Pay:

$71,000.00 per year with bonus potential starting after 6-months of employment Job description: Operations Manager - Vacation Rentals About Us O'Neal Vacation Rentals (OVR) is a family-owned vacation rental management company based in Santa Cruz. We manage short-term rental homes with a relentless focus on 5-star guest experiences, owner trust, and operational excellence. Hospitality is not a 9-5 business — and neither is this role. About the Role We are hiring an Operations Manager who is a true player-coach. This role requires someone who can: Understand and step into frontline operational work when needed Lead, coach, and hold a team accountable for results Think strategically without losing touch with details Take ownership of outcomes, including nights, weekends, and high-pressure situations What You'll Be Responsible For Operations & Execution Oversee daily operations, including inspections, housekeeping, maintenance, and repairs Understand each function deeply before optimizing or delegating Step in to solve urgent issues when guest experience is at risk Team Leadership & Accountability Lead, coach, and support the operations team Set clear expectations and ensure work is completed thoroughly and correctly Hold yourself and the team accountable for outcomes — not excuses Guest & Owner Experience Ensure consistently high guest ratings and strong owner satisfaction Proactively identify risks to 5-star experiences Personally own service recovery when issues arise Vendor Management Manage cleaners, handymen, plumbers, appliance techs, and other vendors Ensure vendors meet OVR standards for quality, reliability, and communication Address underperformance quickly Big-Picture Thinking & Metrics Track operational metrics (guest reviews, response times, task completion, owner feedback) Improve systems, workflows, and SOPs based on real-world operations Balance efficiency with quality — guest experience always comes first Work Ethic & Availability Expectations Hospitality problems don't wait for business hours.

This role requires:

Willingness to jump in during evenings, weekends, and urgent situations Comfort being accountable when things go wrong — even if you didn't personally cause the issue A strong sense of ownership and responsibility for your team What We're Looking For 3+ years of experience in operations, hospitality, property management, or service-based leadership Proven ability to lead while staying connected to the work Strong attention to detail and high personal standards Calm, decisive problem-solver under pressure Excellent communication skills Tech-savvy and comfortable managing multiple systems and tools Short-term rental or hospitality experience is strongly preferred. Who Should NOT Apply Leaders who prefer to stay "high level" and avoid frontline work Managers who are uncomfortable being accountable outside standard business hours Candidates who expect clearly defined, static responsibilities Anyone looking for a low-urgency or low-responsibility role Why Join OVR Be part of a growing, family-owned business Direct impact on guest experience and company success High trust, high accountability environment Opportunity to shape systems, standards, and team culture

Benefits:

Health insurance Paid time off

Work Location:

In person

Pay:

$71,000.00 per year

Benefits:

Health insurance Paid time off Application Question(s): What is your most relevant experience to this position and why you are attracted to this role? Tell us about a time something important went wrong under your area of responsibility. What happened, what did you personally do to resolve it, and what did you change afterward to prevent it from happening again? Tell us about a time someone you managed was not consistently meeting expectations. How did you address it, and what was the outcome? This role is responsible for vacation rental operations where urgent guest or property issues can arise during evenings and weekends. Tell us about a role where you were accountable for time-sensitive issues outside normal business hours and how you handled that responsibility.

Location:

Santa Cruz, CA 95062 (Preferred)

Work Location:

In person