Vice President of Operations (East Coast)

Company Description:

Kemper Sports Management, Inc. is a privately held company founded in 1978; specializing in golf course management, hospitality management, and sports/media marketing.  Headquartered in the northern suburbs of Chicago, KemperSports consists of over 200 facilities across the country including many nationally ranked courses and tournament venues.

Position Summary:

The Vice President of Operations will provide executive leadership and strategic oversight for an assigned portfolio of properties across the east coast. This role is responsible for driving operational excellence, client satisfaction, financial performance, talent development, and long-term asset value across the portfolio.

The Vice President of Operations serves as a senior leader and key representative of KemperSports, building strong relationships with ownership groups, property leadership teams, and internal stakeholders while ensuring alignment with company strategy, brand standards, and growth objectives. This executive will lead through influence, develop high-performing teams, and create scalable operating disciplines that strengthen performance across a diverse set of properties.

Vice President of Operations Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior operations leader for an assigned portfolio of properties, with overall accountability for client satisfaction, operational performance, financial results, and alignment with KemperSports strategic objectives.
• Act as the executive relationship leader for owners, boards, committees, and key influencers at managed or leased properties, representing the Company in high-level meetings, presentations, reviews, and strategic planning discussions.
• Provide executive oversight for all aspects of operations and financial performance across the assigned portfolio, including:
  • Leading the development and execution of long-range strategic plans, annual business plans, organizational structures, operating plans, marketing strategies, human resources plans, risk and safety programs, and capital investment plans
  • Establishing, approving, and reinforcing operating standards, service expectations, and people strategies that support both client objectives and KemperSports performance standards
  • Directing portfolio-level financial analysis, including review of operating statements, forecasts, capital plans, labor models, cash flow considerations, and variance-to-budget performance
  • Holding property leadership teams accountable for achieving revenue, profitability, service, guest satisfaction, and operational goals
  • Evaluating business performance trends and identifying opportunities to improve market position, efficiency, service delivery, and long-term value creation
  • Recruiting, coaching, evaluating, and developing General Managers and other key senior property leaders, while building succession plans and leadership bench strength across the portfolio
• Lead and influence a high-performing regional leadership culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, service excellence, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Serve as a strategic advisor and executive resource to field leadership in areas including operations, hospitality, merchandising, agronomy, food and beverage, budgeting and forecasting, labor planning, cost control, training, service standards, and performance improvement.
• Ensure all facilities within the assigned portfolio are operating in compliance with KemperSports’ core initiatives, brand standards, reporting requirements, client obligations, risk management expectations, and all applicable legal and regulatory requirements.
• Partner closely with senior leadership and the Business Development team to support new business opportunities, transition planning, property onboarding, due diligence, operator presentations, and growth initiatives for both existing and prospective facilities.
• Identify and implement scalable operational best practices, systems, and performance disciplines that improve consistency, elevate service delivery, strengthen financial outcomes, and enhance KemperSports’ competitive position.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with corporate leaders in finance, human resources, marketing, food and beverage, agronomy, legal, and business development to ensure portfolio priorities are aligned and effectively executed.
• Provide leadership in change management, crisis response, organizational planning, and strategic problem-solving across the assigned portfolio.
• Participate in corporate initiatives, executive projects, and other responsibilities as assigned that support the overall success and growth of KemperSports.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership experience in golf, hospitality, leisure, or multi-unit operations, including significant experience as a General Manager, Regional Leader, or equivalent senior executive.
• Demonstrated success leading multiple properties or operating units with direct accountability for financial performance, client relationships, operational execution, and senior leader development.
• Prior multi-unit leadership experience strongly preferred.
• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred. Relevant fields of study include hospitality management, business administration, finance, organizational leadership, or a related discipline.
• Strong executive-level financial acumen, including experience with budgeting, forecasting, capital planning, labor management, variance analysis, operational analysis, and performance optimization across multiple business units.
• Demonstrated knowledge of golf and hospitality operations, service delivery, food and beverage, merchandising, agronomy, and asset development.
• Proven ability to think strategically while driving disciplined execution, balancing long-term planning with day-to-day operational leadership.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence at all levels of the organization, build trust with owners and clients, and lead experienced operators through change, growth, and accountability.
• Exceptional written, verbal, interpersonal, and presentation skills, including the ability to communicate effectively with ownership groups, boards, executive leadership, property teams, and external stakeholders.
• High degree of business judgment, professionalism, adaptability, and discretion, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and complex situations in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated success in talent assessment, leadership development, coaching, succession planning, and building high-performing teams.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to evaluate complex business issues, identify practical solutions, and execute effectively under pressure.
• Positive, polished, and service-oriented leadership style with a professional presence consistent with a senior executive role.
• Results-oriented and highly disciplined, with strong attention to detail, follow-through, and commitment to operational excellence.
• Willingness and ability to travel regularly as required, including occasional evenings and weekends.

Classifications:

Full-time, exempt, year-round

KemperSports Management is an Equal Opportunity Employer