AHR General Manager

American Heritage Companies • Durango, CO

1d • $115,000 - $155,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

The General Manager serves as a senior operational leader for American Heritage Railways and is responsible for the day-to-day oversight, performance, and management of designated AHR subsidiaries and businesses. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, this position acts as the primary operational liaison between assigned entity leadership and AHR executive leadership and is empowered to resolve routine operational, financial, personnel, and administrative matters without requiring direct COO involvement. The General Manager is expected to exercise independent judgment and decision-making authority within established company policies, approved budgets, strategic plans, and delegated authority. Matters involving significant unbudgeted expenditures, material legal or regulatory exposure, executive-level personnel decisions, significant changes in business strategy, acquisitions/divestitures, or other matters reserved for executive leadership will be escalated to the COO. This position will actively monitor business performance, identify operational challenges and opportunities, ensure timely execution of company initiatives, coordinate resources across AHR companies, and resolve routine operational issues without unnecessary escalation to the COO. The General Manager will work collaboratively with AHR executive leadership and shared-service departments, including Finance, Human Resources, Marketing, Safety/Risk Management, Legal, Information Technology, and other corporate functions, to ensure assigned entities operate efficiently, safely, profitably, and consistently with the goals and standards of American Heritage Railways.

Requirements

• Significant railroad industry experience, including progressive management or leadership responsibility overseeing multiple departments, operational functions, revenue streams, and/or company administration; experience in mechanical, train operations, or customer-facing departments is highly desirable.
• Understanding of insurance policies needed for passenger operations
• Familiarity with requirements set forth by the FRA, OSHA, DOT, and Colorado PUC.
• Must have the ability to use sound judgment and maintain confidentiality.
• Must possess proven leadership and interpersonal skills.
• Must have basic business skills including a proficiency in Microsoft Office 365 including Teams, Word, Excel, Outlook, and Power Point.
• Must be able to communicate effectively in both written and spoken English.

Nice To Haves

• Preferred bachelor’s degree in business administration/management, Project Management, or related field.
• Experience in general business operations and leadership, preferred.

Responsibilities

• Work with AHR leadership to design strategic goals and objectives for the operation.
• Translate AHR strategic priorities into actionable objectives for assigned entities and ensure those objectives are implemented.
• Act as a representative of the company in the communities operated in by creating strategic partnerships with local organizations and professionals to increase the business presence and build a positive reputation.
• Assist AHR leadership in evaluating future growth opportunities, new business concepts expansions, partnerships, and other strategic initiatives.
• Lead due diligence, acquisition, business integrations and decommissioning activities as assigned by the COO.
• Support the integration of newly acquired or developed businesses into AHR operating practices, shared services, financial standards, policies, and organizational expectations.
• Maintain primary day-to-day accountability for the operational and financial performance of assigned subsidiaries.
• Conduct structured weekly/monthly operating reviews with entity leadership.
• Work with the Accounting team and AHR to create suggested budget plans for the financial year including future capital needs and ensure operating entities remain on budget and appropriately forecast financial and operational performance.
• Propose opportunities to increase sales and revenue streams while prioritizing efficiency and high value customer experience.
• Use data to make quick changes to daily operations based on supply and demand.
• Identify opportunities to share labor, equipment, purchasing, services, and other resources among AHR companies.
• Provide the COO and AHR executive leadership with concise, actionable reporting regarding entity performance, material variances, significant risks, emerging opportunities, and matters requiring executive-level decisions.
• Ensure profit margins on revenue streams are within AHR guidelines including but not limited to tickets, parking. Retail, F&B, tours, advertisements, and amenities.
• Provide direct day-to-day operational oversight and leadership to designated AHR subsidiaries and business units.
• Continuously evaluate the staffing structure to ensure staffing levels meet the need of the operation taking into consideration seasonal operating schedules.
• Support and guide departmental managers in the hiring of new employees, training, motivation, time keeping, project management, and goals with consultation from the Human Resource Department.
• Monitor staff performance, perform evaluations, and recommend personnel actions such as promotion, layoff, disciplinary action and termination when appropriate.
• Review overtime and capital allocation regularly ensuring companies limit expense and manage employees properly.
• Lead and manage the administrative operation of AHR and assist the subsidiaries as needed with all departments including but not limited to mechanical, facilities, human resources, museum, accounting, gift shop, concessions, warehousing, parking, operations, Maintenance of Way, reservations, safety, security, special events, marketing, entertainment, contract division, and independent contractors.
• Liaison for local public/business relationship activities including interfacing with the business owners, chambers, tourism boards, government and regulatory agencies.
• Frequently attend and engage in each department independently to observe operations and personnel to ensure company policy and procedure is adhered to.
• Interact and visit with guests and customer facing environments to understand their experience and ways to improve.
• Work with AHR Management to maintain the applicable safety rule books, operating manuals, Redbook, and Emergency Response Plan.
• Lead/Participate in staff and safety meetings with AHR and subsidiaries ensuring operating updates, initiatives, near misses, and future planning is being completed.
• Continually update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Manage and ensure compliance with all policies, procedures, and safety programs including Safety Rules, Operating Rules, Incident Investigation, and Drug Testing.
• Oversee and ensure compliance with all regulatory and other licensing requirements including Federal Railroad Administration, Code of Federal Regulations, OSHA, EPA, City, State, County, Insurance, licensed brands, etc.
• Initiate/Complete required paperwork and recordkeeping in a timely manner providing accurate reports to accounting, payroll, HR, and senior management as requested.
• Review, document, and manage all railroad Right of Way agreements and licenses.
• Participate in creation and management of legal contracts, third party agreements, packages, reseller programs, lease agreements, legal challenges and complaints.
• Ensure Marketing strategies and activities for assigned entities align with established business objectives, brand standards, revenue goals, and guest experience expectations.
• Work with local company management to draft efficient operating schedules and price structures for all railroad operations taking into considerations staffing, expenses, equipment, and company logistics.
• Conduct site visits and walkarounds of each company regularly looking at safety, cleanliness, layouts, sales, retail, F&B, and general operations.
• Other duties as requested by AHR senior management.

Benefits

• Medical/Rx, Dental, and Vision plan with a portion of the premiums paid for by American Heritage Railways.
• Employer-funded HSA (for qualified employees)
• Company-funded Life AD&D insurance and Voluntary Life (premiums paid for by the employee)
• Generous PTO plan
• 401K plan with company-match
• Company provided Employee Assistance Program.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: Associate degree