Hotel Operations Manager – Pre-Opening, Santo Domingo

About the role

Aria Hotels, part of Libra Group, is opening its first Dominican Republic property, Aria Santa Maria, an 11-room boutique lifestyle hotel in the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo. It is looking for an experienced Operations Hotel Manager with a strong background in Food and Beverage to lead the pre-opening and run the hotel. The role is hands-on, reporting directly to the Regional Manager and acting as operational leader in the absence of the General Manager.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the opening timeline, recruit and train the opening team, set procedures and service standards, and coordinate with corporate teams on systems, procurement, OS&E and compliance.
• Oversee testing, commissioning and opening, then take full day-to-day operational ownership, including restaurant service, reservations, table flow, inventory, purchasing, waste and F&B cost controls.
• Work with the Chef, Front Office, Housekeeping and Maintenance, and lead daily operational briefings.
• Build a high-performing team, coach staff, manage schedules, recruitment, onboarding, training and performance management.
• Drive revenue, profitability and GOP targets, work with Sales & Revenue to maximise occupancy and ADR, analyse KPIs, budgets and forecasts, and identify commercial opportunities.
• Manage guest feedback and online reputation, build relationships with VIP guests and local partners, and uphold hygiene, food safety and Aria's operating standards.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration or a related field.
• 5-8 years of progressive hotel leadership experience, including 3-5 years as General Manager or Hotel Manager in boutique, upscale or luxury hotels.
• Previous pre-opening experience highly preferred; strong financial management and budgeting experience.
• Track record of driving revenue and profitability, and experience with international hotel brands or independent luxury properties.
• Fluent English and fluent Spanish (both required).

Required skills

• Strong understanding of hotel technology, PMS, RMS, POS and distribution systems.
• Excellent knowledge of Rooms Division and Food & Beverage operations.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams.

What we offer

• The chance to lead the opening of a new boutique hotel and shape its culture and guest experience.
• An international hospitality company with growth plans across Latin America.
• Opportunity for regional career development as Aria Hotels expands.