Golf Facilities

Tennis Facilities

Swimming Facilities

• 1 Outdoor

Other Athletic Facilities

Dining Facilities

• 1 Casual Dining Room that seats 130
• 1 Banquet Room that seats 100
• 1 Beach House/Decks that seats 120

Special Club Features

General Manager, University Yacht Club

THE GENERAL MANAGER (GM) OPPORTUNITY AT UNIVERSITY YACHT CLUB: An amazing opportunity exists for candidates with a successful track-record of leadership and high-quality operations management at experience centric club operations or high-end establishments in the hospitality industry. We are conducting the General Manager search for the University Yacht Club on Lake Lanier in Georgia. The candidate will be an integral part of a high-performing team.  The Club prides itself on its unique and prized culture of highly personalized service and relationships that foster a social hub for the enjoyment of its membership. The General Manager role at UYC is one best suited to a leader who truly enjoys being the ‘face’ of the Club, being highly engaged, proactive, visible and interactive with member families, and epitomizes the “selfless leader” so appropriate to a high performing hospitality environment. This is an opportunity for a qualified manager to make a long term ‘home,’ being appreciated for providing competent, committed and sincerely engaged leadership.

HISTORY OF UNIVERSITY YACHT CLUB

University Yacht Club was founded in 1951 as the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers was still building Lake Lanier.  The Club has been in continuous operation since its founding and is nestled in one of the best coves on Lake Lanier in Flowery Branch, GA and about 40 miles north of Atlanta. UYC operates year round with an engaged group of sail boaters, power boaters and social members that enjoy participating in the many events hosted by the club each year.  The club is governed by a Bridge made up of 5 elected officers and a Board of Governors elected by the membership.

UNIVERSITY YACHT CLUB BY THE NUMBERS

• 250 Members

• $1.8M Gross volume

• 160 Slips

• 20 Employees

• Committees - House; Facilities; Docks; Membership; Finance; Entertainment and others

• 13 Board Members: Including Commodore, Bridge and Governors; 2 Year Terms for Governors

GENERAL MANAGER (GM) POSITION OVERVIEW

The GM will be responsible for all day-to-day operations of The University Yacht Club. The new GM will be a highly visible, hands-on leader who can work collaboratively with team members to manage dining, marina, building maintenance, finance, private parties, catering, member communications, recreational and children’s programs. The GM is ultimately responsible for delivering outstanding service and memorable experiences to the multi-generational membership and their guests. The GM leads the organization in accomplishing its mission of being a vibrant, member-driven, multi-generational yacht club providing all members with extraordinary experiences and legendary services. The position conveys the UYC values in a manner that is well understood, widely supported, consistently applied and effectively implemented. The GM supervises the Dining and Beverage staff, Executive Chef, Administrative staff, Maintenance staff and Dockmaster.

KEY ATTRIBUTES INCLUDE

• Highly visible, engaged and outgoing club leader who enjoys daily interaction with staff, club members and guests.
• History of success and understanding of quality Food & Beverage operations, including revenue growth, cost control, training, and strong service culture development.
• Verifiable motivator and leader who can bring out the best in others by setting clear goals and expectations, holding them accountable for outcomes, by providing consistent feedback, support and through respectful interaction and professionalism.
• Naturally outgoing, conversant, respectful, and diplomatic, but able to diplomatically say “no” when appropriate.
• Organizationally focused individual who recognizes that obsession with details and consistency of delivery at a high-level result in high member and associate satisfaction, high levels of quality and an overall outstanding member experience. Keen understanding of quality in all aspects of the club and club operations as well as demonstrable success in leading clubs to continued relevancy and successfully managing evolving membership demographics.
• Fosters cordial and respectful relations with members, while at the same time ensuring that UYC rules are consistently applied by staff and followed by members and guests.
• Maintains exceptional member relations and delivers outstanding membership experiences and satisfaction by creating a quality environment through staffing, programming, operations, and maintenance. Drives creation of a membership experience that retains existing members and leads to new member growth.
• Proposes appropriate annual and longer-term financial objectives, including the capital budget plan, and manages operations to consistently achieve these goals. Is responsible for achieving operating and financial results consistent with board-approved goals and objectives.
• Verifiable strength in working closely with boards, committees, local municipalities, and other key stakeholders.
• Committed to making UYC a vibrant, member-driven club and promotes the development of a positive and respectful relationship between members and UYC staff.
• Helps in the development of the long-term strategy; stays abreast of industry trends and challenges and proposes annual objectives and plans that meet the needs of members, employees, and other stakeholders; ensures consistent and timely progress toward strategic objectives; with board guidance, allocates resources consistent with strategic objectives.
• Works closely through and with the Commodore, Flags Officers and Chairman of the Board to keep the Board of Directors fully informed on all important aspects of UYC operations. Is effective at taking the lead in pressing for actionable decisions. Facilitates the Board’s governance and committee structure. Implements Board policies and recommends policies for Board consideration.
• Positions UYC as a positive community citizen. Maintains a positive image with UYC and with the businesses, institutions, and other entities that support the work of the club.

EMPHASIZED KEY CHARACTERISTICS

• Outstanding communication skills are necessary for this role and to be successful at UYC. As the primary communicator of much of the information at the Club, proven outstanding verbal and written skills are absolutely critical, as is a keen ability to “listen,” “engage,” “build trust” and “be highly approachable.”
• Must have a nurturing, respectful, mentoring style of leadership with staff, carrying themself to a standard other staff want to emulate.
• A “hands on” leader who recognizes the balance between leading, doing and delegating.
• Must be a visionary and mission oriented; anticipating how the Club continues to evolve is important, as is being actively ‘networked’ in the industry to the point of being on the forefront of trends in clubs. He/She should be able to project and steer the club in the right directions for the benefit of the membership.
• A visible, sincerely engaged and hard-working leader that brings ideas to the table and can express those ideas thoughtfully and easily to team members, the Board, the Flags and the highly active Committees.
• Being strategic in focus and able to gain support and execute approved plans and directions, sometimes exhorting the Board to make actionable decisions, albeit it with a strong and natural ability to analyze and communicate the reasons behind recommendations.
• Recognizing the need for the continuation of an “employer of choice” approach to attracting, retaining, and developing staff at every level within the greater UYC organization.
• Innately understanding, empathetic, reliable, and relatable to members and staff at all levels.
• Possessive of a strong financial acumen for hospitality trends and metrics, and able to fully comprehend and explain P/Ls, balance sheets, cash flow and operating, capital and project management budgets.

INITIAL PRIORITIES OF THE GENERAL MANAGER

• Work diligently to develop the trust and confidence of key contributors by being thoughtful, candid, proactive, available, approachable and by listening and respectfully responding.
• In collaboration with the Flag officers, Committee Chairs, Board members and staff, ensuring that the overall financials, reports, and processes are in place and followed.
• Continuing employee engagement, primarily by being exceptionally proactive in engagement throughout the operation, learning names, spending time to know and understand the team members, learning the procedures and ebb and flow of business. The senior staff of the UYC are generally long tenured, well regarded and capable.
• Evaluate the overall member service experience and how it dovetails with employee performance, the accountabilities and responsibilities of key departmental leaders and furthering the plan for continuous improvement.
• Meet with key volunteeer leaders, observe, listen, and learn expectations.
• Review the overall F & B operation, its consistency of execution and overall standards for success.

Educational Requirements

• A Bachelor’s Degree from a four-year university or college, preferably in Hospitality Management is preferred.
• In lieu of the degree, substantial private club or hospitality experience will be fairly considered.
• From the club industry, Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation is desired, but not required. If without such designation, a commitment to on-going and lifelong learning and strong networking capabilities is critical. If outside of the traditional CMAA background, having verifiable professional development that clearly provides confidence in one’s ability to lead a club and hospitality operation like UYC.