Director of Operations

Aparium Hotel Group•Detroit, MI

62d

About The Position

The Director of Operations reports to the General Manager and oversees all aspects of daily operations across the hotel and its restaurant outlets, ensuring exceptional guest experiences, seamless service, and strong financial performance. This leadership role provides both strategic direction and hands-on support to department heads in food & beverage, front office, housekeeping, engineering, and events/banquets, aligning performance with company standards and the spirit of the brand. The ideal candidate is a dynamic, hands-on leader who thrives in both strategy and day-to-day execution-someone who leads from the dining room floor and hotel lobby, not just the office. At Aparium, all leaders work side by side with their teams, embodying humility, accountability, and collaboration. As a growing, independent hospitality company, we value leaders who can be both a soldier and a general-willing to roll up their sleeves while driving forward the vision and culture of the property. You will build trusting, transparent relationships with peers on the Executive Committee, department heads, and associates across the hotel and restaurant. As part of Aparium Hotel Group, you'll collaborate with a remarkable team of passionate professionals who lead with heart, curiosity, and purpose. Egos are checked at the door-what matters here is genuine hospitality, connection, and shared success.

Requirements

Proven leadership experience in both food & beverage and hotel operations, with an intuitive understanding of service flow, guest expectations, and team dynamics
A genuine passion for people, place, and culture, and a deep appreciation for creating meaningful guest experiences rooted in connection and authenticity
A minimum of five (5) years of progressive management experience within upscale, lifestyle, or boutique luxury hospitality
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to inspire, engage, and collaborate across all levels of the organization
Professional fluency in English, both written and verbal, with polished communication and presentation abilities
Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and Word, with the capability to develop and interpret reports, schedules, and proposals
Flexibility and poise under pressure, with a willingness to adapt to the evolving rhythm of the boutique hospitality environment, including weekends and holidays as business demands

Nice To Haves

Pre-opening or renovation experience in a leadership capacity is preferred, with the ability to help shape culture and operational excellence from the ground up

Responsibilities

Provide leadership and daily oversight of all operational departments to ensure smooth, efficient, and guest-focused service delivery.
Partner with the General Manager in developing and executing operational strategies that support revenue goals, cost controls, and guest satisfaction objectives.
Lead and mentor department heads in Food & Beverage, Front Desk, Housekeeping, Engineering, and Banquets, promoting professional growth and team engagement.
Oversee scheduling, budgeting, and staffing to maintain operational excellence while meeting labor and expense targets.
Collaborate with Sales & Events teams to ensure seamless execution of group, banquet, and catering functions.
Maintain high standards for cleanliness, safety, maintenance, and overall facility presentation.
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) such as guest satisfaction scores, labor productivity, departmental profitability, and quality assurance audits.
Support the implementation of brand standards, operational procedures, and service training programs.
Drive initiatives that improve operational processes, efficiency, and sustainability.
Partner with People + Culture to recruit, train, and retain top talent across departments.
Active participant in the interviewing, hiring, training, scheduling, coaching, and motivating Rooms Division associates to create an environment that nurtures ideas and develops future talent for succession planning in the Hotel Operation
Demonstrate passion and aptitude for all aspects for a guest's experience, handling all guest interactions with the highest level of hospitality and professionalism, accommodating special requests whenever possible; serve as the shepherd of all on-property experiences and able to uncover the details that will add a special touch for guests and associates that turn into a fond memory
Participate in and/or leads daily briefings, weekly meetings, and monthly departmental staff meetings to further develop ideas and objectives with the team while simultaneously providing constructive feedback and strategizes to overcome and correct any previously missed opportunities
Assigns associates to complete the needed activities for the day and inspects their accomplishments; and monitors associate activities to ensure standards are achieved, and associates feel supported and valued to meet and exceed guests' needs
Observe conditions of all physical facilities and equipment in the hotel operation and work in collaboration with other operating divisions and any third-party vendors to establish detailed cleaning and preventative maintenance programs to ensure appearance and life of all furniture, fixtures and equipment throughout the hotel; and outlets
Lead all matters related to the safety, security, satisfaction and well-being of guests and associates; respond swiftly and effectively in any hotel emergency of safety situations; and verifies all associates are trained and following proper emergency procedures and responses
Fluent in operational metrics, KPI's and P&L's and demonstrates critical thinking skills by connecting those with operational observations; provides coaching and corrective action that targets root causes of issues and the highest priorities in the front of the house operation.
Participate in all Executive Committee meetings to provide thoughtful and insightful suggestions and feedback in order to give a voice to the department at the highest leadership level to demonstrate commitment to the success and innovation of the hotel
Works directly with outside contracted companies to assure quality and timeliness of work while prioritizing the guest experience and developing long term partnerships
Champion Aparium divisional and hotel wide initiatives and best practices (e.g., Lobby Ambassador, Property Walks, and Manager on Duty programs) by ensuring you take the time to communicate and/or train on the purpose of purpose of each initiative.
Communicate regularly with the General Manager to provide updates and align on priorities, discuss plans, and request for any additional resources to support the operations; and any additional tasks and responsibilities as requested by the General Manager in support of a successful operation