Director of Operations - Hospitality

We are a celebrated, boutique five-star luxury hotel in the southeastern United States seeking a Director of Operations to serve as its second-in-command. This is a rare opportunity to join a boutique, entrepreneurial environment where you'll have real influence over strategy, culture, and guest experience, without the layers of bureaucracy found at big-box or large corporate-backed hotels.

About the role

Reporting directly to the Managing Director, the Director of Operations will oversee all day-to-day operations across Rooms, Food & Beverage, and Culinary, with dotted-line alignment across every other operational function. This is a hands-on leadership role: you'll need to be both a strategist and a doer.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic and day-to-day leadership across all hotel operations, ensuring every guest touchpoint reflects five-star, luxury standards
• Personally engage with VIP guests, owners, and strategic partners as needed
• Champion a culture of exceptional hospitality, accountability, and continuous improvement
• Partner with culinary and restaurant leadership to elevate dining experiences
• Recruit, mentor, and develop a high-performing leadership team, building succession pipelines
• Manage operational budgets, labor plans, and departmental financial performance
• Partner with Finance and Revenue Management to drive profitability and forecasting accuracy
• Oversee cleanliness, preventive maintenance, safety, and regulatory compliance standards
• Evaluate capital improvement opportunities and support long-range strategic planning
• Monitor guest feedback and ensure service recovery processes resolve challenges effectively

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field
• 10+ years of progressive leadership experience in luxury hospitality, including executive-level operational responsibility
• Prior experience as a Director of Operations, Hotel Manager, Executive Assistant Manager, or equivalent role within a Forbes Five-Star, AAA Five-Diamond, or comparable luxury property
• Demonstrated success leading Rooms, Food & Beverage, and Culinary operations together
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, and operational analytics
• Proven ability to lead in a boutique, independent, or entrepreneurial environment
• Exceptional communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills

Preferred Qualifications

• Background at a luxury independent or boutique properties
• Experience with hotel-specific systems
• A track record of building and mentoring succession-ready leadership teams

Benefits

• Base salary: $150,000-$165,000, commensurate with experience
• Performance-based bonus
• 401(k) with employer match
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus voluntary health plans