Vice President of Operations

Whalar Group•New York, NY

2d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Lighthouse is a first-of-its-kind campus for creators and their teams, with locations in Venice, CA, and Brooklyn, NY. We are a studio system and creative playground designed for creators to Learn, Make, and Belong—creating a more frictionless path from idea to production to publication. Our mission is to assemble and inspire the Creator Generation, helping creators build sustainable careers while shaping what's next for the Creator Industry. The Lighthouse exists to serve the Creator Generation, bringing together creators, entrepreneurs, artists, innovators, and cultural leaders through world-class spaces, experiences, and community. We're looking for a Vice President of Operations to help build the operating engine behind that vision. Reporting directly to the CEO, you'll be responsible for translating ambitious ideas into operational excellence. You'll lead the strategy, systems, and teams that power every Lighthouse campus while ensuring we continue to grow without losing what makes us special. You'll be an executive partner to the CEO, helping shape company strategy, improve commercial performance, and build the infrastructure that allows The Lighthouse to scale globally. From hospitality and member experience to finance, technology, and business operations, you'll ensure every part of the business works together to deliver exceptional experiences and sustainable growth. If you love building businesses, thrive in fast-moving environments, and believe great operations should accelerate creativity—not constrain it—we'd love to hear from you.

Requirements

10+ years of leadership experience scaling complex, multi-disciplinary businesses.
Experience leading large cross-functional teams across operations, hospitality, finance, people, or commercial functions.
A proven ability to build systems, processes, and operational infrastructure inside fast-growing, entrepreneurial organizations.
Strong commercial acumen with experience improving revenue, profitability, operational performance, and customer experience simultaneously.
Experience partnering directly with CEOs or executive leadership teams to shape business strategy and organizational growth.
Exceptional leadership skills with a track record of coaching senior leaders and building high-performing teams.
Confidence making decisions in fast-moving environments where ambiguity is the norm.
A balance of strategic thinking and hands-on execution—you enjoy building businesses, not simply managing them.
A passion for hospitality, creativity, and building experiences that people genuinely love.

Nice To Haves

Experience within hospitality, premium consumer brands, media, entertainment, creative industries, experiential businesses, or other high-growth environments is highly valued.

Responsibilities

Lead operational performance across every Lighthouse campus, creating consistency while preserving the unique character of each location.
Partner closely with the CEO to execute company strategy, scale the business, and unlock new commercial opportunities.
Build the operating systems, playbooks, and processes that support both today's business and future global expansion.
Lead and develop General Managers, creating a culture of ownership, hospitality, accountability, and commercial thinking.
Drive operational excellence across memberships, events, partnerships, hospitality, studio productions, food & beverage, content, and emerging revenue streams.
Partner with business leaders to improve financial performance through forecasting, KPI reporting, operational planning, and data-driven decision-making.
Provide executive leadership across Finance, HR & People, Technology, Facilities, Business Operations, Hospitality, Vendor Management, and Compliance.
Evaluate and implement technology, systems, and workflows that improve efficiency while enhancing the member experience.
Build repeatable operating models that allow The Lighthouse to expand without sacrificing creativity, culture, or hospitality.
Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, helping solve complex business challenges, shape long-term strategy, and guide the company's next stage of growth.
Travel regularly across existing and future Lighthouse locations, partnering with campus leadership, supporting new openings, and ensuring every location delivers a consistently exceptional member experience.