Director of Operations

Reports to:

General Manager, Position is Exempt WHO YOU ARE

You are a hospitality leader whose story starts in food and beverage—someone who learned early on that the heartbeat of a great hotel often begins in its kitchen and carries through every guest experience. You know how a well-timed greeting can feel like good service, but how a perfectly executed plate can feel like love. You understand that dining, design, and detail are all part of the same conversation—and that every sensory touchpoint matters.

You’ve built your career from the ground up, mastering both the art of service and the discipline of operations. You can walk the restaurant floor and feel its rhythm, collaborate with an Executive Chef on a menu that tells a story, then turn around and lead a meeting on labor targets, guest satisfaction, or preventive maintenance. You know how to balance creativity with consistency, intuition with analytics, and hospitality with profitability.

Your leadership style is grounded in humility and presence. You work shoulder to shoulder with your team—mentoring, coaching, and sometimes running food or greeting guests yourself—because you believe the best leaders lead from within, not above. You’re equally at home in the dining room, the front desk, or a back‑of‑house hallway, because to you, every corner of the hotel contributes to the guest experience.

You’re drawn to spaces that blur the line between neighborhood gathering place and refined destination—places that feel both local and elevated, where hospitality is heartfelt and every detail feels intentional. For you, success is not just measured in revenue or check averages—it’s in the feeling guests take with them when they leave, and the pride your team feels in creating it.

At Surety Hotel, you’ll bring that same blend of heart, precision, and operational grit to every department—from guest services and housekeeping to engineering and food & beverage. You’ll be the connective thread between vision and execution, ensuring that every moment, every plate, and every stay reflects the unapologetic spirit of Des Moines and the thoughtful craftsmanship that defines Aparium.

The Director of Operations is the operational heartbeat of Surety Hotel, partnering closely with the General Manager to oversee the rhythm, performance, and soul of the property. This role ensures every department—from guest services and housekeeping to engineering and food & beverage—operates in sync, creating experiences that are seamless, intentional, and unmistakably Des Moines.

Rooted in a strong food and beverage background, this leader brings an innate understanding of how a great meal, a genuine conversation, or a perfectly timed gesture can define a guest’s stay. You’ll collaborate closely with the Executive Chef to elevate culinary and service excellence across the hotel’s restaurant, bar, and event spaces, ensuring that what happens at the table complements what happens throughout the guest journey.

This is a role for someone who thrives equally on the floor and in the boardroom—someone who can interpret a P&L in the morning, jump behind the host stand or service line in the afternoon, and inspire their team at lineup that evening. You’ll provide both strategic direction and hands‑on support to department heads in F&B, Front Office, Housekeeping, Engineering, and Events, aligning performance with Aparium’s values of authenticity, craft, and connection.

At Aparium, leaders work side by side with their teams—coaching, supporting, and holding one another accountable to high standards and shared success. You