General Manager

Lead One of the Southest's Premier Residential Communities

The Big Canoe Property Owners Association, located in Jasper, Georgia, has selected The Chason Group (www.thechasongroup.com) to lead an executive search for a General Manager. The current GM is retiring later this year.

The Big Canoe Property Owners Association (POA) is seeking a dynamic, highly relational executive to serve as its next General Manager. This is a rare opportunity to lead a complex, high-performing organization that operates at the intersection of municipal-style governance, hospitality-driven service delivery, and community engagement.

Big Canoe is widely recognized as one of Georgia’s most distinctive private residential communities—defined by its natural beauty, engaged property owners, and commitment to excellence. The next General Manager will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the community by strengthening trust, enhancing operations, and ensuring long-term financial and organizational sustainability.

This is a highly visible leadership role for an executive who brings both strategic discipline and a strong, relationship-driven leadership style.

About the Community

Big Canoe is an 8,000-acre private, gated residential community in the North Georgia mountains, located approximately one hour north of metro Atlanta. Established in 1972, the community includes approximately 3,000 homes and 6,000 residents.

Big Canoe offers an extensive range of high-end amenities, including golf, a clubhouse, racquet club, fitness and dining facilities, lakes with marina access, trails, over 100 clubs and committees, and comprehensive public safety services.

Known for its natural beauty, strong sense of community, and active property owner base, Big Canoe blends residential living with hospitality and environmental stewardship.

Big Canoe provides convenient access to one of the Southeast’s most dynamic economic regions offering:

• Access to a mobile workforce
• Proximity to major transportation corridors,
• A high quality of life centered on outdoor recreation and natural landscapes

About the Organization

The Big Canoe Property Owners Association (POA) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(4) organization responsible for the governance, operations, and long-term stewardship of an 8,000-acre residential community.

With approximately 3,000 homes and 6,000 residents, the POA operates with the scale and complexity of a small municipality. The organization provides a comprehensive range of services, including:

• Infrastructure management (roads, utilities, capital planning)
• Public safety and security
• Amenity operations (golf, tennis, fitness, dining, lakes, and trails)
• Financial management and capital investment
• Community engagement and communications

The POA is governed by an elected Board of Directors and supported by a professional staff responsible for delivering high-quality services and maintaining the community’s long-term value.

Big Canoe is distinguished by an active and engaged property owner base that expects transparency, responsiveness, and operational excellence.

About the Opportunity

The General Manager serves as the chief executive officer of the POA and is responsible for translating Board direction into effective operations and measurable results.

This role represents a unique leadership opportunity for an executive who can successfully balance:

• Data driven, strategic leadership and long-range planning
• Operational execution across complex, multi-functional systems
• High-touch community engagement with a highly involved stakeholder base

Over the next several years, the General Manager will be expected to:

• Strengthen trust and transparency across the community
• Reinforce financial discipline and long-term capital planning
• Enhance operational performance and service delivery
• Align governance and management roles for more effective decision-making
• Build and lead a high-performing internal team
• Guide the community through evolving infrastructure and investment needs

Stakeholder input underscores that success in this role will be defined as much by leadership presence and communication as by operational expertise.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will be a visible, relationship-driven executive who combines strong operational leadership with exceptional interpersonal effectiveness.

Stakeholders consistently emphasized the importance of a leader who:

• Builds trust through transparency, consistency, and accessibility
• Demonstrates emotional intelligence and sound judgment in a highly engaged environment
• Balances collaboration with decisiveness and accountability
• Serves as a “community executive,” functioning similarly to a municipal leader or public-facing CEO
• Engages stakeholders thoughtfully while maintaining focus on long-term priorities

Cultural fit is critical. The successful candidate will appreciate Big Canoe’s unique character, including its natural environment, strong community traditions, and highly involved property owners.

Key Skills, Traits, and Experience

Candidates should bring a combination of leadership experience, operational expertise, and interpersonal capability, including:

• Demonstrated executive leadership experience in a complex organization
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, cost management, and capital planning
• Experience working effectively with governing boards and navigating governance dynamics
• Proven ability to lead multi-functional operations with diverse stakeholder groups
• Track record of building, developing, and retaining high-performing teams
• Exceptional communication skills, with the ability to engage a broad range of audiences
• Experience in environments such as:
• Residential communities, POAs, or HOAs
• Municipal or city management
• Hospitality or amenity-based service organizations

The most successful candidates will bring a hybrid leadership background that combines operational rigor with community-centered leadership.

How To Apply

Professionals interested in this executive leadership opportunity are invited to upload a cover letter and resume at www.thechasongroup.com by May 8, 2026.

James McCoy

Vice President, The Chason Group

jmccoy@thechasongroup.com

(770) 842-4774