VP Operations

Our client is a privately owned hospitality investment and asset management business with a strong track record across the European hotel sector. The organisation works across a diverse portfolio of hospitality assets and combines an entrepreneurial approach with a highly disciplined, commercially focused investment mindset.

As the business continues to develop its portfolio, we are seeking an experienced VP Operations to provide senior operational leadership across a large multi-branded, and franchised hotel portfolio.

This is a strategically important position for an accomplished senior hospitality operator who is comfortable working at both portfolio and property level, with the commercial awareness to understand how operational decisions translate into financial performance and long-term asset value.

The Role

Reporting to the Portfolio Managing Director, the VP Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership across the portfolio, working closely with General Managers, hotel leadership teams and key external stakeholders.

The role will take ownership of operational performance, ensuring that agreed business priorities are translated into clear action and measurable results across the portfolio.

Key areas of responsibility will include:

• Providing strategic direction and operational leadership across a multi-property hotel portfolio.
• Working closely with General Managers to drive performance, accountability and operational excellence.
• Maintaining oversight of portfolio P&L performance, including budget, GOP, EBITDA and NOI.
• Setting clear operational priorities and ensuring their effective execution at property level.
• Driving improvements in productivity, cost management, operational efficiency and overall profitability.
• Maintaining high standards of guest experience, quality and brand delivery. Building strong relationships with hotel owners, operators, suppliers, third party partners, brand and franchise partners and other key stakeholders.
• Providing constructive challenge around budgets, forecasts, business plans and operating assumptions.
• Identifying opportunities to enhance operational and / or commercial performance and create sustainable value across the portfolio.
• Developing leadership capability, succession planning and best practice across the hotel teams.
• Ensuring appropriate attention and resource to statutory, brand, risk and compliance requirements.

The Person

We are looking for a senior hospitality professional with substantial multi-property or large portfolio-level operational experience, ideally gained within an international branded hotel environment.

The successful candidate is likely to bring:

• A strong track record in senior hotel operations, with meaningful multi-site and full P&L responsibility.
• Experience leading and influencing General Managers and senior hotel leadership teams.
• A strong understanding of the commercial and financial drivers of hotel performance.
• Demonstrable success improving operational and financial KPIs across a portfolio.
• Experience of transitions, turnarounds or significant operational change.
• The credibility and confidence to work with owners, investors, operators, brands and senior stakeholders.
• Strong commercial judgement and the ability to view decisions through both an operational and investment lens.
• A thorough understanding of the UK hospitality market and its evolving operating environment.
• An analytical, pragmatic and solutions-focused approach, with the ability to balance competing priorities, and work to demanding deadlines.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, together with the confidence to challenge constructively when required.

Above all, this is a role for a self-starting, hands-on, commercially minded hospitality leader who combines operational depth with strategic perspective and who is motivated by the opportunity to improve performance and create value across a portfolio.

The Opportunity

This is an opportunity to join a sophisticated and entrepreneurial hospitality investment platform at an important stage of its development.

The role offers considerable scope to influence operational strategy, work alongside experienced investment and asset management professionals and make a tangible contribution to the performance and value of a large and diverse hotel portfolio.

Location: UK-based, with a London bias, with flexibility for the successful candidate to be based anywhere in the United Kingdom. The role will involve significant travel.

Confidential Assignment: Further information regarding the investment platform and portfolio will be shared with shortlisted candidates.