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- Outdoor-Hive Newsletter February 26, 2025
Outdoor-Hive Newsletter February 26, 2025
Tips and career/job opportunities in the shooting, hunting, archery, and sportfishing industries.
David Dolbee & Kevin Paulson
February 26, 2025
Why Companies Should Fix the Job Application Situation
In today's competitive job market, companies are losing qualified candidates due to outdated and frustrating application processes. Job candidates have never been fans of the application process at most companies. However, candidate complaints have reached a new level that we’ve never seen — especially as it is coming to light that companies are relying upon software to screen and track applications, posting ghost applications for jobs that do not exist, and not posting true salary ranges.
These kind of tactics can destroy an employer’s brand and alienate the top-tier talent they are looking for.
5 Tips Companies Should Consider
Make Applying Easier by Streamlining the Application Process
Companies should have a set system that allows someone to quickly and easily apply for a position with a simple resume and a simplistic set of questions that can all be done from a mobile phone, tablet, or laptop. Create a communication system that allows candidates to clearly see where they are in the process.
Salary Transparency
Job postings don’t always include salary, but they should. Don’t use salary ranges (which are silly) — candidates always want the higher salary. A better strategy is to post the actual salary the company intends to offer. Doing so discourages applicants whose requirements exceed what is offered, and ensures that recruiters don’t waste time interviewing candidates who aren’t going to want the position anyway.
Clearly Written Descriptions
Well-written job postings improve applicant quality and reduce candidate frustration by providing clarity around what the job entails. That means describing the challenges the ideal candidate will need to address rather than just listing required skills and experience from a generic and often outdated template.
Post Real Jobs
Recruiters and hiring managers who want to develop a robust pipeline of candidates sometimes post job openings they don’t intend to fill just to “see who’s out there.” This is a bad idea. These employers are only fueling resentment from qualified candidates who apply for these jobs but don’t get a response.
Don’t Ghost Candidates
Ghosting is now the most oft-cited source of frustration cited by candidates on social media. While it’s unwieldy to respond to every application, once a recruiter reaches out to a candidate, that candidate deserves the respect of knowing their status. The level of response should be calibrated to the number of times the candidate has been interviewed.
Rejections following an initial phone screening or one interview can be communicated via a canned email. However, once candidates have gone through several rounds of meetings, a phone call goes a long way to respecting the time the candidate has invested.
How do you think the job-application process could be improved?
This Week’s Employment Listings
Firearms
The Strategic Marketing Relationships Manager will be a member of the in-house marketing team, which is responsible for the creative development and execution of internal and external marketing communications and branding materials. The role is responsible for developing and coordinating new and existing relationships with a variety of partners and — where relevant — leveraging those relationships to create greater collective impact.
As a Social Media Specialist at SIG Sauer, you will play a key role in shaping the online presence and digital voice of both the main brand and its sub-brands. Your mission will be to build and sustain a strong, engaging online community through innovative social media strategies and compelling content. This position offers the opportunity to work closely with various teams to ensure consistent brand messaging and to leverage social media for strategic engagement and growth.
The Financial Analyst is an integral part of the Finance team that supports data-driven decisions by assisting with budgets, forecasts, internal reporting, and more as the organization continues to grow and expand. This role will design, develop, modify, document and deliver high-quality analysis and reports that meet the organization’s needs and improve overall results.
Responsible for member growth of the program by recruiting new teams and retaining existing programs. Work with and develop Regional Field Representative (RFR) employees and volunteer State Advisors to grow the SSSFs’ clay target sports in a grass-roots fashion. Provide training, key information and resources for RFRs, State Advisors and coaches within respective regions. Find and develop state advisors and other key groups in states who can positively influence and grow local member-teams and support coaches on a daily basis.
Provide support for program competitions. Consult with RFRs, state advisors and coaches as needed to ensure leagues, local matches, regional matches and state matches are successful. Ensure teams are registered and are using the SSSF SHOT data system for managing athletes and events.
Develop leads and provide support for program fundraising efforts. Assist National Director to plan and conduct fundraisers such as raffles, banquets, etc. which benefit local teams and the national organization. Ensure all national fundraising remains compliant with local, state and national regulations. Assist National Director in soliciting industry and other national-level sponsorship.
Davidson’s Sales Account Executives are responsible for establishing and growing relationships with its customers across the country through outbound phone, email, SMS, and online orders. New Sales Account Executives will receive a comprehensive 3+ week paid training program providing you with all the tools you need to succeed. If you have a strong desire to grow with a company who rewards intensity, integrity, results, and offers an unmatched career opportunity, apply with Davidson’s.
LionHeart is looking for a full-time Sales Account Manager located on-site in Virginia Beach, VA to join its team. As a Sales Account Manager, you will develop and maintain relationships with clients, understand their needs, and provide customized solutions that meet their requirements. You will use your knowledge of the industry, our products, and services to drive sales, communicate effectively with clients, and achieve revenue targets. This position will work to further grow our customer base within the Federal Law Enforcement market.
Seeking an experienced Partner Marketing Specialist in the firearms space to enhance our marketing efforts and focus on influencers. This exciting opportunity to shape and grow our influencer partnerships will allow you to make a difference and create meaningful connections.
Are you energized by the opportunity to blaze a trail where no one has gone before? Do you delight in creating something from nothing? Hunt for opportunity and sell the USCCA brand as you open doors and transform our influencer partnerships into powerful growth channels.
Qualified candidates should have experience in digital marketing and hold industry connectivity to influencers or content creator partnership management. Your ability to engage with influencers and advance the self-defense dialogue will be crucial in cultivating partnerships that enhance top line revenue.
The Firearms Engineer is responsible for working as a team member in designing and developing new products and changes to existing products. You are also responsible for the project management of firearms and accessories. The Firearms Engineer is focused on the improvement of products and services related to machining operations through standardization and automation of the CNC work centers. The Firearms Engineer develops and implements optimal, cost-effective machining processes and methods in accordance with product specifications and quality standards, recommends and implements improvements to production processes, methods, and controls, and coordinates the machining of new or revised products. Must have a firm grasp of Engineering principles and experience designing mechanical components. Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision, balance workload with multiple priorities, and take multiple paths to resolve issues, including using their own technical skills.
Primary responsibility of the RSM is to serve as an account manager for underdeveloped markets throughout the United States and select key accounts and to develop account plans to achieve the sales goals. The RSM is responsible for driving sales through the execution of sales initiatives and business plan objectives by cultivating and building Hawke’s customer base and focusing on enhancing key territory dealer relationships.
The role of a Category Merchandising Manager is pivotal in steering the direction and success of consumer-centric product solutions. This position demands a blend of strategic foresight and hands-on management through every phase of product development, from conceptualization to market launch. The core responsibility involves orchestrating annual line plans that are not only ambitious in terms of revenue, gross margin, and market share growth but also reflective of a deep understanding of market demands and consumer preferences. This strategic assortment of superior products underpins the company’s competitive edge and its ability to meet and exceed customer expectations.
At the heart of the Category Merchandising Manager’s role is the development and articulation of a coherent vision and strategy for the product segments under their purview. This vision must be grounded in a robust analysis of market trends, consumer behaviors, and the competitive landscape. It requires a keen insight into the return on investment each product is expected to deliver, supported by concrete market data and a clear roadmap for development and launch. The strategy must be comprehensive, covering all channels of distribution to ensure a cohesive and powerful market presence.
Hunting
This position will be located at our facility in Bozeman Montana, with the possibility of a hybrid remote work arrangement, depending upon the responsibilities of the role and business needs. Relocation assistance may be offered for this role.
Partner with senior level leadership to develop and align on a consumer centric, multi-year marketing roadmap, including key strategic initiatives and investments that align with the brand standards. Develop and align on a premium, brand-first, editorial calendar (annual and seasonal marketing strategies) to strengthen the Sitka brand position, elevate the consumer experience, and drive revenue through customer acquisition and retention. Drive the Go-to-Market process (with checkpoints) and leverage cross-functional partnerships (with product and creative) to execute on an aligned seasonal editorial calendar delivering the right message, to the right consumer, at the right time and fueling the lifestyle of the pursuit.
Drive an integrated marketplace (led by sitkagear.com) and align marketing teams to deliver world-class product launches while balancing a continuous flow of consumer-centric, brand messages to drive revenue and brand loyalty. Lead the development and execution of message distribution plans with earned media, direct mail, performance marketing, OOH, email, and social, to balance cultivating authentic consumer engagement and maximizing ROI.
We are looking for a driven and motivated Account Executive to join our growing sales team. This role is perfect for someone who thrives in a fast-paced environment, enjoys building relationships, and has a passion for the outdoors. You will play a crucial role in generating qualified leads, engaging with prospects, and converting them into paying customers.
Your primary responsibility will be to communicate with our target audience—guides, outfitters, and charter captains—to understand their needs and demonstrate how Mallard Bay can help grow their business. You will work closely with our Marketing team to follow up on inbound leads while also proactively identifying new opportunities through outbound prospecting.
The Director leads RMEF’s communication efforts to ensure consistent messaging that promotes RMEF’s brand and maintains audience engagement. This position works closely with the managing director to develop and implement comprehensive communication strategies across all RMEF’s digital and print mediums. Responsibilities include collaborating with executive leaders to ensure that communication strategies align with RMEF’s overall objectives and goals, driving engagement and brand awareness across multiple channels, including Bugle magazine and digital content.
Field Operations is the primary fundraising structure of the RMEF. Regional directors oversee local volunteer chapters in organizing fundraising events, primarily banquets and other event activities, to support the continued operation of RMEF and finance elk and wildlife conservation projects. In addition to event-based fundraising, regional directors should work within their region on volunteer recruitment, retention, and training. Regional directors in designated elk states serve as the chair of their respective state project advisory committee from which conservation project recommendations are developed for RMEF funding.
Develop and maintain relationships with outdoor, hunting, and tactical gear retailers / Sales Rep Agencies. Identify and onboard new retail partners to expand Odenwolf’s market presence. Attend outdoor, hunting, and shooting sports trade shows to generate leads and showcase product. Conduct in-store product training for retail staff to improve brand knowledge and sell-through. Manage order tracking and inventory levels in coordination with our logistics team. Monitor sales trends, competitor activity, and customer preferences to refine sales strategies. Execute sales promotions and marketing initiatives to drive retail success. Provide sales forecasts, reporting, and strategic insights to help optimize inventory and growth.
Looking for an Outside Sales Rep to cover the Northwestern, United States territory, which includes WA, OR, ID, MT, and WY. The Outside Sales Rep is responsible for managing Odle’s relationships and sales of established accounts (and build relationships with new accounts!) in the Commercial and Law Enforcement markets within the territory. You will be responsible for showcasing new products, analyzing sales and sell-through metrics, develop sales promotions and strategies as well as product sales training for dealer accounts. In addition. you will provide exceptional customer service to our dealer accounts; answering their questions and problem solving when issues arise.
This position is the champion and lead on event programming for the sporting activities. These programs is what defines the club and sets the culture for the future. Programming includes everything from the planning stages to marketing and the proper execution of the events.
This position is also responsible for the operation and supervision of the Hunting Operations Manager, Hunting and Fishing instructors, Dog Handlers, Range Officers, and Clay Course Instructors / Guides. Plans, implements, and monitors departmental budgets. Hires, trains, and supervises subordinates and applies relevant marketing principles to assure that the wants and needs of club members and guests are consistently exceeded.
Field Operations is the primary fundraising structure of the RMEF. Regional directors oversee local volunteer chapters in organizing fundraising events, primarily banquets and other event activities, to support the continued operation of RMEF and finance elk and wildlife conservation projects.
Be an ambassador of the brand and instill the Orvis Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Culture in the entire team, provide individualized, personal attention to on-site customers, assist customers with check and on the course, maintain visual presentation standards, and more!
Be an ambassador of the brand and instill the Orvis Vision, Mission, Core Values, and Culture in the entire team, provide individualized, personal attention to on-site customers, assist customers with check and on the course, maintain visual presentation standards, and more!
The Mossy Oak Field Producer & Content Creator role is an opportunity for you to express your creativity not only through the lens, but with project management and fresh ideas. You’ll see your work at a national level across multiple media channels in Socials, websites, traditional print, TV and more
Your core responsibility will be completion of various video and photo content production and editing projects that will take place both in the field and in our studio facilities.
Editing skills are preferred but not required – we offer training on editing alongside the latest tools and technology to help not only fulfill your responsibilities but grow your personal and professional skill sets.
The Staff Accountant will work diligently to ensure the continued financial and operational integrity of our company. The ideal candidate will have experience working in a variety of sectors and fields, such as retail, supply chain, and audit.
This career requires significant organizational skills, the ability to communicate clearly, the ability to balance multiple projects at once, and deliver on timelines.
Archery
Join Mathews dynamic team as a Quality Engineer, where you will play a crucial role in ensuring the highest standards of quality across our manufacturing processes. Collaborate with cross-functional teams, including design, manufacturing, and supply chain, to implement and monitor quality control processes for existing products and prepare manufacturing areas for new products. Our company is committed to innovation and excellence, providing a supportive environment for professional growth and development.
Easton is looking for a Machine Operator in its metal finishing area. You would be responsible for setting up and maintaining Anodize equipment and processes including calibrating product and making the necessary machine adjustments to ensure a quality product.
The Finishing Operator for Pultrusion is responsible for all the product coming off the operator’s machines which includes ensuring that product is within company specs. and that work orders are completed within a specified time limit.
The Manager of Manufacturing Engineering is responsible to ensure Easton has the right equipment and technology to produce quality products cost effectively in the United States. This role will also lead and develop the department’s staff, and will be extensively involved with automation efforts, machine designs, and new equipment validation/implementation.
Provides service and assistance to new and existing accounts: Answers incoming phone calls from dealers, sales reps, and consumers. Takes and enters orders from customers, either by phone or email. Responds to inquiries regarding order status, product information or warranty information. Provides technical help and advice to the customer. Resolves customer problems and complaints, such as delivery or mis-shipped product. Issues Return Authorizations for warranty returns on defective product, according to company policy. Helps create additional sales by suggesting add-ons to incoming orders or special promotions.
Maintains the accounts: Communicates and maintains a positive relationship between Hoyt and customer accounts. Relays information regarding issues to appropriate internal personnel. Interacts with credit department regarding product holds due to credit issues, the shipping department regarding shipments, the planning department regarding delivery dates and backorder status, the Warranty department to check warranty status and/or policy, and the engineering department regarding technical information.
Fishing
At Seakeeper, marketing isn’t an afterthought but a strategic player in what we do and how we do it. As our Head of Brand, you’ll have the opportunity to put your mark on building a brand and crafting how the world views an industry-changing technology. You’ll act as central command of the global Seakeeper Ride.
March or April through the end of the season, October 31st. Year-end bonus available for those who fulfill the time requirement. 40hrs/week. Competitive pay. Potential pay increase based on performance.
Retail experience preferred, but no experience required. Basic understanding of fly fishing products, fly fishing experience, POS/point of sale experience, along with a willingness to learn are all important for employment.
Our guy is retiring which bums us out but hey, we are also excited for him! He has been amazing for us, the skills and experience contributed so valuable to what we do together. Now we are seeking a new partner to make a transition to work with “our guy” as RIO Products new Maintenance Technician II.
Maintenance Technician II is an important partner for both Production and Product Development by providing maintenance experience and service that exceeds the customer’s expectations. The focus is to ensure the RIO facilities are maintained to the highest quality to meet the operational directives of the organization and fellow team members.
This position will be responsible for entering dealer orders via email and phone, managing our Pro Portal applications, and assisting customers to resolve warranty/repair claims. Employee will also assist consumers and dealers with technical product questions related to fly fishing. Additional duties could include assisting with general office and warehouse duties, marketing and media efforts, and product development.
JRA Sales Inc. is a one of the Nation’s leading manufacturer’s representative agencies specializing in the Outdoor Sports, namely, Shooting Sports, Hunting and Fishing. It represents industry-leading brands with excellent quality products for our wholesaler/retailer customers and provide exceptional service and year-over-year sales growth to our manufacturer clients. The team is enthusiastic about the job they do and committed to driving sales growth through our proven sales strategies. All while building strong relationships that have an impact on the shared success of JRA Sales Inc. and its partners.
JRA is seeking a results-driven Field Sales Representative and Account Manager to join its team. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of the Outdoor Sports Market, excellent sales skills, and the ability to build and maintain strong relationships with our customers and clients. This role involves managing sales activities within Missouri, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Miscellaneous
The Sr. Product Manager is a core member of the Innovation Team acting as the bridge from product idea to go-to-market initiatives and beyond. This person will be constantly reviewing the product line, its details and its strategy while working with nearly every department in the organization, domestically and internationally, as well as external partners. This person will be managing the product line with the consumer always in focus while pushing the envelope of what is possible for the best product performance and user experience.
As an Engineering Program Manager – YETI Bags you will have one of the most critical roles at the company. You will be a member of the Soft Goods team that produces the best-in-class, tough-as-nails bags and luggage products that YETI is known for. This role manages the Product Development Lifecycle through the following stages: Initial Charter, Design, Engineering, Manufacturing, and Product Launch. You will contribute to guiding Yeti’s internal teams and manufacturing partners ensuring the successful development and launch of new Bags and Luggage products on time, on quality and on budget. You will also drive strategic initiatives to support the supply chain of Yeti’s existing project portfolio.
This role will interface with workstream and business owners within Sourcing, Design, Quality, Engineering, IT, Product, Finance, Legal, Marketing and beyond. It takes strong leadership skills, creativity to solve problems and sharp business acumen competences to bring the team together and continue to deliver exceptional products to Yeti’s customers.
Looking for a highly organized and detail-oriented professional with a strong understanding of the outdoor industry and waterfowl hunting community. This role will oversee trade show planning, SquadFest operations, and Dive Bomb’s HQ showroom, ensuring seamless execution and top-tier brand representation.
If this sounds like you, do not message me here. Send your resume (and media portfolio, if applicable) to [email protected]!
This is a great opportunity for a driven ecommerce developer to help shape the future of Davidson’s digital experiences.
As an Ecommerce Developer, the successful candidate will be responsible for creating and troubleshooting open-source ecommerce applications. An Ecommerce Developer at Davidson’s should be innovative, demonstrate a passion for technology, and be a deadline-driven self-starter that possess excellent communication and team mentoring skills.
The Ecommerce Developer responsibilities include working closely with Davidson’s Marketing, Purchasing and IT departments to ensure Davidson’s presents the best experience possible for its users (including user feedback, surveys, and testing), owning the user experience of features from conception to delivery and beyond, developing well-structured code in an agile environment, and helping to troubleshooting LA/EMP stack components — when issues arise
The Art Director creates and ideates artistic direction of our brand storytelling, ensuring the seamless execution of high-quality visual concepts by Conceptualizing and developing visually engaging ideas, and translating across various media (TV, Digital, Print, Branded Content, Social) ensuring that all deliverables meet the highest standards of quality, creativity, and brand consistency, cultivating and maintaining strong relationships with creative team and cross-functional partners, collaborating effectively to execute integrated marketing campaigns, staying up-to-date of industry trends, emerging technologies, and design best practices, integrating new techniques and approaches into our creative processes to maintain a competitive edge in the advertising landscape.
Harley-Davidson Footwear is looking for an experienced marketing manager to lead the development and execution of strategic marketing plans for Harley-Davidson Footwear, including brand marketing, retail marketing and event activation.
The TRCP is looking for an experienced Executive Manager to join this high performing, highly dynamic team. The Executive Manager will play a key role in supporting the CEO and coordinating with TRCP’s Board of Directors.
The TRCP offers a generous benefits package including health, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, 401k, cell phone and home internet reimbursement, and ample paid time off.
The hybrid position is based in Washington, DC, and the Executive Manager is expected to be in the office an average of at least 3 days per week. The in-office schedule of the Executive Manager will mirror that of the CEO. For example, some weeks while the CEO is traveling the Executive Manager may be able to work from home, other weeks when the CEO is in the office, the Executive Manager will be expected to come in daily.
Reporting to the Development Manager, the Outreach Assistant will contribute to development efforts at the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation. This person will work to raise funds for the organization, primarily by assisting with merchandise, auction items, collecting and distributing of firearms and other auction items, and donor database management. The successful candidate will work a traditional work schedule Monday – Friday, though evening and weekend hours will, at times, be required. Tavel will be required approximately 10-15% of the time. This is an entry level, full-time salaried position based at CSF headquarters in Washington D.C., with upward mobility potential.
Instructors at the OEC serve an essential role in the camp experience for visiting students. Instructors are responsible for providing an engaging and positive experience in the environmental-based learning of students. Instructors oversee groups of students during the day by leading activities, overnight while supervising groups in the dorms, and are involved with the day to day care of OEC resources, such as animal ambassadors, adventure courses, land, and trails.
Revelyst is seeking a dynamic, Temporary Accounts Payable Specialist to join our team. The Temporary Accounts Payable Specialist is responsible for processing full cycle AP, preparing journal entries, account reconciliations, month end close and various other functions to support the accounting team. This position is expected to apply principles of accounting to maintain financial data related to Accounts Payable and General Accounting. Critical thinking and problem solving are the key to success.
The Marketing Coordinator, under the supervision of the Marketing Director, helps coordinate all marketing campaigns, initiatives and activities to promote the business. Their duties include strategizing and planning various marketing campaigns, researching market trends to determine consumer needs. Marketing Coordinators complete tasks that support the organization’s overall marketing initiatives.
Looking for a self-motivated videographer and content producer who is a hands-on marketing professional with an equal passion for brand building and the outdoors. You will be the point person for capturing, editing, and producing video/photo content. You will also be responsible for conceiving, managing, and creating product photography, lifestyle photography, and a variety of in-the-field photo shoots. The content that will be produced will increase brand awareness and drive visual communication to our current and prospective customers. This position will report directly to the Marketing Director.
Outdoor Prolink is seeking a new teammate for its Boulder office Membership team! It’s looking for someone that enjoys the outdoors, loves talking to people and is looking for a stable position at a fast-growing company. Outdoor Prolink is a members-only pro deal site for professionals working in the outdoor industry. It needs you to help it continue to grow its 220k+ roster of outdoor, hunting, and fishing professionals in the U.S. and Canada.
Duck Camp is seeking an ambitious, organized and experienced individual to lead its Wholesale division. This is a pivotal role that is responsible for developing and executing our wholesale strategy to drive revenue growth, expand its market presence and strengthen relationships with key retail partners.
