Operations Manager

Location 100 E. 2nd St,Unit 301,Whitefish, MT, 59937,United States Base Pay $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 / Year Job Category 2 Employee Type Full Time Exempt About Stay Montana Stay Montana is a premier vacation rental management company serving property owners and guests across the Flathead Valley. We are passionate about delivering exceptional hospitality experiences while protecting and growing our owners' investments. Our team operates with a culture of ownership, excellence, and accountability, and we are looking for a leader who embodies those values every day. Position Summary The Operations Manager is a hands-on leader responsible for the day-to-day performance of the field operations team and the physical condition of every property in our portfolio. This role sits at the intersection of people leadership, property management, and operational excellence -requiring someone who can build strong routines, lead a high-performing inspection team, and proactively solve problems before they impact guests or owners. The Operations Manager is the standard-bearer for property quality and team culture. They are expected to lead with urgency, communicate with precision, and model the ownership mentality that defines our company. Core Responsibilities Property & Portfolio Operations Oversee the operational condition of all vacation rental properties in the assigned portfolio, ensuring each meets company quality standards at all times. Conduct and coordinate property inspections for arrivals, departures, maintenance events, and owner requests, including urgent or unplanned visits as needed. Manage day-to-day repairs, preventive maintenance, and property upkeep through a combination of in-house staff and vetted vendor relationships. Respond to property emergencies and escalated owner concerns with urgency and professionalism, recognizing that at-risk owner situations require immediate attention. Maintain accurate and detailed documentation of property conditions, work orders, maintenance history, and vendor performance in Breezeway and other company platforms. Lead, coach, and develop a team of Inspectors, setting clear expectations, providing regular feedback, and holding team members accountable to performance standards. Create and manage weekly shift schedules, daily task assignments, and workload distribution for inspectors, cleaners, and vendors to ensure full coverage and efficiency. Interview onboard new team members in partnership with HR, maintaining appropriate staffing levels to meet seasonal demand. Conduct regular one-on-one meetings and team huddles to align priorities, address challenges, and develop individual team members. Foster a positive, solutions-oriented team culture where accountability and excellence are the expectation, not the exception. Communication & Cross-Functional Collaboration Serve as the primary operational point of contact for the Guest Services, Owner Relations, Business Development, and Maintenance teams or vendors, providing timely, detailed communication on property issues, project status, and field conditions. Participate in owner-facing meetings and property walkthroughs as needed, representing the operations team with professionalism and confidence. Partner with the General Manager on process improvement initiatives, seasonal planning, and portfolio growth. Coordinate with vendors and contractors on scheduling, scope of work, quality control, and invoicing. Inventory & Process Management Maintain and manage the office par inventory of common maintenance supplies, ensuring field teams are properly stocked and vehicles are prepared at the start of each shift. Enforce the inspector shift-start checklist process to minimize unplanned hardware store runs and maximize time on property. Identify operational inefficiencies and proactively recommend solutions that improve quality, reduce cost, and enhance the guest and owner experience. What We're Looking For Leadership - You set the tone. Your team's culture reflects your habits, attitude, and standards. Ownership Mentality - You treat every property like it's your own. You find solutions, not reasons why something can't be done. Communication - Clear, timely, and professional across all platforms — written and verbal. Detail Orientation - You notice what others miss. Nothing falls through the cracks on your watch. Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - You assess situations quickly, weigh your options, and make sound decisions under pressure. Organization & Prioritization - You manage competing demands without losing track of what matters most. Tech Proficiency - Comfortable with Microsoft Office 365 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams), property management platforms (Breezeway preferred), and mobile communication tools. Accountability - You hold yourself and your team to high standards and follow through on commitments. You Are A natural leader who earns respect through consistency and competence. Calm under pressure and decisive when it counts. Someone who thrives on routine but adapts easily when plans change. A team player who is equally comfortable working alongside your team as directing it. REAL - R espectful, E xcellent, A ccountable, a L eader. Qualifications Required: High school diploma or equivalent 2–3 years of supervisory or management experience, preferably in property management, hospitality, facilities, or a field operations environment Valid driver's license and reliable personal transportation Availability to work weekends, holidays, and on-call shifts as required by business needs Preferred: Experience in vacation rental management or short-term rental operations Familiarity with Breezeway, Airbnb, VRBO, or similar platforms Background in team scheduling, vendor management, or maintenance coordination Physical Requirements Ability to work indoors, outdoors, and across various property types and conditions throughout the workday Prolonged periods of walking, standing, and conducting property inspections Ability to ascend and descend stairs and ladders as needed Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds Schedule 5-day work week with typical hours between 9:0 O AM and 6:00 PM Weekend availability required On-call rotation as assigned Flexibility to adapt to seasonal business demands - peak periods will require additional availability Competitive salary commensurate with experience with Quarterly Bonus potential Benefits include – Health/Dental/Vision insurance, 401k match, Ski pass reimbursement up to $1k, 20 days PTO, Paid 30 day sabbatical every 3 years of employment. Stay Montana is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship. Stay Montana makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time. #J-18808-Ljbffr