Sr. Operations Manager, Tea Around Town

We are seeking a highly motivated and experienced Senior Operations Manager to oversee the operational aspects of Tea Around Town in our newest operational locations: Chicago. As a Senior Operations Manager, you will be fully responsible for the Tea Around Town experience and for its operational efficiency. You will play a pivotal role in supporting organizational growth, managing cross-functional teams, and ensuring seamless execution of business operations. The ideal candidate will be a strategic thinker with exceptional attention to detail and a proven track record of optimizing operational efficiency and excellence. 

Tea Around Town (teaaroundtown.com), our recently launched product, is an elegant tea room experience atop a double decker bus. Since launch, Tea Around Town has gained significant popularity and has been featured on NBC News, Time Out, etc. Our goal is to offer world class white glove service consistently to customers, while catering to demanding schedules and achieving cost efficiency. 

Powered by in-house technology, TopView Group creates unique global experiences. Our rapidly growing portfolio of products includes: hop-on hop-off bus tours in NYC and London, special events i.e. Tea Around Town and North Pole Express, sightseeing and event cruises, bike rental and tours, walking tours, and Attraction Pass. As we continue to expand vertically and horizontally, we operate in a fast-paced environment and value entrepreneurial spirits.

Responsibilities:

• Manage and supervise all aspects of the product execution (both front and back of house); ensure flawless product execution and deliver a world class experience consistently throughout all trips. 
• Lead launch related activities in multiple locations to ensure timely and successful launch in all locations.
• Be responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, managing, and performance monitoring of all operations staff related to the product. 
• Manage all day-to-day operations for the assigned locations, including managing internal teams as well as partnership relationships with key vendors like caterer, bus yard, maintenance facility etc.
• Develop, refine and ensure compliance with all SOPs.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams within the organization to seamlessly execute all product changes, promotions, press events, and new product launches; foster productive relationships and promote inter-departmental synergy. 
• Establish routine quality assurance procedures, identify gaps between the achieved product quality and anticipated product standards, and implement corrective actions in a timely manner.
• Analyze current operational processes, identify bottlenecks, inefficiencies, and areas for improvement; propose and implement process enhancements to optimize resource utilization and increase cost efficiency. 
• Oversee inventory through normal cycle counts and inventory maintenance related activities; reconcile inventory with inventory systems and perform manual transactions to maintain inventory accuracy.
• Identify potential risks within operations and develop plans to mitigate them; implement robust contingency plans to ensure business continuity in the face of unexpected challenges.
• Uphold stringent safety protocols and uncompromising food quality standards throughout all operational processes.

• Work closely with the finance team to develop and manage operational budgets; monitor expenditures, identify cost-saving opportunities, and ensure financial discipline within the operations function.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, or a related field. 
• Proven track record of at least 12 years in operations, with 5+ years in a management role. Hospitality, restaurant, F&B experience preferred.
• Highly hands-on with strong problem-solving capabilities under pressure.
• Ability to make data-driven decisions.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing business needs.
• Exceptional team management abilities, with a history of building and motivating high-performing teams.
• Excellent communication and strong organizational skills; attention to detail.
• Work schedule is 50+ hours a week; must be available to work weekends and holidays.
• Work locations: Chicago; valid driver’s license required.  

Benefits

• Bonus pay
• Paid time off
• Health insurance (medical, dental, vision)
• Pre-tax commuter benefit
• More

Compensation: $90k-$105k + bonus