Director of Operations - Hospitality

A celebrated, boutique five-star luxury hotel in the southeastern United States is 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.

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.

• 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

• 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

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

• 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

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.

Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.

Reasonable Accommodations: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.

Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.

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