General Manager

Get AI-powered advice on this job and more exclusive features. Twentynine Palms, CA | Full-time | On-site | Start Date: ASAP We’re looking for a General Manager who leads with clarity, calm, and care—someone who sees hospitality as both an operational craft and an emotional offering. This role calls for someone who blends systems thinking with a reverence for design and an appreciation for the small, human moments that make a stay memorable. They thrive at the intersection of structure, beauty, and intention, and understand how thoughtful hospitality can transform a guest’s sense of ease, connection, and belonging. ABOUT THE ROLE This is a leadership role for a thoughtful, grounded professional who brings both operational excellence and creative sensitivity. You’ll help maintain and refine the systems that support the hotel’s long-term success, while holding the guest experience and the brand’s values with integrity. You’ll be the bridge between vision and execution—ensuring that everything from guest arrival to back-of-house flow supports a consistent, intentional experience. You’ll know when to take initiative, when to bring something to ownership, and when to pause to protect the ethos of the brand. You’ll work closely with a small, dedicated team of guest experience staff and housekeepers, while managing vendors and collaborating with local partners to bring the guest experience to life. You’ll partner directly with the ownership team, helping to refine systems and operations. With the hotel open and its foundation in place, you’ll step into a role with meaningful responsibility and room to grow—helping to take the property to the next level and carrying forward the ethos of Hotel Wren with clarity and care. This role is ideal for someone who brings steadiness to a dynamic environment, finds inspiration in peaceful, beautifully designed spaces, and is excited to grow with a hotel that is small in key count but expansive in spirit. ABOUT HOTEL WREN Hotel Wren is a 12-room boutique hotel at the edge of Joshua Tree National Park in Twentynine Palms, California. It’s a space where high design, intentional hospitality, and the quiet rhythm of the desert converge. Guests come here to reconnect—with themselves, with nature, with beauty, with stillness, and with a sense of community. Every detail has been curated with care, from the custom-built furniture to the in-house bodega, Windsong, to the welcome note in the room and the playlist in the lobby. Our approach is high-touch but unfussy, soulful yet refined. We’re building a brand rooted in integrity, spaciousness, and intentionality. Now that the doors are open, and with Hotel Wren already recognized by outlets such as The New York Times T List, Vogue, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel + Leisure, we’re seeking someone to step in as the operational lead. In this first year you’ll partner closely with ownership to refine systems and create a smooth, harmonious flow. As the hotel matures beyond its launch, you’ll take on more autonomous leadership with the goal of eventually running day-to-day operations with clarity, independence, and care. This is a foundational role, and we’re looking for the right person to help the property truly flourish while allowing ownership to step back as the vision continues to evolve and deepen. ABOUT THE CO-OWNER & CREATIVE DIRECTOR Jessica is the founder and principal of Manola Studio, an architectural and interior design studio based in Los Angeles, and the co-owner and creative director of Hotel Wren. She led the full design and construction of the hotel over nearly a decade, shaping every detail with intention, care, and a deep respect for place. Her design practice centers on creating harmony between self and space. She believes that nothing is arbitrary—from the composition of a furniture plan to the layering of materials, every decision is made with purpose. By balancing form, feeling, and function, her spaces are shaped to support calm, clarity, and belonging. Hotel Wren was created with this intention: to offer guests an environment that feels both artfully composed and deeply restorative. As a leader, Jessica is thoughtful, emotionally intelligent, and discerning. She values clarity, kindness, and high standards, and leads with trust and collaboration when alignment is strong. While she remains involved in the creative direction, her goal is to transition out of daily operations and return more fully to her design practice in Los Angeles. She is seeking a General Manager who can confidently carry the operations and culture of Hotel Wren forward, building a strong, communicative partnership that allows the vision to thrive. What You’ll Bring: • 5+ years of hospitality or operations experience, ideally in boutique hotels or design-forward environments, with proven stability in leadership roles • Proven ability to lead day-to-day hotel operations, including guest services, staffing, scheduling, and vendor coordination • Strong emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills—able to lead with clarity, care, and grounded presence • A natural ability to stay organized and energized by creating systems that support both team and guest experience • Hands-on experience in food and retail operations, including inventory management, merchandising, and vendor relations • Ability to track and strategize room rates and manage booking and retail platforms (Mews, Diamo, Toast) • Confidence working independently while keeping ownership informed and aligned • A passion for hospitality with a deep appreciation for design, aesthetics, and human experience • Experience leading a small team with consistency, communication, and accountability This Role May Not Be the Right Fit If: • You find it challenging to work within or create thoughtful systems, processes, and communication structures • Direct feedback is difficult for you to receive or give, or you tend to avoid tough conversations • You feel overwhelmed managing multiple priorities, shifting tasks, and navigating interpersonal dynamics • Collaborating with a hands-on founder while leading a team feels uncomfortable or difficult to navigate • A long-term role focused on stewardship, care, and growth isn’t the right fit at this stage in your career What You’ll Be Responsible For: • Overseeing all hotel operations, ensuring consistency, accountability, and excellence across front desk, housekeeping, guest services, property maintenance, Windsong, and minibar • Leading staffing, training, scheduling, and team development with clarity and care • Managing financial operations, including budgeting, vendor payments, performance reporting, and inventory control • Refining and implementing SOPs and internal systems to support efficiency and consistency • Managing Windsong operations, including food, wine, merchandise, vendor relations, and sales tracking • Strategizing room rates and overseeing back-end operations within Mews and Diamo, including rate adjustments and performance reports • Maintaining high standards for cleanliness, aesthetics, and the overall guest experience • Engaging directly with guests and actively supporting front-of-house operations as needed, embodying the hospitality and presence that define the Hotel Wren experience • Liaising with ownership and staff to ensure alignment, and proactively sharing operational insights, team performance, and guest trends • Managing event inquiries and buyout strategy, ensuring alignment with Hotel Wren’s brand and guest experience standards • Supporting brand activations, private events, and hospitality partnerships as needed Thank you for your interest in Hotel Wren. We look forward to connecting with candidates who share our passion for thoughtful hospitality. Seniority level Seniority level Director Employment type Employment type Full-time Job function Job function Management and Manufacturing Industries Hospitality Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at Hotel Wren by 2x Get notified about new General Manager jobs in Los Angeles, CA . 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