GENERAL MANAGER

About the role

The successful candidate will serve as both an operational leader and a cultural steward—responsible for delivering outstanding financial performance, exceptional guest experiences, and associate engagement while bringing the Populus mission and values to life every day.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership for all aspects of hotel operations with a focus on guest satisfaction, associate engagement, financial performance, and operational excellence.
• Serve as the steward of the Populus ethos and guest experience, ensuring the property's mission, values, and sustainability commitments are reflected throughout the guest and associate journey.
• Drive revenue growth and profitability through strategic planning, budgeting, forecasting, expense management, and revenue optimization.
• Analyze financial and operational performance metrics to identify opportunities to strengthen results and grow the property's standing in the market.
• Partner closely with Sales, Marketing, Revenue Management, and Food & Beverage leaders to strengthen commercial results and the guest experience.
• Recruit, develop, mentor, and retain a high-performing executive leadership team while creating opportunities for associate growth and advancement.
• Foster a culture that celebrates innovation, authenticity, inclusivity, accountability, and exceptional service.
• Maintain a visible presence throughout the property, upholding the standards of quality, cleanliness, safety, and service.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with ownership, community organizations, environmental partners, tourism leaders, business partners, and local stakeholders.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, sustainability initiatives, brand standards, safety regulations, and all applicable federal, state, and local laws.
• Partner closely with People and Culture to support talent acquisition, associate relations, engagement, and leadership development.
• Represent Populus, Urban Villages, and Crescent Hotels & Resorts at industry events, community functions, and corporate meetings as needed.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience as a General Manager within a full-service, lifestyle, luxury, or upscale hotel environment.
• Demonstrated success leading highly experiential, independent, lifestyle, or luxury hospitality concepts preferred.
• Proven ability to drive financial performance while maintaining exceptional guest satisfaction and associate engagement.
• Strong understanding of hotel financials, budgeting, forecasting, revenue management, and P&L accountability.
• Experience building and leading high-performing teams in dynamic, service-driven environments.
• Passion for sustainability, environmental stewardship, and purpose-driven hospitality.
• Demonstrated ability to build culture and associate engagement within a mission-driven organization.
• Experience representing a hotel within the community and cultivating meaningful local partnerships.
• Experience working collaboratively with ownership groups, asset managers, and management companies.
• Exceptional communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.