Director of Operations

We are looking to add a Director of Operations to our Multi‑Business Portfolio (Hospitality, Storage, Multifamily, Senior Living, Leisure).

This is an on-site role located in Rockford Illinois

Overview

The Director of Operations is a senior leadership role responsible for the operational, financial, and strategic performance of a diversified portfolio of operating businesses, including:

• Hospitality:
• 67‑room Candlewood Suites (extended stay)
• Leisure: Family entertainment park
• Self‑Storage: ~2,700 units across 7 locations
• Senior Living: 117 units

This executive will partner closely with ownership to drive top‑line growth, expand margins, professionalize systems, and scale operations across multiple business models while maintaining strong governance, ethics, and compliance.

Core Leadership Attributes

• Accomplished Leader: Demonstrates high ethical standards, integrity, and accountability across all operations
• Strategic Planner: Identifies operational constraints, designs solutions, and executes strategies that deliver measurable results
• Executive Communicator: Engages effectively with ownership, boards, senior leaders, frontline teams, and external partners
• Marketing‑Driven Operator: Builds and executes marketing strategies that grow revenue and improve operating margins
• Hands‑On Project Manager: Leads cross‑functional initiatives across operations, technology, finance, and marketing
• Financial Steward: Strong command of treasury management, capital planning, budgeting, and performance analytics

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations across hospitality, storage, residential, senior living, and leisure assets
• Establish operating standards, KPIs, and accountability across all business units
• Lead turnaround, stabilization, and optimization initiatives as needed

Financial & Strategic Management

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets, capital budgets, and rolling forecasts
• Oversee treasury management, cash flow optimization, and financial controls
• Build analytical models to support acquisitions, capital investments, and growth initiatives
• Drive margin improvement through cost discipline, pricing strategies, and process efficiency

Growth, Marketing & Revenue

• Create and execute marketing strategies to grow occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, unit utilization, and ancillary revenue
• Manage e‑commerce, digital marketing, CRM, and revenue management platforms
• Set and deliver revenue growth targets across hotel and leisure operations

Project & Systems Management

• Lead business projects spanning:
• Operations improvement
• Accounting and reporting
• Marketing platforms
• Information systems
• Manage technology conversions and integrations across platforms
• Re‑engineer data structures and business processes to improve reporting timeliness and decision quality

People & Organization

• Assess organizational structure and staffing levels across all business units
• Improve recruitment, training, and retention programs
• Develop leadership bench strength and succession plans
• Reduce personnel cost while improving workforce capability and performance

Governance, Compliance & Risk

• Ensure operational and financial compliance across all entities
• Improve corporate accounting for a high‑growth parent and subsidiaries
• Interface with lenders, auditors, regulators, and external advisors as required

Education & Experience

Required / Preferred

• Bachelor’s degree in Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Economics, or related field
• MBA strongly preferred
• 10+ years of progressively responsible leadership in multi‑unit operations
• Demonstrated experience in hospitality operations (required)
• Experience with boards, municipal entities, or NGOs is a plus
• Proven success managing diverse business models under one operating umbrella