Location: Bentonville, AR (onsite)
Compensation: $250,000–$300,000 base salary + performance bonus + equity/profit share
Additional Benefits: Relocation assistance
Reports to: Chief of Staff / CEO
ROLE OVERVIEW
Our client is seeking a Senior Vice President of Operations (SVP, Operations) to lead the end-to-end operational excellence of an 800-acre, mission-driven campus undergoing rapid expansion.
This is a senior leadership role for a hands-on systems builder who can architect operational infrastructure in a fast-scaling environment. The SVP will design and implement the processes, software platforms, vendor systems, and accountability structures that allow a complex physical campus to scale without sacrificing guest experience or operational excellence.
This leader will oversee all non-academic, non-fundraising operations — ensuring the campus is safe, functional, financially disciplined, and delivers a world-class experience to every guest.
The ideal candidate thrives in high-growth environments where ambiguity is high, expectations are elite, and operational complexity is significant.
SCOPE OF RESPONSIBILITY
The SVP of Operations oversees:
- Campus Security
- Hospitality & Housekeeping
- Culinary Operations
- Maintenance & Facilities
- Grounds & Landscaping
- Guest Experience
- Construction & Capital Projects
- Special Projects & Events
This role manages disparate in-person operational sectors including vendors, employees, contractors, facilities teams, cleaning/maintenance staff, food service teams, and guest services personnel.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Operational Strategy & Systems Buildout
- Architect and execute a scalable operational strategy for a large, multi-function physical campus.
- Design and implement operational systems, SOPs, KPIs, and reporting structures.
- Lead the implementation of software platforms (facilities management, vendor management, scheduling, procurement, budgeting, ticketing/guest systems, etc.).
- Replace fragmented or legacy processes with streamlined, technology-enabled solutions.
- Ensure operational systems scale alongside rapid organizational growth.
Construction, Vendor & Capital Project Leadership
- Oversee all construction, renovation, and capital projects across the campus.
- Manage external construction vendors, architects, engineers, utilities, and specialty contractors.
- Ensure projects are delivered on time, on budget, and aligned with long-term campus plans.
- Establish vendor accountability systems, bid discipline, and performance standards.
- Develop structured processes for contractor management and capital forecasting.
Note: Construction management experience is required; prior experience as a builder is not.
Guest Experience & Hospitality Excellence
- Ensure the campus consistently delivers a best-in-class, hospitality-driven experience.
- Lead operations with the standards of elite, client-facing environments such as top-tier theaters, golf courses, luxury hospitality venues, theme parks, or destination campuses.
- Oversee hospitality, food service, housekeeping, and guest services to ensure seamless execution.
- Create operational systems that enable teams to delight guests at scale.
People & Team Leadership
- Lead and develop department heads across all operational functions.
- Build a high-performance culture rooted in accountability, pride, and ownership.
- Establish clear expectations, performance metrics, and succession planning.
- Integrate disparate teams into a unified operational engine.
Financial & Operational Discipline
- Develop and own operating budgets across all functions.
- Implement cost controls, forecasting systems, and financial reporting structures.
- Drive operational efficiency while maintaining experience quality.
- Hold teams accountable to defined KPIs and budget performance.
Facilities, Maintenance & Infrastructure
- Oversee preventative maintenance and asset lifecycle planning.
- Ensure buildings, infrastructure, roads, and grounds are safe and operational.
- Create structured long-term capital planning models to support growth.
Risk, Safety & Compliance
- Oversee campus security and emergency preparedness.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory, safety, and operational standards.
IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
Experience
- 10+ years of progressive senior operations leadership.
- Experience managing complex, multi-department physical operations.
- Demonstrated experience implementing operational software systems.
- Significant experience managing construction vendors and capital projects.
- Background in highly client-facing, hospitality-driven environments (e.g., luxury hospitality, elite entertainment venues, private campuses, golf clubs, theme parks, etc.).
- Proven track record of leading leaders and building scalable systems.
Leadership Style & Attributes
- Systems-oriented and process-driven.
- Comfortable operating in high-growth, fast-moving environments.
- Strong financial acumen and budget ownership.
- Calm, decisive, operationally rigorous.
- High standards for experience, safety, and execution.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
Our client is scaling rapidly. Without disciplined operational infrastructure, growth becomes fragile.
The SVP of Operations ensures that facilities, systems, vendors, teams, and budgets scale seamlessly alongside mission expansion. This leader builds the operational backbone that allows the organization to grow aggressively while delivering a world-class campus experience.
