Manager, Park Photo & Gaming Operations

Description

Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is a 365-entertainment destination for world-class events located in Austin, TX. The sports and entertainment portfolio at COTA is unmatched in the country, with Formula 1 US Grand Prix, NASCAR, and MotoGP attracting global fans during championship races on the famed Circuit, while Live Nation produces more than 30 headline concerts annually at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater.

COTALAND is an amusement park featuring more than 30 attractions and experiences, including first-of-their-kind roller coasters.

The Manager, Park Photo & Gaming Operations is responsible for the strategic leadership and daily operation of COTALAND's photo and midway gaming business. This role oversees all aspects of the department, including financial performance, merchandise buying, Open-to-Buy (OTB) management, vendor partnerships, staffing, training, guest engagement, inventory, and operational execution. The Manager leads a team of Team Leads and Photo & Gaming Associates while ensuring exceptional guest experiences, maximizing revenue, and maintaining the highest operational standards across all photo and gaming locations.

• Provide overall leadership for all park photo and gaming operations, ensuring safe, efficient, and guest-focused daily operations.
• Develop and execute department strategies that drive revenue growth, guest participation, and operational excellence.
• Recruit, hire, train, schedule, coach, and develop Team Leads and Photo & Gaming Associates while fostering a culture of accountability, engagement, and exceptional guest service.
• Create and deliver ongoing sales training focused on guest interaction, suggestive selling, sales engagement techniques, and maximizing photo package and game participation.
• Establish service standards and ensure team members consistently create memorable guest experiences through energetic and engaging interactions.
• Manage department labor, payroll, and scheduling to align staffing with attendance forecasts and business demands.
• Monitor daily sales, labor, and operational KPIs, implementing strategies to improve productivity, profitability, and guest satisfaction.
• Manage the department's Open-to-Buy (OTB) budget and purchasing plans to ensure appropriate inventory levels while maximizing inventory turns and profitability.
• Source, purchase, and replenish gaming plush, redemption prizes, photo merchandise, consumables, and operating supplies based on seasonal demand, sales trends, and guest preferences.
• Develop vendor relationships, negotiate product selections, coordinate deliveries, and ensure vendors meet quality, pricing, and service expectations.
• Oversee inventory management, including receiving, replenishment, transfers, cycle counts, inventory accuracy, and shrink control.
• Design, plan, and oversee the setup, presentation, and maintenance of midway games to ensure they remain visually appealing, operationally efficient, and consistent with company standards.
• Ensure all games, photo locations, POS systems, cameras, printers, and related equipment are fully operational, coordinating repairs and preventative maintenance with vendors and internal departments.
• Oversee the operation of all attraction photography locations, ensuring photo quality, guest flow, equipment readiness, and achievement of sales goals.
• Manage relationships with third-party photography vendors, service providers, and equipment manufacturers, ensuring contractual expectations, service levels, and operational standards are consistently met.
• Partner with Marketing, Attractions, Retail, Warehouse, Maintenance, Finance, and Safety to support park initiatives, seasonal events, festivals, and promotional activations.
• Develop and maintain department Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), training materials, and operational documentation.
• Ensure compliance with all cash handling procedures, safety regulations, company policies, and loss prevention standards.
• Prepare budgets, sales forecasts, inventory plans, operational reports, and performance analyses for park leadership.
• Continuously evaluate operations and implement process improvements that enhance efficiency, profitability, and the overall guest experience.

• Strong knowledge of amusement park, family entertainment, attraction photography, gaming, retail, or hospitality operations.
• Experience with merchandise buying, Open-to-Buy (OTB) planning, inventory management, and vendor negotiations.
• Proven ability to develop sales-driven teams through coaching, training, and performance management.
• Strong understanding of guest engagement strategies and experiential sales techniques.
• Excellent leadership, communication, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to analyze sales trends, financial reports, labor performance, and inventory metrics to make informed business decisions.
• Working knowledge of POS systems, digital photography systems, inventory management software, purchasing processes, scheduling…