Working General Manager — Forest Springs Resort & Spa

Working General Manager — Forest Springs Resort & Spa

Location: On-site, Forest Springs Resort & Spa (Arkansas)

Compensation: $60,000–$75,000 base + on-site housing + performance bonus (all-in target $100k+)

Start date: Target mid-May 2026 (overlap with reopening)

Reports to: Ownership (Jacobo Hernandez, The Vesta Group)

Working General Manager — Forest Springs Resort & Spa

Forest Springs Resort & Spa is a 50 room boutique property in Arkansas at the tail end of a full reimagining — new ownership, new design, new team. We're reopening in May 2026 and we're looking for a Working GM who leads from the floor, not from a desk.

This is not an office job. This is a hands-on, property-first role for someone who wants to run a property the way small hotels actually get run well: by being in it. You'll check guests in when it's busy, help housekeeping turn rooms when we're short, troubleshoot the hot water heater with the handyman, plate breakfast when someone calls out, and answer the phone at 10 p.m. when a guest can't find their room. You'll also own the P&L, the team, the reviews, and the strategy with ownership — but you earn that seat by being visibly in the work alongside your team every day.

If the idea of spending half your shift behind a computer sounds appealing, this isn't the role. If the idea of a job where every day looks different and you know every guest by name sounds appealing, read on.

What you'll own

• Floor operations, hands-on. Covering front desk shifts — especially check-in (3–6 p.m.) and check-out (8–11 a.m.) on busy days, weekends, and whenever the schedule has a gap. This is expected, not optional.
• Filling in on any role when needed — housekeeping turnovers, basic maintenance, running breakfast, guest transport, carrying bags. Whatever the property needs that day, you do or you're beside the person doing it.
• Team leadership: hiring, training, scheduling, performance management for cleaners, front desk, handyman, and on-call staff. You lead by working the same shifts they work.
• Guest experience from booking to post-stay follow-up, including reviews and reputation management
• Revenue and channel management: CloudBeds, Booking.com, Expedia, Airbnb, Vrbo, direct bookings
• Vendor and contractor relationships
• Financial accountability: budget, invoicing, petty cash, payroll coordination, vendor payments
• SOPs and daily operations rhythm — built or rebuilt based on what you learn doing the work
• Close coordination with ownership on strategy, capex, and major decisions

What a typical day looks like

There isn't one. A weekday morning might be housekeeping walkthroughs, a vendor call, payroll, then covering the front desk for a 1 p.m. check-in. A Saturday might be 11 hours on property running check-in, troubleshooting a clogged sink, and hosting the fire pit at 9 p.m. A slow Tuesday might be budget work, SOP updates, and a conversation with a cleaner about how to improve the turnover process. Some nights you're off at 6. Some nights the phone rings at 11 and you answer it.

What we're looking for

We care more about track record and fit than years. If you've run a small hotel, a boutique resort, a short-term rental portfolio, an Airbnb super-host operation, a busy bed-and-breakfast, a country club, or a boutique restaurant with rooms — and you did it with your hands on the work — we want to hear from you.

• Working-GM mindset. You don't think "that's not my job." If a guest is waiting at the front desk and the agent is on break, you check them in. If a room turnover is behind, you grab a cart.
• Demonstrated ownership — you've been the person the buck stopped with
• Physical stamina for the role — on your feet, moving around a property, carrying things. Willing and able to lift 40 lbs, stand for long periods, work weekends and evenings.
• Strong operational instincts
• Comfort with modern hospitality tech (PMS, channel managers, Kipsu, guest journey tools)
• Exceptional written and verbal communication
• Calm under pressure
• Willingness to live on-site (housing provided)
• Hospitality experience required; hotel brand training or F&B background is a plus, not a dealbreaker

What we offer

• Base salary: $60,000–$75,000 depending on experience
• On-site 3 bedroom/2 bath housing included + utilities ($28,000 value)
• Performance bonus tied to guest reviews, revenue, and operational goals (all-in target $100k+ total compensation package)
• Real authority and autonomy — you're not a middle manager
• Direct access to engaged ownership and a lean decision-making structure
• The chance to shape a property at an inflection point

How to apply

• Apply via LinkedIn Easy Apply, or through Indeed
• Include your resume and a brief note (3–5 sentences) on why this role interests you
• Qualified candidates will receive a follow-up with additional application steps

👉 Complete the 10-minute form here: https://workinggm.lovable.app/

Forest Springs is an equal-opportunity employer. We hire on merit, fit, and track record — nothing else.