Executive Director

Overview

Experience Senior Living is thrilled to announce its breakthrough community in the Maryland market, The Reserve Sarasota , scheduled to open in May 2028 . As development progresses, we are beginning the search for an Executive Director who will play a critical role in pre-operations, sales, and team building during the final stages of development and through opening. This is a unique opportunity to help launch a new community and shape the resident and associate experience from the ground up.

Pre-Operations Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership during the pre-opening phase, partnering with development, construction, marketing, and corporate teams to ensure operational readiness, regulatory compliance, and a successful community launch.
• Lead and support pre-opening sales and marketing efforts, including relationship building in the local market, referral network development, and achievement of initial occupancy goals.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop the foundational leadership team, establishing culture, service standards, and operational systems prior to opening.
• Oversee pre-opening budgets, policies, and procedures, ensuring alignment with brand standards and a smooth transition from development to full operations.

Operating Responsibilities

• Responsible for leading day-to-day operations, including full P&L responsibility.
• Ensure compliance with all local, state, and federal regulations, as well as Experience Senior Living's company policies and procedures, standards, and guidelines.
• Focus on creating a safe environment for residents, families, and team members.
• Ensure adherence to the Residents' Rights.
• Focus on resident, family, and team member satisfaction.
• Analyze data, identify root causes, and develop a plan of action when necessary.
• Develop and implement strategies regarding labor, occupancy growth, revenue growth, expense control, and quality of services.
• Lead morning stand-up meetings and ensure minutes are taken for those who were not present.
• Demonstrate strong communications skills; listening, oral and written.
• Lead and support all sales and operational strategies, educating all team members on the importance of participating in the sales process.
• Partner with the Director of Sales to conduct a quarterly SWOT analysis, with ongoing discussions on sales/marketing strategies and support for all sales efforts, including tours, follow-ups, outreach, home visits, and building positive relationships with referral partners.
• Coordinate with the Director of Health and Wellness to understand resident care needs and ensure a solid care plan that encompasses all areas of care, ensuring proper level-of-care assessments and focusing on supporting independence.
• Collaborate with the Director of Memory Care to address challenging situations, support dementia training for new and existing staff.
• Coordinate with the Director of Life Enrichment to ensure a robust activity calendar that touches on the whole person and runs 7 days per week, including evenings.
• Coordinate with the Director of Culinary to ensure varied menu planning and regular kitchen tastings.
• Coordinate with the Director of Maintenance on ongoing building needs, preventative maintenance, room turns, drills, and CapEx coordination.
• Ensure the Employee Appreciation program is implemented monthly and that employee performance reviews are conducted timely.
• Assist in recruiting, hiring, orienting, training, supervising, and evaluating team members.
• Participate in creating the annual operating budget and capital needs, support leadership with budget reports, manage department budgets, approve expenses, and explain monthly variance.
• Build high-performing teams and sustain company culture.
• Able to work in various positions within the community and to fill in as necessary.
• Create and implement a Manager On Duty system to ensure leadership coverage seven days a week, with proper training for each manager-on-duty.
• Remain active in local community activities and events to build networks for referrals.
• May drive company vehicles as needed for community-related travel.
• May perform other duties as needed and/or assigned.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in business administration, healthcare administration, or a related subject is required.
• Required certification for Residential Care Facilities based on state regulations.
• Candidates must have experience with opening a new development Senior Living community.
• Three (3) to five (5) years of experience in operations management with demonstrated success in meeting financial and sales goals.
• A solid understanding of local, state, and federal regulations as they pertain to this community.
• Demonstrated success in operating or maintaining a quality, customer service workforce.
• Willingness to foster a hospitality environment for residents, families, and team members.
• Solid understanding of facilities management.
• Experience in recruiting, onboarding, orienting, training, and retaining team members.
• Strong performance management and leadership skills, including setting expectations, coaching, documenting performance, and completing reviews in a timely manner.
• Basic knowledge of computer systems and software platforms used by the company.
• Ability to become licensed or certified as an administrator for assisted living where required by state regulations.
• Must have acceptable driving record per company policy.
• Ability to influence others and lead toward worthwhile objectives with sound judgement.
• Problem-solving ability with mature judgement and discretion in sensitive situations.
• Ability to set realistic goals and define tasks and deliverables to meet them.
• Strong communication skills, including clear spoken communication even under pressure.
• Ability to work in line with established policies and procedures while maintaining flexibility.
• Creative and independent thinking to achieve objectives; willingness to innovate and develop programs.
• Resource planning and priority setting to meet goals.
• Ability to build productive relationships with residents, families, referral partners, and the team.
• Role-model quality: punctual, professional in appearance, and team-focused.
• Ability to work varied schedules including weekends, evenings, overnights, and holidays.

Benefits

We offer a full benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, life and voluntary life, 401k with employer matching, paid holidays, and up to 20 days PTO in the first three years.

Background Screening

Employment is contingent upon successful completion of background screening in accordance with Florida law and company policy. Certain positions may require fingerprinting and Level 1 or Level 2 background screening. Applicants can review Florida care provider background screening requirements here: