Assistant General Manager
Pahara Institute
Lone Rock, WI, USA
USD 125k-140k / year
Assistant General Manager
- People & Operations
- Lone Rock Campus
- Management
- Full-time
Description
Position Summary
The Assistant General Manager (AGM) is the senior on-site operator responsible for executing the campus experience with consistency, discipline, and excellence every day. This role translates the strategic direction set by the EVP into high-quality, reliable operations across all aspects of the Lone Rock campus.
The AGM holds total property oversight in partnership with executive leadership and serves as the on-the-ground operator responsible for bringing the campus experience to life. This includes direct leadership of Maintenance, Facilities, and Culinary, with a collaborative (dotted line) partnership with Sales and Events to ensure exceptional program execution.
This role is primarily scheduled to work afternoon and evening hours (approximately 1:00 PM – 9:00 PM)—a critical window that aligns with peak guest activity, dining service, and program transitions—ensuring strong leadership presence during the moments that matter most in the guest experience.
The ideal candidate brings a strong hotel food & beverage background in addition to total operations oversight, deep operational discipline, and a passion for hospitality in a mission-driven environment.
Core Accountabilities
1. Operational Execution & Campus Performance
- Own the day-to-day execution of all campus operations, ensuring a seamless and high-quality experience for every guest.
- Serve as the primary on-site decision-maker, responsible for real-time problem solving, issue resolution, and operational continuity.
- Ensure all retreats, programs, and events are executed on time, on plan, and at standard.
- Maintain consistent operational rhythms, including daily stand-ups, shift transitions, and cross-functional coordination.
- Enforce and continuously improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure reliability and consistency.
- Maintain a strong physical presence across campus, particularly during peak guest activity.
Key Standard: The campus runs smoothly without escalation; issues are anticipated, not reacted to.
2. Financial Oversight & Cost Discipline
- Own execution of the campus operating plan, ensuring strong financial stewardship across all departments.
- Monitor and manage:
- Labor costs and staffing efficiency
- Departmental budgets (culinary, facilities, housekeeping, operations)
- Inventory, purchasing, and vendor spend
- Track and act on key performance indicators, including:
- Occupancy and utilization
- Labor ratios
- Cost per guest
- Guest satisfaction metrics
- Identify and implement opportunities to improve efficiency, margin, and cost control without compromising guest experience.
- Ensure accurate tracking, reporting, and adherence to financial processes.
Key Standard: The campus operates within budget with disciplined cost control and clear visibility into performance drivers.
3. Team Leadership & Accountability
- Directly manage campus operational leaders across:
- Culinary
- Facilities & Maintenance
- Housekeeping / Guest Services (as applicable)
- Establish clear expectations, performance standards, and accountability systems.
- Provide hands-on coaching, real-time feedback, and performance management.
- Build a culture of:
- Ownership
- Responsiveness
- Attention to detail
- Teamwork under pressure
- Ensure appropriate staffing levels and scheduling aligned to demand.
- Support hiring, onboarding, and training with a focus on operational readiness.
Key Standard: Teams are clear on expectations, perform at a high level, and are accountable for results.
4. Guest Experience Execution
- Ensure every aspect of the guest journey is executed with precision, warmth, and consistency.
- Oversee lodging readiness, dining service, meeting space setup, and campus flow.
- Actively engage with guests, address concerns quickly, and resolve issues with professionalism.
- Ensure alignment between operations and program teams to deliver a cohesive experience.
- Monitor guest feedback and implement improvements in real time.
Key Standard: Guests experience a seamless, thoughtful, and highly professional environment.
5. Cross-Functional Coordination (Sales & Events Execution)
- Partner with Sales and Events teams to operationalize all bookings and program plans.
- Translate program requirements into clear execution plans across departments.
- Ensure alignment on:
- Group logistics
- Staffing plans
- Space utilization
- Dining and schedule coordination
- Lead on-site execution of events, particularly during critical transitions.
Key Standard: No breakdowns between planning and execution; operations deliver exactly what was promised.
6. Facilities, Safety & Campus Readiness
- Ensure campus is consistently clean, safe, and fully operational.
- Oversee preventative maintenance and timely resolution of all facility issues.
- Enforce all safety protocols, including:
- Emergency response procedures
- Wildlife safety
- General risk management
- Serve as on-site lead during emergencies and incidents.
- Ensure readiness of all guest-facing and back-of-house spaces at all times.
Key Standard: The campus is safe, well-maintained, and always guest-ready.
Supervisory Responsibilities
- Direct supervision of:
- Executive Chef
- Director of Engineering / Facilities
- Other operations managers as applicable
- Indirect leadership across all campus staff during operational shifts
Requirements
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, business, or related field required
- 5–10+ years of leadership experience in hospitality, hotels, retreat centers, or similar environments
- Strong background in food & beverage and/or full-service operations
- Proven ability to manage complex, high-touch operations with multiple moving parts
- Demonstrated success in:
- Team leadership and performance management
- Budget management and cost control
- Real-time problem solving under pressure
- Strong operational discipline, attention to detail, and follow-through
- Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills
- Comfort with operational systems (PMS, scheduling, inventory, etc.)
- Superior written and verbal communication abilities
- Experience building and leading high-performing teams.
- Ability to travel occasionally for organizational meetings and events.
- Proficient with HR information systems, PMS, events systems, and relevant technology platforms
- Alignment with the organization’s core values
Compensation
- The salary for this role is between $125,000-$ 140,000
Benefits:
- Unlimited paid time off
- Generous paid holidays
- Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage with employer contributions up to 100%
- 401(k) retirement plan eligibility - 4% matching
- Access to supplemental insurance options
- Company-paid long-term disability coverage
- Employee Assistance Program