Director of Operations at Apres Cru Hospitality

Position: Director of Operations, Big Sky
Reports To: Natalie McDade, Sr. Director of Operations
Direct Reports: Big Sky Culinary Director, GM’s Tips Up, Block 3, Bucks, Event Sales Manager
Key Relationships: Apres Cru, Salaried Managers, Lone Mtn. Land Co.
Location: Big Sky, Montana

About the Position

The Director of Operations is the lynch pin between Operations in Big Sky and Apres Cru for
existing operations (Block 3, Tips Up) , openings (Bucks), and new partnerships. They are the
eyes, ears, and thought partners for Apres Cru to help build trust, deliver results and support
Operations by leveraging their expertise and the Apres Cru platform.
They are the operational coordinator for the onboarding and opening of new restaurants and
partnerships. They ensure free flow of information between businesses and key Apres Cru
Departments (Finance, Marketing, HR, Development, IT) to strategically help each business.
The systems they help implement and create are constantly refined, updated with the
learnings reinvested in existing operations and future opportunities. The ongoing monitoring
and analysis of sales trends and data is essential for a proactive response to identify
potential challenges as well as seizing on opportunities to maximize profitability.
They are critical in setting expectations and holding all stakeholders accountable in a
manner that is aligned with Apres Cru’s hospitality values. In addition to the technical and
tactical aspects of their day to day, they also are the culture carrier and ambassador
between Apres Cru and our Partners and the Industry at large.
This position will work tightly alongside the GM of Bucks for the 2025 winter season while we
ramp and build the team.

About Apres Cru
Apres Cru is a reimagined hospitality company based in NYC founded by seasoned industry
veterans that seek out exciting independent operators looking to expand beyond their four
walls. We value culture driven by hospitality, brand equity built on integrity, and a willingness
to look at operations and growth differently. We partner with each brand, providing both
capital and strategic support as they embark on future growth in restaurants, licensing
opportunities, partnerships, CPG, and other opportunities. Our growing portfolio currently
includes 10 restaurants (Petit Trois, Delphine, P.D.T., Crif Dogs, Mixteca, Pig & Khao, Peasant,
Forgione) with more in the pipeline.

New Business Onboarding and Restaurant Openings

● Lead the onboarding process for new Apres Cru partners and key leadership positions
● Create critical path, assign AOR’s and ensure deliverables and deadlines are met for a
seamless onboarding
● Serve as the quarterback between Apres Cru and businesses, creating and managing
critical paths, keeping stakeholders apprised of progress and roadblocks
● Create, organize, and archive workflow for efficient access by all stakeholders
● Identify opportunities for efficiencies and value add from an operations and business
standpoint
● Serve as a hands on strategic operational partner for managing partners and
operators
● Identifying/clarifying and leveraging roles and responsibilities of the existing team;
identifying areas of additional support that is needed
● Audit existing systems to find synergies and economies of scales and best practices
across all Apres Cru Brands.
● Build trust with businesses while also establishing accountability
● Serve as a liaison for external auditors and contractors
● Create a hand off plan to restaurant level operations for sustainable transition
● Liaise between operations and development for seamless handover to operations
● Understanding of existing culture and channels of communication (tone, frequency,
audience, effectiveness)
● Help evaluate, negotiate, onboard and manage new vendor contracts.
● Project manage construction, R&M, technology implementation, onboardings and
integrations.

Operational Systems

● Actively involved in service to instill hospitality focus, coach teams
● Continually evaluate and improve upon existing systems and ensure they are
accurate, up to date, and being utilized to the fullest
● Assess strategize solutions for hospitality, delivery, labor MGMT, recipe costing, training,
reservations,leadership development, POS, and CRM
● Ensure DOH, SLA and HR compliance protocols are in place, effective, and adhered to
● Evaluate menu optimization through p-mix, ingredients, labor, and profitability
● Create standardize and audit “Black Box” for each restaurant
● Leverage technology and integrations for added transparency and efficiencies
● Create and implement manager onboarding to familiarize new managers of systems
● Work with operators to create clear AOR’s for each manager
● Ensure hospitality, culture, financial acumen are front of mind for all managers
● Lead the implementation of systems at the restaurant level and transition to
operations
● Provide foundational support for training manuals, onboarding, operational systems,
● Work closely with management teams in highlighting opportunities and creating
actionable steps and timelines.

Apres Cru

● Forensic analysis of P&L to identify best practices and prioritize short/long term areas
of opportunity
● Work with Finance/Accounting and Tech Partners to leverage integrations, reporting to
aid operations
● Help model and explore various solutions through a myriad of lenses and present
actionable suggestions and rollout plans
● Align with HR to ensure HR systems are adhered to and help fortify culture
● G/L deep dive and creation of future projections and cash flow implications
● Audit of existing reports and creation of supplemental reports to provide operators
with a daily, weekly, monthly pulse on their business
● Support in the entity formation, documentation, and foundational work for new
businesses as needed
● Serve as key point of contact between operations, Apres Cru and Managing Partners
Additional Skills and Responsibilities
● Ability to adapt, change, and evolve
● Culturally aware with high EQ
● Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment
● Excellent teacher, listener, and communicator
● Create structure and systems where it does not currently exist
● Self-driven, results-oriented, and a passion for excellence
● Ability to harvest data and analytics and apply it to system implementation that
receives buy in by adding operational value
● Has lots of fun at work but is not afraid of putting in longer hours when required
● Serve as ambassador for Apres Cru, building trust, strengthening relationships, and
adding value to partnerships
● Possess excellent strategic planning skills, with an emphasis on delivering, executing
and assessing action plans
● Proactively communicates to managing partners
● Excellent time management, organizational, strategic thinker and multi-tasker
● Analytical and organizational skills, as well the ability to define and effectively solve
and deal with a variety of changing situations
● Ability to effectively provide clear feedback to a variety of stakeholders
● Creative problem solving skills
● Passion for exceptional hospitality, food, and beverages
● Ability to multitask and exhibit grace under pressure
● Thrive in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment

Experience/Education

● Breadth of experience in restaurant operations (FOH/BOH) in a variety of settings and
service styles
● Solid understanding of menu creation, ingredient sourcing, inventory management,
COGS analysis, labor management, development of systems and procedures
● Firm grasp of restaurant financial models, budgeting, expense management and P&L
analysis
● Equipped with extensive experience in sales, operations, and financial performance
from a customer-focused, operationally excellent restaurant
● Proficient in a variety of technology systems, especially Microsoft Office (Word, Excel,
Outlook, PowerPoint) and Google Suite of Products (Google Drive/Docs), and
restaurant specific software (such as Foodager, Bevager, Margin Edge, or similar)