[LDP]

Hey everyone, below is a modified e-mail that I have sent to a few HR offices around the globe asking for any information. I'm curious to if you guys have any knowledge, or know anyone I can talk to about the information I have sent in the e-mail below.

"I am a current college student and I am looking for information on the various occupations at the operations/management level offered within the theme park/amusement park industry. I've been doing research the past several days through many web-sites and haven't been able to find much information on the subject. Basically, what I am asking is what job positions are needed to full-fill the running of the park?

To be more personal, I am personally majorly interested in an occupation that oversees park improvement from month-to-month and year-to-year. Does such a occupation exist? If not one specific employer, what group of people meet and make these decisions? Thank you for your time and I look forward to hearing back from you!"

Let me know if you guys have any further questions on what I am asking, and/or if you'd like to further discuss the topic!

[Axel]

These seem interesting:

http://education-portal.com/theme_park_ ... ining.html

excerpts:

Training for theme park managers typically begins with a recreation and leisure services management bachelor's degree program. Though business and hospitality degrees may lead to theme park management positions, a recreation management program offers specialized coursework in recreation business practices.

Theme park managers must have excellent communication and customer service skills to work with employees and provide quality services to theme park visitors. They should have a basic knowledge of marketing, advertising, promotional and financial concepts. Theme park managers should be able to clearly define a theme park's short- and long-term goals and work to meet those goals. To remain competitive, managers need to have extensive knowledge of past and present trends within the amusement park industry.

http://education-portal.com/articles/Am ... ation.html

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported employment data specifically related to the amusement park and arcade industries (http://www.bls.gov). The BLS reported that more than 3,000 individuals held management positions at amusement parks and arcades in the United States as of May 2013, and these professionals earned a mean annual wage of $102,840 in 2013. It's important to note that this figure includes the highest levels of managers, such as chief executives; salaries for lower-level and mid-level managers will be significantly less. For instance, in July 2014, PayScale.com reported that the median salary for operations managers in the amusement park industry was $39,531.

[FamousAmos]

I wrote a Long research paper on the topic of an amusement park General Manager. I looked for the file, but it somehow got deleted. I do have, however, a printed version of it. I went into complete detail about the job and everything to do with it. If I could somehow scan the pages or retype it, I'll give you a copy.

[coasterfreak]

Great topic. I am actually pursuing about the same thing. I just received my Associates degree in December with plans to transfer to Appalachian State in Boone this fall for their hospitality and tourism management program. But in my endeavors, I've learned that education isn't the only important thing in your pursuit. Real world experience in the field is a must. I remember reading an article featuring our park manager, Mike Fehnel, where he said his career started by working (I think it was) games at Dorney. I worked last season at Tweetsie in Boone, and plan to go back again this year. At the end of the season, I talked with our park manager and told him my plans, he said that that's basically what he did, (even said I might take his place sometime ). But even if you don't live near enough to work at a park, look for other opportunities; local movie theaters, bowling alleys, mini-golf courses, anything involving the tourism/hospitality/recreation industries. Just don't give up on your dreams!

[Edwardo]

You will find that most people in management at work their way up in theme parks. I would suggest but if you are interested in going straight into a mid-level management position and going from there, you should try getting a marketing degree. Marketing is a lot of fun and it's almost always in need at theme parks it seems. I know Carowinds has been looking for a marketing director several times in the last five years that I've been down here. So coming from someone Who actually used to work in marketing, thelo not in a themepark, I can tell you that it's a lot of fun and it opens up a lot of doors and it's not the hardest degree to get.

[LDP]

Thanks for all the great responses guys! They all are helpful and I will definitely try putting them in context. As far as the research paper goes, Amos, I'm definitely interested in giving that a read if you happen to find that one day. I do plan on working at Carowinds or Kings Dominion in the summer of 2017... even though that is a while from now, I plan on doing so after I age out of Drum Corps. I also decided to get a Linkedin account and that was also a helpful resource (for anyone else wondering).

[Jonathan]

Look into the Merlin Entertainment graduate leadership programs. http://www.merlincareers.com/graduates. They're competitive to get into but could be right up your alley.

[Axel]

Study in England at with this program from Alton Towers (arguably one of the most beautiful amusement park in the world).

Alton Towers Teams to Offer a Degree in Theme Park Management
2 year program with in park experience

Have you ever wanted to run your own theme park? Well now you can finally get a degree in just that. Alton Towers and Staffordshire University will join together to give students the opportunity to earn a Foundation Degree in Visitor Attraction and Resort Management at the University’s Business School. According to iTV news, the program will include two years of study and 18 weeks of paid work experience. The program will also feature courses covering commercial management, business operations, strategic management, customer service, digital marketing among other relevant topics. According to Guy Brazier, HR Director for Alton Towers Resort, the students will then apply these concepts into real world experience stating, “We’ve worked alongside Staffordshire University on a number of training and development projects in recent years, but this course is really the culmination of everything we’ve been aiming for. It will give those that complete it a credible background that will make them far more attractive to prospective employers and of course we are hoping it will act as a catalyst for our own workforce to support our succession strategy." Students can expect to start off working in the park completing such jobs as retail associates, ride operators, and hotel management with the goal of working towards leadership level positions in the second year of the program.

[Axel]

looks like a lot of fun... we need something like this stateside!

Rollercoasterology -- the science behind amusement parks

CALGARY, AB--(Marketwired - May 28, 2015) - What could be better for junior and high school students than when your classroom transforms into an amusement park for a day? That's just what's happening on Friday for over 2,000 students from across Alberta who are heading to Calaway Park to enjoy a few rides and learn a lot about physics.

The students go on the rides and study the math, forces, and physics of the amusement park rides with the help of the Rollercoasterology workbooks, written by Phil Langill, a senior instructor in the Physics and Astronomy Department.

...

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/2567622#ixzz3bYO7txYH

[Jonathan]

Many U.S. parks do this, including Carowinds.