Operations Manager

LYNX Recruitment; Ottawa; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Bird, a vibrant live music venue in Ottawa, is looking for an Operations Manager. This role involves overseeing event operations, budget management, and developing a customer-centric atmosphere. The candidate should have strong leadership skills and a background in hospitality or entertainment to enhance the guest experience and operational efficiency.

Benefits

Opportunity for career development

Engagement with local artists and community

Dynamic work environment

Qualifications

• Strong background in operations and customer service.
• Experience in restaurant management or entertainment venues.
• Financial acumen and ability to make data-driven decisions.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operations of the café and music venue.
• Manage event execution and optimize revenue.
• Hire, train, and develop a skilled team.

Skills

Customer service experience

Budget management

Event planning

Team leadership

Inventory management

Job description

Red Bird is a dynamic live music venue celebrating its 3rd year of operation in Ottawa. In that short period of time, it has established a vibrant music scene through live shows, music education, and a welcoming café environment. Its stage has become known for its eclectic concerts, featuring genres that include folk, singer-songwriter and Americana while its recent expansion into multiple citywide locations ensures live music reaches every corner of the Ottawa community.

Beyond performances, Red Bird champions music education with a range of programming offerings. This includes weekly lessons in either a private or group setting taught by seasoned professionals, as well as music summer camps. They take pride in hosting open mic nights as part of their community programming on a weekly basis, allowing aspiring performers the opportunity to command the stage and build confidence. From guitar to vocal coaching workshops, these programs empower amateurs and semi-professionals alike.

Summary of Role

As the Operations Manager at Red Bird, you report directly to the owner and founder, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations of the café and music venue. This includes overseeing event execution—from food and beverage services to concert logistics—while fostering an inclusive and welcoming environment. You embody and champion their values of inclusivity, hospitality, and exceptional customer service.

Initially, you spend a significant amount of time hands-on, preparing and serving food and beverages and performing other essential tasks, which helps you understand the current workflow. This experience enables you to identify necessary changes that improve efficiency and elevate service quality. Your role involves creating and executing new policies and systems aimed at enhancing productivity while nurturing a welcoming and positive atmosphere for both staff and patrons. Your ability to be proactive in both preparation and on-the-fly problem-solving is essential, allowing the founder to focus on strategic growth opportunities and business development.

Driving operational improvements and optimizing revenue is key. You analyze sales trends, build relationships with local vendors, and contribute to marketing initiatives. Effective budget management and developing creative pricing strategies are crucial, as is using data and customer feedback to enhance services, promote guest loyalty, and attract new clientele.

Hiring and developing a skilled team is also a focus for you in this role. You prioritize bringing in talented staff with customer service experience and setting high-performance standards. Training emphasizes making excellent first impressions and providing high-quality, engaging service. You leverage your experience to implement operational improvements, recognizing that current systems may need transformation. Your leadership involves setting clear expectations, holding staff accountable, and fostering a culture of excellence.

This position offers valuable experience across all facets of venue operations. You develop your leadership skills while working alongside industry veterans, all within a team dedicated to supporting the local arts scene. Every operational improvement, from streamlined service to optimized profit margins, directly contributes to Red Bird's mission of creating a vibrant and inspiring space for music lovers and creators.

Is this for you?

You are a customer-centric leader with a strong background in operations, dedicated to enhancing the guest experience through exceptional service and effective management. Your experience in event planning, restaurant management, program delivery, or entertainment venues has equipped you with the skills to create and implement systems that streamline operations while fostering an inclusive and energizing atmosphere. With a keen eye for detail, you excel at managing multiple competing priorities in fast-paced environments, organizing logistics—from coordinating schedules to managing inventory—while allowing your team to focus on delivering outstanding service.

You view the status quo as a suggestion, not a fixed standard. Taking a proactive approach to challenges, you implement practical solutions that enhance operations. Your developed change management skills are crucial as you introduce improvements to the business, recognizing that current systems may need transformation. Your financial acumen enables you to make informed, data-driven decisions that drive revenue growth, and you are comfortable analyzing financial metrics to adjust strategies in real-time, maximizing profitability while enhancing the guest experience.

Your leadership style emphasizes team collaboration and accountability, motivating staff to deliver excellent service while maintaining high standards. Understanding the importance of hiring the right team members and providing effective training and development, you are committed to leading by example. You prioritize bringing in talented individuals with customer service experience, ensuring they can create memorable first impressions.

With a genuine love for music and community, you build strong connections with local artists and patrons, making the venue a beloved spot for live entertainment. Your commitment to creating a vibrant atmosphere makes every event special, turning first-time visitors into regulars. You possess strong proficiency in inventory and labor cost management, ensuring that resources are used wisely while maintaining high service standards. Comfortable with tracking and forecasting inventory levels, you successfully minimize waste and optimize purchasing decisions.