Operations Manager

Lava Island; Eden Prairie (MN); On-site; USD 65,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Leadership incentive

Medical insurance

Dental

Vision

Employee perks

Job summary

Lava Island in Eden Prairie, MN is seeking an Operations Manager to lead shifts, manage on-duty operations for the park, café, and events, and guide a team to deliver a smooth, memorable guest experience.

You will be a steady, energetic presence with a clear path toward General Manager, driving excellence in hospitality and teamwork in a vibrant indoor play environment.

Qualifications

• Experience leading teams in fast-paced hospitality or customer-facing settings.
• Current ServSafe Manager Certification, or completion within 30 days of hire.
• Availability for weekends, evenings, and holidays; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are required.
• Hands-on, including cleaning and park prep alongside the team.
• Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs.
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Manager on Duty, present and aware across the whole park during your shift.
• Keep guest-facing areas clean, staffed, and ready, and handle guest issues on the spot.
• Assign zones, set clear expectations, and coach the team in real time.
• Hold the team accountable for tasks, safety, and service with fairness and consistency.
• Lead proactively so problems are prevented before guests feel them.
• Complete opening, shift-change, and closing procedures, checklists, deposits, and reporting.
• Keep the park guest-ready and safe, and keep the café stocked and running on time.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Communication

Organization

Guest service

Education

ServSafe Manager Certification

Job description

Welcome to Lava Island

Lava Island is an indoor play oasis where kids fly across trampolines, dive into foam pits, race down slides, and disappear into towering jungle gyms while families share pizza and celebrate birthdays. It is loud, bright, and full of energy, and it is the kind of place where memories happen without warning.

We areALL IN for our guests and each other, we work BETTER TOGETHER, we show up as DAY MAKERS, and we RAISE THE BAR by doing the little things with purpose.

About the Role

The Operations Manager is the General Manager's right hand and one of the most important leaders in the building. You lead the team on shift, serve as Manager on Duty, and keep operations moving across the café, the park floor, and party events. When the park is busy and the pressure is on, you are the steady presence who keeps the team confident and the experience smooth. It is also a role with a clear path forward; many of our strongest General Managers grew from here.

Why You'll Love Leading Here

• Lead the floor in a fast-paced, guest-first environment where every shift matters
• Coach and develop team members and supervisors in real time
• Grow through Intentional Leadership, our development program, on a real path toward General Manager
• Be part of a supportive culture grounded in trust, standards, and accountability
• Competitive salary, leadership incentive, medical, dental, and vision, and employee perks

What You'll Do

• Serve as Manager on Duty, present and aware across the whole park during your shift
• Keep guest-facing areas clean, staffed, and ready, and handle guest issues on the spot
• Assign zones, set clear expectations, and coach the team in real time
• Hold the team accountable for tasks, safety, and service with fairness and consistency
• Lead proactively so problems are prevented before guests feel them
• Complete opening, shift-change, and closing procedures, checklists, deposits, and reporting
• Keep the park guest-ready and safe, and keep the café stocked and running on time

Growing as a Leader Here

We do not just hire leaders, we develop them. Every park leader grows through Intentional Leadership, our leadership development program built on a simple idea: great leadership is built on purpose. As an Operations Manager, you are expected to be both an exceptional manager and an exceptional leader, and this program is a real part of your path toward running your own park.

What We're Looking For

• An ownership mindset; you treat the shift and the park's results as your own
• Hands-on leadership; you set the standard alongside the team
• Steady under pressure; the team borrows the leader's energy
• A coach; you give clear, real-time direction and hold the standard
• Strong organization and clear communication with team members and guests

What You'll Need

• Experience leading teams in a fast-paced hospitality or customer-facing setting, ideally 15 or more people on a shift
• Current ServSafe Manager Certification, or completion within 30 days of hire
• Availability for weekends, evenings, and holidays; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are required, across opening and closing shifts
• Willingness to be hands-on, including cleaning and park prep alongside the team
• Ability to stand, walk, and move for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbs
• Ability to pass a background check and drug screen