Director of Operations, The Department at Hudson's
Full TimeJob Overview
The Director of Operations will be successful when:
- They establish the operational gold standard for one of Detroit's most significant new venues, ensuring every event—from intimate gatherings to large galas for 2,000 guests—is executed with flawless precision and world-class service.
- Success in this role means consistently achieving financial and operational excellence, fostering a strong, professional, and long-term operations team through dedicated mentorship and coaching, and acting as the primary, highly respected liaison between the venue operations, property management (Bedrock), corporate partners (like GM), and the hotel team (The Detroit EDITION hotel).
- Personally, and professionally, success is defined by leading by example, solving problems innovatively in a dynamic mixed-use environment, and taking immense pride in defining the service legacy for a landmark property that is redefining the city’s skyline.
What You Will Do
- Lead all food and beverage operations across tenant services, the café amenity, and private events with a focus on exceptional hospitality, operational discipline, and consistent delivery of a Gold Standard experience.
- Establish strong systems, processes, and service standards that drive consistency, support growth, and create a foundation for world-class guest service.
- Maintain a visible leadership presence by spending meaningful time on the floor, supporting teams, removing obstacles, and ensuring every detail reflects the property’s elevated expectations.
- Balance hands-on leadership with high-level operational planning, knowing when your presence in the operation drives excellence and when strategic focus is needed to advance long-term initiatives.
- Build a culture of accountability through clear expectations, coaching, follow-through, and an ability to see commitments through to completion.
- Partner closely with building leadership, property management, and tenant partners to anticipate needs, strengthen relationships, and elevate overall experience throughout the property.
- Oversee financial performance including labor planning, cost controls, inventory practices, and revenue optimization for daily operations and private events.
- Lead operational planning for private events, including staffing, event flow, service readiness, and client experience, ensuring each event reflects the high standards of the venue.
- Develop, mentor, and empower a high-performing hospitality team with a focus on skill building, professional growth, and a strong sense of pride in their work.
- Optimize and steward the physical spaces, ensuring every venue environment is well maintained, guest ready, and aligned with premium brand expectations.
- Drive adoption and effective use of tools, technology, and reporting to improve scheduling, forecasting, communication, and operational clarity.
- Champion a continuous improvement mindset by identifying opportunities, implementing solutions, and reinforcing practices that raise the bar for service, efficiency, and team engagement.
WHAT IMPACT YOU WILL MAKE
Operational Excellence & Innovation
· Oversee all day-to-day operations for the 56,000+ square feet of customizable event space, ensuring rigorous SOPs for all setup/breakdown, maintenance, and facility logistics are consistently applied.
· Champion new technology and equipment to enhance guest experiences and find operational efficiencies, ensuring seamless functionality of cutting-edge audiovisual systems.
· Plan and manage event and facility logistics, ensuring efficient and successful flow for events ranging from six to 2,000 guests.
Stakeholder & Strategic Collaboration
· Support the Vice President of Hospitality in driving key initiatives across the wider development.
· Ensure campus-wide satisfaction for all Food, Beverage, and Hospitality provided by Forte Belanger meets ownership, tenants, clients, and key stakeholder expectations.
· Actively collaborate with onsite sales partners in achieving sales goals and translating client visions into operational reality.
· Serve as the primary facilities liaison with property management (Bedrock), managing expectations and fostering strong working relationships.
Leadership, Coaching, & Culture
· Serve as a leader who leads by example, embodying the professionalism, rigor, and collaborative spirit expected of the team.
· Mentor and coach team members, investing in staff development to build a professional, highly skilled, and long-term operations team.
· Act as a hands-on problem solver who is innovative and thinks outside the box to quickly resolve unforeseen challenges and continuously elevate the guest experience.
· Cultivate a collaborative and hard-working team environment that takes pride in delivering world-class service.
WHO YOU ARE
· A polished, experienced hospitality leader who thrives in dynamic environments and holds a high bar for service, professionalism, and guest experience.
· Someone who leads by example, stays connected to the operation, and understands that being present for your team builds trust, consistency, and results.
· A committed operator who follows through, holds themselves and others accountable, and ensures that what is started is completed with excellence.
· A resourceful problem solver who anticipates needs, stays calm under pressure, and finds solutions that support both guest experience and operational efficiency.
· A strong coach who develops talent, provides clear feedback, builds confidence, and creates pathways for team members to grow and succeed.
· A strategic thinker who can move fluidly between big-picture planning and hands-on leadership, knowing when to step in and when to guide from a higher level.
· A meticulous steward of space who takes pride in presentation, ambiance, and operational readiness at every touchpoint.
· An excellent communicator who builds strong relationships with property leaders, tenant partners, and internal teams through clarity, consistency, and trust.
· A financially savvy operator who understands labor efficiency, cost controls, and how to drive performance without compromising the guest experience.
· A growth-minded professional who embraces innovation, welcomes feedback, and is energized by raising standards and elevating the overall experience of a flagship property.
Additional Requirements
· Demonstrated ability to be innovative and think outside the box in an operational setting, coupled with a strong collaborative and hard-working ethos.
· Exceptional organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills with a demonstrated ability to lead, motivate, and manage diverse teams through mentoring and coaching.
· A desire to embrace new technology and equipment for enhancing service delivery and improving operational efficiency.
· Must thrive in a fast-paced entrepreneurial culture.
· Highly motivated, self-directed, and results driven.
· Ability to organize, motivate, and lead a team in order to achieve results.
· Excellent communication and influencing skills.
Education, Training, and Experience:
· Education requirement: Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, business administration, or a related field is preferred.
· Years of experience: Minimum of 7-10 years of progressive leadership experience in operations management for a luxury hotel, major convention center, large-scale special event venue, or high-end mixed-use commercial property. Proven expertise in managing complex events, high-end food and beverage operations, advanced AV technology, and robust facility logistics is also required.
Preferred training:
· Training in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and automation within hospitality operations, focusing on enhancing customer experience, streamlining operations, and improving decision-making processes (e.g., courses like those offered by eCornell on AI in Hospitality).
· Courses related to managing technology infrastructure and leveraging data analytics for demand forecasting, inventory management, and optimizing staff allocation in a large-scale venue environment.
· Preferred certifications: ServSafe Certification, Court of Master Sommeliers Level 1
· Travel requirements: No regular out-of-state travel is required. Occasional travel may be necessary for specific business development activities, such as attending trade shows and industry events, as well as for relevant training seminars. The frequency and duration will be discussed during the interview process for clarity.
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