Senior Vice President of Operations

By the Sea Resorts•Panama City Beach, FL

30d

About The Position

By the Sea Resorts is seeking a dynamic and experienced Chief Operating Officer to lead and oversee the operational functions of our premier hospitality company based in Panama City Beach, FL. This executive role requires a strategic leader capable of driving growth, enhancing guest experiences, and optimizing operational efficiency across all resort properties. Role Overview The Chief Operating Officer (COO) is responsible for the full operational performance of By The Sea Resorts, a multi-property hospitality portfolio consisting of independent and branded beachfront and back-beach hotels, food & beverage outlets, and employee housing. The COO is accountable for translating ownership strategy into disciplined, repeatable execution across Operations, Engineering, Housekeeping, Front Office, and Food & Beverage. This role exists because the portfolio has outgrown informal, reactive operating models. The COO must establish structure, standards, and accountability while improving guest experience, asset condition, labor productivity, and cost control—simultaneously. The COO is expected to be hands-on, analytical, decisive, and systems-driven , with the credibility to lead General Managers and department heads through change.

Requirements

Senior multi-property hospitality operations experience (hotel or resort portfolio)
Proven success running both independent and branded assets
Demonstrated strength in engineering oversight, housekeeping execution, and labor optimization
Strong financial acumen; comfortable managing budgets, labor models, and cost controls
Experience leading operational turnarounds or fixing under-maintained assets strongly preferred
Comfortable operating in an ownership-led environment with high expectations
Structured, disciplined, and highly organized
Comfortable making hard decisions and holding leaders accountable
Not reactive; thinks in systems, plans, and processes
Respected operator—not theoretical, not hands-off
Direct, credible, and calm under pressure

Responsibilities

Own day-to-day operating performance across all hotels and operating entities
Directly manage General Managers and senior operational leaders
Ensure consistent operating standards while respecting brand and asset differences
Drive alignment between Operations, Commercial, Finance, and Ownership priorities
Be accountable for Guest Sentiment Scores (GSS) and review performance across all properties
Eliminate chronic issues tied to housekeeping, maintenance, cleanliness, and asset condition
Ensure guest issues are solved structurally, not repeatedly patched
Establish clear operating expectations tied to measurable guest outcomes
Oversee Engineering and Facilities performance across the portfolio
Ensure preventative maintenance (PM) programs are properly designed, staffed, scheduled, and executed
Shift engineering from reactive “fix-it” mode to planned asset preservation
Partner closely with the VP of Facilities to enforce planning discipline, bid rigor, and capital coordination
Ensure maintenance staffing levels reflect asset age, condition, and guest expectations
Ensure each property is staffed appropriately for its size, age, and service level
Balance labor efficiency with service quality—no false economies
Implement scheduling, productivity benchmarks, and accountability systems
Address turnover, training gaps, and performance management proactively
Own operational expense performance in collaboration with Finance and Commercial leadership
Ensure budgets are executable, realistic, and adhered to
Understand CPOR, productivity metrics, and cost drivers by department
Hold GMs accountable for variance explanations and corrective action
Build a culture of ownership, accountability, and operational pride
Replace informal habits with clear processes and expectations
Coach, develop, and—when necessary—upgrade leadership talent
Establish clear performance standards and consequences