Manager of Ancillary Revenue

Job Overview:

• Job Title: Manager of Ancillary Revenue
• Employment Type: Full-Time
• Location: Chicago, IL

Work Environment:

This position follows a hybrid work model, with in-office work expected Tuesday through Thursday.

The Impact You'll Make:

As the Manager of Ancillary Revenue, you will elevate ancillary sales performance across all Great Wolf Lodge properties through data-driven insights, strategic pricing, and active cross-functional collaboration. This high-visibility corporate role serves as the analytical and strategic hub for ancillary revenue - working closely with corporate line-of-business leaders, lodge General Managers, and the broader Revenue and Commercial organization to determine what to sell, how to sell it, and when and where to maximize its impact on both guest spend and perceived value.

Key Responsibilities:

• Partners with business leaders to formulate, structure, and prioritize key initiatives to drive ancillary revenue performance across all properties.
• Develops and refines pricing strategies informed by guest data, demand signals, and room revenue trends across all lines of business, packages, and ancillary rate products; project-manages the implementation of pricing changes end-to-end.
• Conducts quarterly price elasticity analyses across ancillary products and packages to assess pricing power and identify revenue optimization opportunities.
• Performs quarterly pricing conformity audits, validating that published pricing is accurate and consistent across all systems, channels, and points of sale.
• Develops new packages and enhances existing offerings to drive on-site revenue (OSR), informed by guest research, segmentation data, and lodge and line-of-business feedback.
• Project-manages packaging updates - including price changes and component revisions - in partnership with Revenue Management, lines of business, Digital/Commercial, and Operations.
• Maintains weekly reporting cadences covering pace of revenue by outlet, average transaction value by outlet, and limited-time offer (LTO) performance.
• Conducts revenue mix analysis across ancillary categories to identify shifts in guest purchasing behavior and highlight emerging opportunities.
• Performs monthly product and offer performance reviews by revenue center, delivering actionable recommendations to lodge and corporate stakeholders.
• Executes top and bottom performer analysis by revenue center; collaborates with lodge operations and corporate support teams to understand root causes, replicate high-performing practices, and develop targeted improvement plans for underperformers.
• Provides analytical support at both macro level (property versus budget) and micro level (impact of pilots and promotional initiatives on performance).
• Liaises with the Analytics team to develop new and enhance existing tracking and measurement tools, ensuring key initiatives are progressing on schedule.
• Creates and distributes ad hoc performance reports for lodge and corporate stakeholders, translating complex data into clear, actionable insights.
• Collaborates with corporate lines of business to understand strategies and tailor recommendations that drive measurable performance.
• Monitors ancillary performance metrics at the lodge level and brand-wide, identifying systemic issues and surfacing findings to lodge leadership and Corporate Support with recommended corrective actions.
• Partners closely with lodge General Managers and property decision-makers to interpret performance results and develop strategies that optimize ancillary revenue.
• Maintains active communication with lodge teams through regular calls and ad hoc support to provide guidance, answer questions, and sustain field relationships.
• Surfaces and celebrates best practices and high performers in corporate communications and team calls, translating lodge-level wins into brand-wide learning.
• Partners with the Ancillary Sales Performance Manager and lodge Guest Services leadership on performance management strategies, escalations, and recognition programs.

Required Qualifications & Skills:

• Minimum four-year degree in Economics, Finance, Statistics, Applied Mathematics, Business, Hospitality, or a related field.
• Minimum two years of experience in Pricing, Yield/Revenue Management, Predictive Analytics, or a closely related analytical discipline.
• Demonstrated knowledge of pricing science, including unconstrained demand modeling and linear regression.
• Proficiency with commercial technologies including Revenue Management systems, Property Management systems, third-party distribution platforms, Google Analytics, Business Intelligence tools, and Website Content Management systems.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint; strong ability to communicate complex analytical findings clearly across a wide range of audiences.
• Working knowledge of general database structure and reporting logic.
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills, with experience interpreting performance trends, revenue KPIs, and pricing data.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and present data-driven recommendations to senior leaders and cross-functional stakeholders.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills; ability to translate complex information into clear, actionable insights for diverse audiences.
• Highly organized, with the ability to manage multiple priorities, initiatives, and lodge relationships simultaneously.
• Strong cross-functional collaboration skills; able to build trust and drive alignment across Revenue, Operations, Digital, Analytics, and lodge leadership teams.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MS or MBA preferred.
• Experience in a multi-unit hospitality, resort, or leisure environment.
• Familiarity with upsell platforms, kiosk-based sales tools, or POS category management.
• Familiarity with BI platforms such as Tableau.
• Passion - genuinely cares about the business, the brand, and making a measurable impact on guest and financial outcomes.
• Curiosity - motivated to understand how systems, offers, and guest behaviors interact, and committed to finding smarter ways to optimize performance.
• Drive - a self-starter who can juggle multiple priorities with urgency, ownership, and follow-through.
• Judgment - applies experience, data, and intuition to assess complex situations and define practical, business-minded solutions.
• Influence - able to build relationships and credibility across the organization, from lodge-level operators to senior corporate leaders.
• Attitude - a can-do, roll-up-the-sleeves approach; comfortable in a fast-paced environment where priorities shift and ambiguity is part of the work.

Physical Requirements:

• Able to lift up to 20 lbs.
• Able to bend, stretch, and twist.
• Able to stand or sit for long periods of time.

Grow Your Career

This role offers the opportunity to expand your leadership impact, develop high-performing teams, and contribute to enterprise-wide initiatives. You'll have access to development programs, cross-functional experiences, and clear pathways to advance your career within Great Wolf Lodge.

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, and Vision insurance
• Health savings account
• Telehealth resources
• Life insurance
• Annual Bonus
• 401K with employer match
• Paid vacation time off
• Paid parental leave
• Discounts to visit Great Wolf's 23+ locations for team members , friends, & family

Learn more about what it's like to work at Great Wolf and be part of our Pack.

Total Rewards & Benefits

Estimated Salary: ($105,00 to $115,000)

An employee's pay position within the salary range will be based on several factors, including but not limited to, relevant education, qualifications, certifications, experience, skills, seniority, geographic location, performance, travel requirements, revenue-based metrics, any contractual agreements, and business or organizational needs. The range listed is just one component of Great Wolf's total compensation package. Other rewards may include annual bonuses, a Paid Time Off policy, and other perks.

How to Apply

We are actively hiring, with relocation packages available.

Click "Apply Now" or chat with a recruiter at the bottom of your screen on Great Wolf Lodge's website. Once your application is submitted, a recruiter will review your experience and reach out with next steps.

EEO

This contractor and subcontractor shall abide by the requirements of 41 CFR 60-1.4(a), 60-300.5(a) and 60-741.5(a). These regulations prohibit discrimination against qualified individuals based on their status as protected veterans or individuals with disabilities, and prohibit discrimination against all individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, and for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing compensation. Moreover, these regulations require that covered prime contractors and subcontractors take affirmative action to employ and advance in employment individuals without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.