About the position The Wilkinson Firm is seeking an experienced Hospitality Operations Manager for a contract role. This is a unique opportunity to partner with a growing staffing firm that emphasizes operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have a deep understanding of hospitality operations, including banquet management, F&B, and event logistics. You will play a crucial role in building the operational playbook, establishing standards, and ensuring consistent execution across multiple markets. This is not a traditional job but a working partnership, allowing you to maintain your current role while contributing to the development and scaling of our operational model. We are looking for individuals who understand that true operational discipline, not just staffing volume, differentiates successful events.

Responsibilities

• Build the operations playbook, including run-of-show templates, BEO walk-through standards, pre-shift briefing standards, and post-event reconciliation standards.
• Manage crew dispatch and logistics across multiple markets, ensuring timely and efficient deployment of staff and backup crews.
• Oversee high-stakes event operations, including large-scale plated dinners (500+ covers), multi-day conferences, hotel pre-opening F&B, and major weddings.
• Manage crew performance through floor observations, captain coaching, and implementing recovery protocols.
• Coordinate with operators (hotels, venues, caterers) by reviewing BEOs, facilitating client handoffs, and sequencing vendor activities.
• Conduct post-event reconciliation, including hours verification, performance reviews, incident reporting, and documenting learnings for future events.
• Co-author content on hospitality operations at scale under your name.

Requirements

• 10+ years of experience in hospitality operations with significant floor leadership.
• Experience as a hotel banquet manager, F&B director, catering operations director, convention center operations manager, or large venue operations manager.
• Experience with branded hotel or independent property at scale (Forbes / AAA Diamond / luxury independent).
• Fluency with BEOs (Banquet Event Orders) and the ability to visualize an entire event night from a BEO.
• Fluency with run-of-show development, building them backward from fire times.
• Experience with crew dispatch and logistics across multiple events/venues within the same week.
• Belief that operational discipline, not just staffing volume, is key to event success.
• Proven experience living within and managing the difference between a \$50K event and a \$500K event.

Nice-to-haves

• Bilingual English/Spanish is a strong plus.