Airport Lounge Operations Excellence Lead

Compass Group USA; Sterling (VA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement Plan

Health and Wellness Programs

Commuter Benefits

Medical, Dental, Vision

Job summary

Compass Group USA is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to support the Airport Center of Excellence (ACE) for the Capital One Lounge portfolio. You will partner with lounge leaders and operations teams to strengthen service delivery, develop talent, and drive operational excellence across locations.

This role suits hospitality professionals who enjoy coaching teams, working in dynamic settings, and building cross-location partnerships.

Qualifications

• Hospitality leadership experience in airport lounges, hotels, restaurants, private clubs, premium foodservice, or similar environments.
• Experience supporting multiple locations, business units, or operational teams.
• Proven success in training, coaching, operational improvement, or quality assurance.
• Strong knowledge of guest service and operational excellence.
• Financial and business acumen, including labor, food, and operational cost management.
• Excellent communication, presentation, organization, and relationship-building skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and adapt to changing priorities in fast-paced environments.

Responsibilities

• Provide interim leadership during transitions, staffing gaps, leaves, and periods of increased business demand.
• Support new lounge openings, operational transitions, and strategic initiatives.
• Partner with lounge, district, and corporate leaders to execute operational priorities.
• Share best practices and help teams resolve operational challenges.
• Lead training focused on hospitality, culinary standards, service, safety, and operational procedures.
• Coach managers and frontline teams to strengthen performance, engagement, development, and retention.
• Support onboarding and development of new leaders.
• Promote a culture of learning and continuous improvement.
• Conduct operational assessments and audits to ensure standards are consistently achieved.
• Identify improvement opportunities and help teams implement sustainable solutions.
• Support food safety, sanitation, security, labor, and company compliance requirements.
• Champion personalized service and memorable guest experiences.
• Collaborate with leaders across airport locations to promote consistency and operational effectiveness.
• Support company initiatives, reporting requirements, and key business metrics.
• Serve as a trusted resource for problem-solving and business continuity.
• Build strong relationships that encourage communication and alignment.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Multi-location experience

Training & coaching

Guest service

Financial acumen

Communication

Change adaptability

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management or related

Job description

Compass Group USA is seeking an Operational Excellence Manager to support the Airport Center of Excellence (ACE) for the Capital One Lounge portfolio. You will partner with lounge leaders and operations teams to strengthen service delivery, develop talent, and drive operational excellence across locations.

This role suits hospitality professionals who enjoy coaching teams, working in dynamic settings, and building cross-location partnerships.