsible for
  maintaining the provided housing in satisfactory condition.
• The position is exempt and includes a competitive salary and benefits package, including health insurance, retirement benefits, housing and utilities, subject to applicable policies
  and eligibility requirements.

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of a background check in
accordance with Grace Outside policies. Grace Outside is an equal opportunity employer.