Manager of Guest Experience - Pre- Project Manager

About Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum

Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum is a vibrant and immersive museum experience celebrating the life and legacy of country music icon Dolly Parton. Located on the third floor of her new Song Teller Hotel in downtown Nashville, Tennessee, the museum spans over 20,000 square feet and is positioned as her largest exhibition to date.

From her humble beginnings in the Smoky Mountains to global superstardom, the museum invites guests to walk through Dolly’s story – the music, movies, style, philanthropy, and the heart behind it all. Using state-of-the-art multimedia, gallery exhibits, and personal artifacts, the museum highlights her songwriting, iconic performances, fashion, and values of family, faith, and imagination that have defined her journey.

The museum is designed not just for Dolly fans, but for anyone who dreams big. With accessible spaces, engaging environments, and a signature colorful aesthetic, it offers an experience that inspires curiosity, creativity, and connection.

The Manager of the Guest Experience leads the daily public-facing operations of Dolly’s Life of Many Colors Museum, including the museum’s visitor experience, admissions, and two on-site retail stores. This role ensures that every guest encounter reflects the museum’s standards of excellence, service, and storytelling while driving operational efficiency and retail performance.

This position oversees all front-of-house and back-of-house functions – admissions, guest services, retail operations, inventory integrity and management, and daily readiness – to deliver a seamless, high-quality experience. In addition to overseeing museum and store operations, the leader is responsible for cultivating a culture of hospitality, maximizing per-guest spending, and supporting museum-wide events and initiatives.

In the pre-opening phase, this position will serve as a key Project Manager, coordinating readiness efforts for the museum’s launch including systems setup, establishment of processes, retail and admissions preparation, and policy development. Once the museum opens, the role will transition into the Manager of Guest Operations responsible for the overall guest experience in the museum, the two retail stores, and the admissions area.

• Pre-Opening Project Management
  • Lead key pre-opening initiatives to prepare all guest-facing areas for launch including Admissions, Retail, and Museum Operations.
  • Partner with leadership, contractors, and vendors to ensure timelines, budgets, and deliverables are met.
  • Assist in developing operational policies, guest service standards, and opening procedures.
  • Coordinate hiring, onboarding, and training of front-line staff.
  • Support setup of point-of-sale (POS) systems, ticketing, and guest service technology.
  • Conduct readiness walkthroughs and operational testing to ensure seamless guest experiences on opening day and beyond.
• The Guest Experience
  • Oversee daily guest operations including admissions, retail, and visitor services.
  • Ensure that the museum, exhibits, and retail spaces are guest‑ready each day.
  • Lead by example to uphold high standards of hospitality, cleanliness, and efficiency.
  • Anticipate guest needs, resolve service issues promptly, and maintain a visible presence on the floor.
  • Collaborate with key stakeholders to ensure operational readiness and safety.
• Retail Management
  • Direct the operation of two retail stores including staffing, merchandising, training, and financial performance.
  • Drive retail revenue growth through product mix optimization, visual merchandising, and guest engagement.
  • Monitor daily sales and inventory levels, ensuring accurate reporting and cost control.
  • Train retail staff on sales techniques, product knowledge, and guest service standards.
• Museum Operations
  • Oversee day-to-day museum functions including exhibit readiness, maintenance coordination, and staff deployment.
  • Work with key stakeholders to ensure all public areas meet safety, accessibility, and presentation standards.
• Admissions
  • Manage admissions operations, ensuring accurate ticketing, cash handling, and reporting procedures.
  • Train staff to provide…