Operations Supervisor

ICON Water Trails connects water, communities, and people. As a regionally inclusive non-profit organization, ICON is working to activate more than 150 miles of water trails to expand access to recreation, improve safety, foster economic development, drive tourism and workforce development.

Summary of Position

ICON Water Trails is seeking a dynamic, industry-experienced Operations Supervisor to lead all aspects of park operations, guest services, and hydraulic feature performance. This role is responsible for delivering an exceptional, safe, and financially successful whitewater experience by building strong on-site leadership teams, implementing best-in-class operational systems, and ensuring technical excellence in wave and water management.

This position blends strategic vision with hands-on execution. The ideal candidate understands that world-class whitewater venues require leadership that:

• Creates a destination that elevates both the water trails network, whitewater parks and the region by shaping the experience intentionally.
• Maintains safe, dynamic hydraulic features and surrounding amenities through strong management, collaboration, and communication.
• Drives revenue through operational excellence

FLSA: Exempt

Reports to: Senior Downtown Project Manager

Essential Job Functions

Park Operations Leadership

• Oversee all daily operations including:
• Assist with developing structured operating procedures across all departments
• Develop and execute excursion, rental and retail strategy for ICON river and whitewater recreation programming
• Collaborate with Associate Director of Regional Programs on Youth Adventure Education programming

Guest Experience & Brand Delivery

• Monitor performance metrics to drive revenue growth and operational efficiency
• Create a welcoming, high-energy environment that reflects ICON’s mission
• Aid in developing and implementing a unified customer service training program
• Train guest service representatives to maintain deep product knowledge
• Ensure every staff member understands their role in delivering the ICON experience
• Handle guest concerns with professionalism and positive resolution
• Build a culture where every visitor becomes an ambassador for the Greater Des Moines area

Hydraulic Features & Wave Operations Oversight

• Oversee implementation and daily adjustment of programmable wave features
• Supervise gate and/or flashboard panel interactions and elevation management with stakeholders
• Conduct feature hazard assessments and retention analysis
• Anticipate and mitigate dangerous hydraulic conditions
• Oversee data collection from automation systems including: flow rates, gate positions, head loss monitoring, trend plots and performance tracking
• Maintain visual documentation of feature configurations
• Ensure safe and stable wave production across varying flow levels
• Monitor tailwater conditions and river sensitivity to adjustments
• Assist with tuning of automation systems as needed

Safety & Risk Management

• Maintain and update emergency action plans
• Oversee swiftwater safety practices
• Conduct hazard level assessments
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations
• Maintain certifications and training for operational staff
• Promote proactive safety culture

Maintenance & Compliance

• Oversee facility maintenance and operations
• Maintain logs, inspection reports, and emergency protocol documentation
• Coordinate groundskeeping as needed with adjacent stakeholders
• Ensure safe handling of hazardous materials

Strategic Growth & Industry Development

• Drive long-term visitation growth and community engagement
• Collaborate with ICON leadership and stakeholders
• Develop systems that allow strong on-site management teams to execute daily operations
• Aid in operational forecasting and revenue strategy as ICON continues to grow and expand

Qualifications

• 5+ years leadership experience in whitewater, engineered whitewater parks, or outdoor recreation operations
• Strong understanding of river hydraulics and feature risk analysis
• Experience supervising seasonal teams whether in-house or through concessionaire arrangements
• Ability to work nights, weekends, holidays, and/or ensure coverage with other staff
• Knowledge of modern techniques and practices used in parks maintenance and management.
• Knowledge of best practices for natural resource management.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills with the ability to speak publicly and one-on-one with key stakeholders.
• Ability to organize schedules and meet deadlines.
• Ability to manage departmental budgets and other financial aspects of the role
• Ability to establish strong working relationships with co-workers and stakeholders.
• Ability to oversee contractors and consultants to deliver outcomes
• Ability to use programs such as Microsoft Office, ArcGIS, and similar applications.
• Ability to maintain a professional attitude.
• Creativeness in thinking about the goals and visions of the organizations.
• Passionate about the mission and goals of the organization.
• Ability to work independently and quickly.
• The ability to think logically and create solutions according to procedures.
• Valid driver’s license

Preferred Skills

• Experience operating electronically controlled wave shaper systems
• Familiarity with programmable controlled hydraulic infrastructure
• Whitewater Rescue Certification
• CPR/First Aid Certification
• Experience managing multi-location outdoor operations
• Knowledge of water resource systems

Benefits & Work Environment

Iowa Confluence Water Trails offers a comprehensive benefits package, including a range of health insurance plan selections, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, LTD, STD, Life, retirement contributions, and flexible working hours with paid time off and standard holidays.

The physical effort characteristics and working environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally lifting/carrying up to 75 pounds or pushing/pulling up to 100 pounds. Work includes sensory ability to talk, hear, smell and touch. Work in this position also includes close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. Employees may sit, stand, walk, run, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, reach, grasp, climb and balance. Position requires hand/finger dexterity for operating equipment and communication devices. When operations for downtown open, position will be applicable to physical testing. A significant portion of the work will be performed outdoors along waterways and trail systems, with exposure to the environment and outdoor weather conditions, extreme temperatures and in wet and humid conditions. The Operations Supervisor will regularly operate a vehicle as part of this position. Noise levels are typically moderate but may occasionally increase due to equipment operation or environmental factors.