Operations Manager

Horizon Hospitality Associates, Inc; Gatlinburg (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health benefits

Life insurance

AD&D

Disability insurance

Relocation housing assistance

Mileage reimbursement

Job summary

Horizon Hospitality Associates, Inc. in Gatlinburg, TN is seeking an ambitious Operations Manager to oversee a portfolio of approximately 49 premium vacation rental and resort properties.

This role serves as the operational backbone of the organization, with autonomy to drive daily operations and policy standards while aligning with senior leadership on portfolio growth. Located in Gatlinburg, TN, the position offers a vibrant mountain resort setting with strong external growth opportunities.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of leadership in vacation rental management, resort operations, or related hospitality fields.
• Strong organizational skills with ability to balance multiple property demands.
• Experience coordinating maintenance, capital projects, and housekeeping operations.

Responsibilities

• Manage day-to-day operations of a diverse vacation rental portfolio ensuring guest service, cleanliness, and presentation standards.
• Recruit, onboard, train, and schedule a team of ~5 W-2 employees and 1099 contractors across housekeeping and maintenance.
• Onboard new properties, set readiness timelines, and establish property-specific SOPs and checklists.
• Coordinate scheduled maintenance and quality control inspections across properties.
• Liaise with contractors on capital improvements, ensuring on-time delivery and budget alignment.

Skills

Leadership

Operations management

Guest service

Vendor management

Team mentoring

Tools

Breezeway

Bill.com

Expensify

Job description

A rapidly expanding short-term rental and property management company is seeking an ambitious and growth-minded hospitality leader to step into the role of Operations Manager. Overseeing a high-quality portfolio of approximately 49 premium vacation rental and resort properties, this individual will serve as the operational backbone of the organization. This unique opportunity allows an emerging leader to take complete ownership of daily operations while working closely with senior executives who are focused on aggressive portfolio growth.

Located in the heart of Gatlinburg, Tennessee, this position offers an exceptional lifestyle in one of the country's most scenic and vibrant destinations. Living and working at the gateway of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park means enjoying unparalleled outdoor recreation, a thriving local community, and a booming tourism economy. For a dedicated, service-first professional looking to accelerate their career, this role provides the autonomy to manage multi-property operations, lead dedicated teams, and scale quality standards across a highly desirable mountain resort region.

Position Responsibilities

• Manage the day-to-day operations of a diverse vacation rental portfolio, ensuring seamless execution of cleanliness, presentation, and guest service protocols.
• Recruit, onboard, train, mentor, and schedule an internal team of approximately five W-2 employees alongside a robust network of 1099 contractors across housekeeping and maintenance.
• Lead the onboarding of new properties into the rental portfolio, establishing readiness timelines, asset setup, and strict operational checklists.
• Coordinate all scheduled daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance and quality control property inspections.
• Oversee capital improvement project schedules, serving as the primary on-site liaison to ensure contractors remain on schedule, within budget, and aligned with quality benchmarks.
• Act as the main point of escalation for guest inquiries, service recovery situations, and owner communications, resolving all issues with urgency and professionalism.
• Utilize operational platforms such as Breezeway, Bill.com, and Expensify to handle scheduling, task templates, invoice processing, and expense tracking.
• Manage vehicle fleet upkeep, oversee digital access lock systems, and enforce property protocols during inclement weather.
• Provide light home maintenance support when necessary and coordinate with licensed specialty vendors for larger-scale repairs.
• Oversee limited food and beverage operations and on-site dining logistics where applicable.

Position Requirements

• 3+ years of progressive leadership experience within vacation rental management, resort operations, boutique hospitality, multifamily housing, or facilities management.
• Proven track record of building, mentoring, and holding operational teams accountable while driving long-term career progression.
• Strong physical on-the-ground management presence with experience directly coordinating complex maintenance, capital projects, and housekeeping operations.
• Outstanding organizational skills and the capacity to balance multiple competing property demands and owner relations simultaneously.
• High level of proficiency with modern hospitality operations and property management platforms (e.g., Breezeway, Bill.com, Expensify, or similar tools).
• Excellent communication and relational skills, with a humble, collaborative, and coachable personality that welcomes continuous feedback.
• Reliable personal transportation and willingness to travel frequently between local property sites distributed across Sevier County.
• Flexibility to adjust schedules and work additional hours to support property demands during peak occupancy seasons and major holidays.
• Performance Bonus: Annual bonus opportunity ranging from $5,000 – $10,000
• Health Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision insurance with the company covering 70% of the employee premium on base plans
• Additional Insurance: Company-paid life insurance ($25,000), AD&D, short-term disability, and long-term disability
• Perks & Support: Potential future mileage reimbursement program and transitional housing assistance available for relocating candidates

Please submit your professional credentials and resume to schedule a confidential exploratory conversation.

Only qualified candidates will be contacted.