A hospitality and entertainment company in Rochester, NY is seeking a Senior Director, Operations Strategy to lead strategic planning, operating model improvement, performance initiatives, and cross-functional execution across a complex service environment.This leader will partner closely with Operations, Finance, Food & Beverage, Guest Experience, Facilities, Marketing, and executive leadership to improve efficiency, profitability, customer satisfaction, service delivery, and business scalability.ResponsibilitiesDevelop and execute operations strategy across hospitality, food service, and entertainment business units. Lead strategic initiatives focused on service optimization, revenue growth, cost control, guest experience, and operational consistency. Partner with senior operations leaders to assess business performance and identify improvement opportunities. Build business cases, operating plans, dashboards, and implementation roadmaps for major initiatives. Support annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range operational planning. Evaluate staffing models, labor utilization, process workflows, vendor performance, and resource allocation. Lead cross-functional projects involving new site openings, service model changes, technology implementation, guest experience improvements, menu optimization, venue optimization, or operational transformation. Translate data, financial performance, operational trends, and guest feedback into practical recommendations for senior leadership. Establish performance metrics and reporting routines to track progress against operational goals. Support change management and communication plans for major operational initiatives.RequirementsBachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred. 10+ years of experience in operations strategy, business operations, corporate strategy, consulting, hospitality operations, food service operations, entertainment operations, or related fields. Experience in hospitality, food service, entertainment, restaurants, venues, resorts, gaming, attractions, or similar customer-facing industries preferred. Strong analytical and financial skills, including experience with business cases, KPIs, budgets, forecasts, dashboards, and performance reporting. Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution. Experience improving operating models, service delivery, cost structure, productivity, revenue performance, or guest experience. Strong project management, communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills. Ability to influence senior leaders and operators in a fast-paced, multi-site environment. Comfortable balancing strategic planning with hands-on operational problem-solving.Benefits$140,000 to $180,000 base salary, plus bonus eligibilityEqual Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination PolicyEqual Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.Reasonable Accommodations: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.Compliance with Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.Workplace Harassment: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.E-Verify Participation: Keller Executive Search and/or our clients may participate in E-Verify. Information about E-Verify participation will be provided during the application process where applicable.Privacy and Pay Equity:California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect for recruiting and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy.Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available.Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws.State-Specific Information:Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants.Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation.New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed.Veteran Status: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process.Genetic Information: In accordance with federal and state laws, both Keller Executive Search and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law.Local Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate.Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location.
A hospitality and entertainment company in Rochester, NY is seeking a Senior Director, Operations Strategy to lead strategic planning, operating model improvement, performance initiatives, and cross-functional execution across a complex service environment.
This leader will partner closely with Operations, Finance, Food & Beverage, Guest Experience, Facilities, Marketing, and executive leadership to improve efficiency, profitability, customer satisfaction, service delivery, and business scalability.
Responsibilities
- Develop and execute operations strategy across hospitality, food service, and entertainment business units.
- Lead strategic initiatives focused on service optimization, revenue growth, cost control, guest experience, and operational consistency.
- Partner with senior operations leaders to assess business performance and identify improvement opportunities.
- Build business cases, operating plans, dashboards, and implementation roadmaps for major initiatives.
- Support annual planning, budgeting, forecasting, and long-range operational planning.
- Evaluate staffing models, labor utilization, process workflows, vendor performance, and resource allocation.
- Lead cross-functional projects involving new site openings, service model changes, technology implementation, guest experience improvements, menu optimization, venue optimization, or operational transformation.
- Translate data, financial performance, operational trends, and guest feedback into practical recommendations for senior leadership.
- Establish performance metrics and reporting routines to track progress against operational goals.
- Support change management and communication plans for major operational initiatives.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced degree preferred.
- 10+ years of experience in operations strategy, business operations, corporate strategy, consulting, hospitality operations, food service operations, entertainment operations, or related fields.
- Experience in hospitality, food service, entertainment, restaurants, venues, resorts, gaming, attractions, or similar customer-facing industries preferred.
- Strong analytical and financial skills, including experience with business cases, KPIs, budgets, forecasts, dashboards, and performance reporting.
- Proven ability to lead complex, cross-functional initiatives from strategy through execution.
- Experience improving operating models, service delivery, cost structure, productivity, revenue performance, or guest experience.
- Strong project management, communication, stakeholder management, and executive presentation skills.
- Ability to influence senior leaders and operators in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
- Comfortable balancing strategic planning with hands-on operational problem-solving.
Benefits
- $140,000 to $180,000 base salary, plus bonus eligibility
Equal Employment Opportunity and Non-Discrimination Policy
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are Equal Opportunity Employers. For all positions, whether with Keller Executive Search or our clients, qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, skin color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, age, protected veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other legally protected status.
Commitment to Diversity: Keller Executive Search and its clients are committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where all individuals are valued and respected.
Reasonable Accommodations: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities and pregnant individuals. We engage in an interactive process to determine effective, reasonable accommodations.
Compensation Information: For client positions, compensation information is available in the job post. If not provided, it will be shared during the interview process in accordance with applicable laws. When required by law, salary ranges will be included in job postings. Actual salary may depend on skills, experience, and comparison to current employees in similar roles. Salary ranges may vary based on role and location.
Compliance with Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all employment terms and conditions, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.
Workplace Harassment: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients expressly prohibit any form of workplace harassment based on race, skin color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status.
E-Verify Participation: Keller Executive Search and/or our clients may participate in E-Verify. Information about E-Verify participation will be provided during the application process where applicable.
Privacy and Pay Equity:
- California Residents: For more information about the categories of personal information we collect for recruiting and employment purposes, please review our Privacy Policy.
- Colorado, Nevada, New York City, California, and Washington Residents: Compensation information is available in the job post or will be provided during the interview process if not initially available.
- Both Keller Executive Search and our clients are committed to pay equity and conduct periodic pay equity analyses in accordance with applicable laws.
State-Specific Information:
- Rhode Island: We do not request or require salary history from applicants.
- Connecticut: We provide wage range information upon request or before discussing compensation.
- New Jersey: We do not inquire about salary history unless voluntarily disclosed.
Veteran Status: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients provide equal employment opportunities to veterans and comply with applicable state laws regarding veteran preference in employment. If you are a veteran, please inform us during the application process.
Genetic Information: In accordance with federal and state laws, both Keller Executive Search and our clients do not discriminate based on genetic information. We do not request or require genetic information from applicants or employees, except as permitted by law.
Local Laws: Both Keller Executive Search and our clients comply with all applicable local laws and ordinances regarding employment practices in the areas where we operate.
Keller Executive Search and our clients may use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist in the recruitment and candidate evaluation process. These tools are used exclusively to support human decision-making by helping to review and assess candidate qualifications and materials. AI is never used to automatically reject, disqualify, or make final hiring decisions about candidates. All AI-assisted evaluations are reviewed by experienced recruitment professionals, and all hiring decisions are made by qualified human recruiters. Our use of AI is designed to enhance fairness, consistency, and efficiency while maintaining our commitment to equal employment opportunity and non-discrimination principles.
Note: This job posting may be for a position with Keller Executive Search or one of our clients. The specific employer will be identified during the application and interview process. Employment laws and requirements may vary depending on the employer and location.
Keller Executive Search International is a global executive search that recruits senior leaders for prominent brands and organizations. We offer full-spectrum services, such as Executive Search, Board Services, CEO Succession Planning, Executive Assessment, Business Culture Review, and Corporate Handover.
Keller Executive Search International is a global executive search that recruits senior leaders for prominent brands and organizations. We offer full-spectrum services, such as Executive Search, Board Services, CEO Succession Planning, Executive Assessment, Business Culture Review, and Corporate Handover.
