General Manager

The Park Avenue Club is a private dining and social club with a philanthropic mission. It offers two unique and distinct daily dining venues along with al fresco dining patios. It is one of the finest event venues in the state, boasting a state-of-the-art ballroom and numerous other private spaces ideal for everything from weddings to corporate gatherings. Members receive reciprocal privileges at 150 clubs worldwide.

Reporting to the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees, the General Manager leads and directs all aspects of the Club’s business, providing executive leadership and oversight of all club operations and the management team.

This role’s primary areas of impact focus on:

• Providing input and collaborating with the Board of Trustees in the development of the Club’s annual and long-range business plans
• Implementing and ensuring compliance with general policies established by the Board of Trustees
• Developing and implementing or approving specific operational policies, programs, procedures, methods, rules and regulations in concert with general policies
• Continuously monitoring and evaluating financial and operating performance across all areas of the Club, implementing performance improvement initiatives, as necessary
• Holding full accountability for the annual operating/capital budget; providing leadership, oversight, and coordination related to the development of operating, cash, and capital budgets according to the applicable budget calendars; monitoring monthly budget and other financial statements; taking effective corrective action as required; approving vouchers before payment; preparing and presenting management reports to the Board of Trustees; maintaining excellent relations with bankers.
• Providing advice and recommendations to the Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees about construction, alterations, maintenance, materials, supplies, equipment, and/or services that fall outside the scope of the approved plans or budgets
• Overseeing, assisting, and guiding the Club’s Chef and kitchen operations to ensure the delivery of outstanding cuisine while maintaining required profit margins
• Overseeing, assisting, and guiding the Membership department staff to maximize growth and retention
• Overseeing, assisting and guiding the Private Event department, ensuring leads and event bookings meet/ exceed budget, are priced competitively, and maximize Club use
• Monitoring and ensuring effective property management and security
• Maintaining a safe, secure, and healthy facility by enforcing and complying at all times with all applicable health and legal regulations
• Providing leadership and oversight in the Club’s marketing programs to promote the Club’s services and facilities to present and potential members
• Tracking and monitoring the performance of all aspects of the operations and reporting performance to the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees
• Respond on a timely basis to member requests and concerns
• Providing ‘thought partnership’ to the Board related to industry trends and operational enhancements
• Providing vendor and contractor management as well as stewardship of the Club’s resources
• Handling emergencies such as fires, accidents and breaches of security or Club rules promptly and in person; emphasizing prevention through training, inspection and preventive enforcement
• Ensuring compliance with IRS, ABC and other laws and regulations governing the Club’s operations and facilities
• Staff Leadership: The General Manager will provide leadership and mentorship to the Club’s Management Team and their respective staff. Significant impact in this area is expected to occur by:
• Developing, implementing, and ensuring compliance with human resource-related policies
• Collaborating with and supporting the Club’s management team in the scheduling and supervision of all Club employees; conferring with and providing guidance to the management team on personnel-related matters, including compensation, job changes, performance evaluations, hiring and terminations
• Providing coaching, mentoring, training and professional development to Club management and staff
• Providing conflict management and resolution, when necessary, and taking corrective action, as appropriate
• Welcoming new Club members; developing on-going dialogue and rapport with members through recognition, communication, and follow-through
• Maintaining high visibility during peak times of operations and special events to ensure members and guests receive the highest quality of goods and services
• Participating in selected community activities to promote and enhance the mission of the club
• Serving as the liaison between all Club management staff and the Executive Committee and Board of Trustees
• Communicating with the Park Avenue Foundation Board
• Maintaining effective relationships with representatives from the police, fire, health department, and other relevant governmental agencies

KEY SUCCESS FACTORS
Success in this role will be facilitated by a combination of educational, experiential, and competency factors, including
1. Education: Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel & Restaurant Management, Business Administration, or a related field is preferred
2. Experience: A minimum of 10 years of experience in the hospitality field, with a balance of restaurant and/or catering leadership (including staff management), sales, and operational experience.
3. Competencies:

• Technical/Professional Expertise: proactively acquiring and using state-of-the-art technical/professional knowledge or skills to accomplish a result or serve one’s customers more effectively; demonstrating ongoing learning agility
• Leadership: creating a vision and then communicating and enlisting support for it and setting the desired future direction of a team or group within the organization. It includes an expectation around leading by personal example.
• Change Leadership: identifying and driving organizational and/or cultural changes needed to adapt strategically to changing market demands and/or internal initiatives.
• Driving Execution: translating strategic priorities into operational reality; aligning communication, accountabilities, resource capabilities, internal processes, and ongoing measurement systems to ensure that strategic priorities yield measurable and sustainable results.
• Network Cultivation: initiating and maintaining strategic relationships with stakeholders inside and outside the organization (e.g., board members, customers, peers, financial committee, and external vendors) to advance business goals
• Customer Focus: Ensuring that the customer perspective is a driving force behind business decisions and activities; crafting and implementing service practices that meet customers’ and own organization’s needs

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• Mission: Park Avenue Club is a unique model for philanthropy by providing support to charitable and cultural organizations through our relationship with the Park Avenue Foundation. Park Avenue Club is committed to offering the highest level of member experience while celebrating “The Spirit of Giving” in our community.

• Goal: The overall goal at Park Avenue Club is to enrich our members’ social lives, build their networks and provide them with an extension of their homes or office. Park Avenue Club is redefining the meaning of private clubs by setting an example to “give back” to the community. Park Avenue Club is the only private club in the nation that benefits 13 different charities and cultural organizations.

• Club Member Benefits: Outstanding cuisine, complete catering department, impeccable service, worldwide reciprocal clubs, and private golf clubs, monthly member events, frequent networking events, food and wine seminars, accommodations for parties of up to 800 people, ten private rooms, beautifully landscaped gardens, and pond, special request menus, full business amenities, professional audio/visual equipment and extensive concierge services

Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Physical Setting:

• Fine dining restaurant

Ability to commute/relocate:

• Florham Park, NJ 07932: Reliably commute or planning to relocate before starting work (Required)

Education:

• Bachelor's (Required)

Work Location: One location