General Manager, Area

Position Title

General Manager, Area

Reports to

Regional Manager

Job Description

The General Manager, Area is a rare leadership seat — equal parts executive operator, master coach, and culture driver. Anchored at a large primary campus with operational reach across multiple metro-area sites, this role carries simultaneous P&L accountability across Culinary, Retail, and Catering, with additional service offerings woven throughout the operation.

Responsibilities

• The Mandate: Leader Who Develops
• Build and sustain a coaching culture across all business lines — Culinary, Retail, and Catering as the core, with extended offerings and sales roles woven throughout — ensuring every leader at every level is actively developed, not just directed.
• Conduct structured, recurring 1:1s and meaningful performance conversations with direct-report managers — and hold them accountable for bringing that same discipline and consistency to their own teams.
• Develop growth plans for managers — with clear benchmarks and defined next steps — while identifying top talent early, accelerating their development, and building the succession pipeline before the need arises.
• Deliver feedback that is specific, timely, and actionable — and build an environment where accountability is the norm and psychological safety is the foundation.
• Drive the full team member experience from day one through long tenure; hold managers accountable for onboarding quality, stay visible to the frontline, and treat early-turnover patterns as a direct signal about leadership.
• Model and reinforce the leadership behaviors that drive engagement, retention, and growth — leading inclusively enough that opportunity and recognition reach everyone equitably — knowing that when the culture is right, the metrics take care of themselves.
• Create clear pathways for team members to raise concerns and be heard; advocate for your workforce with the same energy you bring to business results.
• Financial Leadership and P&L Accountability
• Own the financial outcome across all business lines — Culinary, Retail, and Catering with extended offerings — spanning the primary campus and every site within the metro area portfolio.
• Operational Intelligence & Innovation
• Set and uphold SSA’s operational standards across all business lines and campus touchpoints — and hold managers accountable for executing them.
• Lead seasonal planning and peak-volume strategy; ensure managers are equipped to execute large-scale events and high-demand periods.
• Partner with managers on staffing strategy, scheduling frameworks, and labor optimization — especially during high-demand periods.
• Lead new business initiatives, company programs, and capital projects — holding managers accountable for driving execution, not simply implementing top-down direction.
• Champion the adoption of Operational Intelligence tools and technology platforms across all business lines — ensuring managers translate data into action and embed digital workflows into daily operations.
• Guest & Partner Relations
• Build and maintain a trusted partnership with our partner — showing up as SSA’s senior operational presence with honesty, consistency, and a long-term relationship mindset.
• Address partner concerns with urgency and transparency — communicating proactively, escalating when needed, and following through completely until resolved.
• Champion SSA’s 452 Hospitality standard across every touchpoint — creating memorable moments for guests, partners, and team members that reflect the best of what SSA delivers.
• Ensure full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations across campus operations — proactively identifying risks, engaging the right internal and external partners, and resolving issues before they escalate.
• Lead risk assessment and safety planning across all departments — ensuring managers are trained, prepared, and capable of executing emergency response protocols without waiting for direction.
• Build a culture of compliance through consistent training expectations — ensuring all team members complete required certifications, food safety standards, alcohol service protocols, and SSA onboarding requirements on time and to standard.
• Coordinate with legal, People, and company leadership on compliance matters — escalating appropriately, documenting accurately, and following through on corrective action with urgency and professionalism.

Requirements

• Onsite Role
• 30–50% travel between locations
• Able to walk and tour units for extended periods (accommodation available)
• Flexible availability including evenings, weekends, and holidays as business requires
• Valid driver's license required; subject to DMV check if operating a company vehicle or golf cart
• Education & Experience:
• 7+ years of progressive operational leadership as a General Manager in unique venue, cultural attraction, theme park, or large-scale hospitality environments — with 3+ years of multi-department and multi-unit or area management experience preferred
• Proven track record of developing high-performing management teams — leaders who develop leaders — while leading across multiple concurrent business lines (F&B, Retail, Catering, or comparable) in a campus or complex environment
• Demonstrated success as both a change leader and cultural stabilizer in high-volume, high-stakes settings
• Bachelor's degree preferred; equivalent combination of education and demonstrated leadership experience considered

Work Environment

The General Manager, Area works across multiple active hospitality environments, each with the fast-paced, high-energy characteristics of cultural attraction operations. Regular travel between units is expected. The role requires physical stamina, comfort with variable schedules and settings, and the ability to lead effectively across multiple partner sites.