Title: VP, Operations 

Department: AJ Operations

Location: Miami

This role will be performed onsite in the Miami office.

Adventurous Journeys Operations (“AJ Operations”) is seeking a Vice President of Operations to drive asset and portfolio level performance and support its rapid growth across various investment platforms focused on the hospitality sector.

ABOUT AJ OPERATIONS

An extension of Adventurous Journeys Capital Partners (“AJCP”), AJ Operations is the in-house management company for AJCP’s hospitality, residential, office, retail, and entertainment assets. By leveraging resources across the company, AJ Operations expands upon AJCP’s vertically integrated development approach and is responsible for driving operating performance and guest experience through the alignment of branding, real estate, and property operations. Projects managed by AJ Operations include Chief’s, an entertainment venue in partnership with Eric Church on Broadway in Nashville, Memoir Residential, a multifamily platform initially launching in Nashville, New Orleans, and Portland, and Coral Sands Inn & Cottages, a boutique luxury resort in the Bahamas, as well as many other exciting commercial, hospitality, and F&B ventures. AJ Operations will also manage 500,000 square feet of office space and 250,000 square feet of retail upon completion of AJCP’s mixed-use project in Wedgewood-Houston Nashville.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Vice President will be responsible for supporting the operations and asset management team and driving hotel performance for AJCP’s various independent hotel properties. The position will assess staff, culture and hospitality, operational processes, and make recommendations for approval and implement changes where deemed appropriate. The position will be a key member of a small and diverse-focused team with exposure to the entire firm as well as senior leadership, working closely with operations, accounting, acquisitions, capital markets, construction, and internal and external property management companies. 

WHAT YOU WILL DO

• Perform above-property operations, on property operations on a task force and support basis, and asset management duties for the AJCP Independent Hotels portfolio with an initial focus on three properties across the US and the Bahamas – Coral Sands Inn & Cottages in Harbour Island, Bahamas, Hotel 1928 in Waco, TX, and the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans, LA.
• Be responsible for operational accountability and reporting, evaluating, and driving property-level operating results, budgets, and forecasts while supporting and guiding a strategy for profit maximization.
• Support pre-opening planning and new openings, provide interim coverage for open leadership roles, and conduct special projects/initiatives (including defining scope and project managing to successful completion).
• Work with AJ Operations and third-party management companies as applicable to support, supplement, and enhance financial results, reporting, and overall strategy. 
• Provide effective people leadership of assigned hotels by attracting, motivating, developing, rewarding, and retaining top talent in partnership with hotel executive teams.
• Find opportunities to maximize existing revenues and identify new revenue streams.
• Analyze costs and identify opportunities for cost savings or scale efficiencies, particularly related to labor productivity/staffing.
• Build market share through new and innovative methods, including differentiating through training and continuous improvement of service levels and guest experience.
• Conduct weekly update calls focused on KPIs and monitoring overall hotel performance.
• Lead detailed monthly P&L reviews to ensure focus on areas of opportunity and develop action plans to improve performance.
• Work closely with the senior management to execute the portfolio and property-level business plans and capital deployment/growth strategies.
• Prepare analyses in response to executive team, investor, or other internal requests and monthly, quarterly, and annual portfolio management deliverables. 
• Optimize all below-the-line expenses including property taxes, insurance, and leases.
• Assist as needed in coordinating and communicating with lenders, appraisers, and consultants on financing matters.
• Onboard new investments into the operations and asset management processes.

 WHO YOU ARE

AJCP is seeking a highly motivated individual who enjoys working in a fast-paced, but disciplined, entrepreneurial environment. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience in hotel operations, real estate, and investment strategy. This role also requires the following capabilities: 

• Effective communication skills with ability to manage diverse stakeholders in a decentralized structure.
• Advanced analytical, financial, written, and verbal communication skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, with high expertise in Excel.
• Strong financial acumen and comfortable understanding financial statements.
• Self-motivated, flexible, and detail oriented.
• Works well with multiple disciplines within the company as the subject matter expert for specific assets.

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

 
Required

• 10+ years of management experience in hospitality operations.
• Bachelor’s degree in Real Estate, Finance/Accounting, Hotel Management, or related discipline.
• Deep knowledge of hotel and F&B industry trends, best practices, rules, and regulations.
• Strong understanding of financial statements, operational best practices, and hospitality systems (property management, point-of-sale, scheduling, labor management, etc.)
• Ability to travel up to 50%.

Preferred 

• Prior experience serving in task force or interim roles and managing transitions.
• 5+ years as a hotel Director of Finance or Controller.
• Advanced degree or industry certifications.

Equal Employment Opportunity

AJMC is an equal employment opportunity employer and complies with all applicable laws prohibiting discrimination based on an individual’s race, color, religion, religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, reproductive health decision-making, sex, gender, age, sexual orientation, veteran and/or military status, protected medical leaves, domestic violence victim status, political affiliation, or any other status protected by federal, state, or local laws. AJMC is dedicated to the fulfillment of this policy regarding all aspects of employment, including, but not limited to, recruiting, hiring, placement, transfer, training, promotion, rates of pay, other compensation, termination, and all other terms, conditions, and privileges of employment.