Operations Manager – Top of the Rock & The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Tishman Speyer•New York City, NY

8h•Onsite

About The Position

Rockefeller Center is seeking a polished, guest-focused Operations Manager to lead front-of-house operations at Top of the Rock & The Rink at Rockefeller Center. This position is ideal for a candidate with supervisory or assistant manager experience in high-end, five-star, or premium chain restaurant or hospitality environments, where service excellence, pace, and precision are essential. The Operations Manager will oversee the daily execution of guest-facing operations, including staff management, customer service delivery, food and beverage operations, VIP Experiences, photo experiences, and venue logistics. This hands-on role requires someone who can seamlessly shift between leading a high-energy floor, managing service and guest flow, and ensuring that every touchpoint reflects the prestige and magic of Rockefeller Center. The Operations Manager will also directly engage in team training and execution of key duties including (but not limited to) hospitality service, retail and ticket sales, ticket scanning, guest photo experiences, skate sharpening, locker organization, and coordination of ice resurfacing. With a strong foundation in high-volume, quality-driven hospitality settings, the successful candidate will bring a commitment to premium service, operational excellence, and leadership that motivates teams to deliver above-and-beyond experiences. This full-time, year-round role also includes responsibilities in off-season planning, coordination of special events and buyouts, and collaboration with other Rockefeller Center guest-facing venues.

Requirements

Minimum of 5 years of experience in hospitality, venue, or restaurant management, ideally at the Assistant Manager or Manager level, with a focus on guest-facing, high-volume operations.
Proven experience overseeing food and beverage services, including vendor management, quality control, inventory oversight, and compliance with health and safety standards in a restaurant, catering, or venue setting.
Strong leadership and team development skills, including experience hiring, training, scheduling, and managing seasonal or hourly front-of-house staff.
Exceptional understanding of guest service principles, with a demonstrated ability to create memorable, high-touch experiences in a public or event-driven setting.
Knowledge of POS systems, inventory management, and general venue operating procedures.
Excellent organizational and multitasking skills; able to manage real-time operational decisions in a fast-paced environment while maintaining a calm, professional demeanor.
Experience working with special events, activations, or private rentals, including set-up, breakdown, and team coordination.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work collaboratively across departments and with external vendors.
Familiarity with financial reporting, forecasting, and budgeting within a restaurant, attraction, or venue environment.
Proficiency in standard office applications (Excel, Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Teams); experience with scheduling software or hospitality management platforms is a plus.
Must be available to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, early mornings, and late nights.
Physical ability to stand, walk, lift (up to 15 lbs), and work outdoors in varied weather conditions throughout the shift.
Hospitality-First Mindset: A natural passion for delivering outstanding guest experiences with the ability to anticipate needs, resolve challenges with professionalism, and elevate every customer interaction—even in high-pressure or weather-impacted situations.
Ownership Mentality: Takes full accountability for the success of daily operations, proactively identifying areas for improvement and driving innovation in service delivery, team performance, and operational efficiency.
Adaptability & Problem Solving: Comfortable navigating a variety of fast-paced operational scenarios—from staffing or service flow adjustments to managing special events and seasonal fluctuations—while maintaining poise and focus.
People Leadership : Skilled at leading, motivating, and developing seasonal or hourly teams in a hospitality environment. Brings a hands-on leadership style that builds morale, drives accountability, and fosters a guest-focused culture.
Operational Agility: Able to balance strategic decision-making with real-time operational needs, including food & beverage oversight, event execution, and maintaining high standards across guest-facing spaces.

Nice To Haves

Prior experience supporting or managing ice rink operations is a plus; familiarity with ice resurfacing equipment (e.g., Zamboni, edger, snow blower) is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

Oversee the daily operations of Top of the Rock and The Rink at Rockefeller Center, ensuring the venue delivers a high-touch, guest-centric experience in line with Rockefeller Center’s world-class standards.
Maintain a clean, welcoming, and efficient front-of-house environment, while ensuring operational readiness for all scheduled activities and events.
Lead a guest-focused culture by managing and mentoring a team of seasonal associates, supervisors, and hospitality staff.
Foster a strong service mindset, ensuring every team member is trained to deliver warm, knowledgeable, and proactive guest interactions.
Manages vendor payments, purchase orders, and expense allocations within D365, ensuring all transactions are accurate and processed in a timely manner.
Works closely with the Finance Department to support accruals, monitor invoice activity, and reconcile purchase orders.
Coordinates vendor onboarding and maintains organized, up-to-date records of contracts and billing schedules.
Tracks departmental budgets and monthly expenditures, ensuring expenses are properly coded and aligned with financial guidelines.
Manage all food and beverage operations at The Après Skate Chalets, The Rink and related guest areas.
Ensure quality control, compliance with health and safety standards, inventory management, vendor coordination, and delivery of a high-caliber culinary experience in both service and presentation.
Spearhead the seamless execution of the Après Skate Chalet operation.
Coordinate on the oversight of signature Rockefeller Center experiences—including, Christmas Tree photo, third party/film & photo/engagement ice rink buyouts, and other holiday activations.
Work cross-functionally with internal departments and vendors to ensure smooth event logistics, setup, staffing, and guest flow, while upholding the Rockefeller Center brand experience.
Act as a visible leader onsite, assisting with crowd flow, de-escalating guest concerns, and modeling best-in-class service.
Ensure all service recovery efforts are swift, empathetic, and aligned with Rockefeller Center’s hospitality values.
Collaborate with the Merchandise Operations team to ensure retail areas are guest-ready and aligned with broader operational goals.
Support includes helping to maintain visual standards, integrating promotions, and ensuring smooth daily operations.
Monitor sales performance across food & beverage, ticketing, and guest experiences.
Analyze trends and data to inform staffing, pricing, and service decisions.
Support budgeting, forecasting, and expense management in collaboration with senior leadership.
Lead seasonal hiring and training efforts to ensure high-performing team coverage during peak periods.
Create and manage staffing schedules, ensuring operational needs are met while controlling labor costs.
Ensure all guest-facing environments meet the highest standards for cleanliness, safety, and accessibility.
Partner with facilities and sanitation teams to uphold Rockefeller Center's brand image and guest expectations.
Work closely with the marketing team to bring seasonal campaigns and promotions to life within the venue.
Support implementation of brand partnerships and in-venue storytelling that enhances the guest journey.
Collect and analyze feedback and performance metrics to identify areas for growth and innovation.
Share key insights and recommendations with senior leadership to evolve and improve overall operations.