COTALAND Operations Manager

Description

Circuit of The Americas (COTA) is a 365-entertainment destination for world-class events located in Austin, TX. The sports and entertainment portfolio at COTA is unmatched in the country with Formula 1 US Grand Prix, NASCAR and MotoGP attracting global fans during championship races on the famed Circuit and Live Nation producing over 30 headline concerts every year at the Germania Insurance Amphitheater. COTALAND is an amusement park with over 30 attractions and experiences, including first-of-their-kind roller coasters.

 The Operations Manager is responsible for the overall performance of the Park Operations Division within their assigned operational area, including Ride Operations, Park Services, and Guest Relations (Admissions, Front Gate, Ticketing, and Guest Services). This position is responsible for delivering a safe, clean, efficient, and guest-focused operation while ensuring compliance with all operating procedures, safety standards, and company policies. 

Requirements

The Operations Manager provides leadership for Supervisors, Team Leads, and frontline Team Members, overseeing daily operations, staffing, training, labor management, and operational readiness. This role requires previous leadership experience in an amusement park, theme park, water park, or similar attractions environment and a strong understanding of ride operations, guest flow, safety, and high-volume park operations. 

This position is expected to maintain a visible presence throughout the park, leading from the field, coaching leaders, supporting frontline operations, and responding to guest concerns and operational challenges throughout each operating day. 

Essential Functions 

• Lead the daily operation of Ride Operations, Park Services, and Guest Relations within the assigned operational area.  
• Ensure compliance with all ride operating procedures, ASTM standards, OSHA regulations, manufacturer requirements, and company safety policies.  
• Establish operational direction, service standards, and departmental priorities while ensuring consistency across all shifts.  
• Directly supervise, coach, and develop Assistant Managers, Supervisors, Team Leads, and frontline Team Members.  
• Monitor ride capacity, dispatch efficiency, queue management, guest flow, cleanliness, and operational performance throughout the park.  
• Partner with Maintenance to minimize ride downtime and ensure attractions are returned to operation safely and efficiently.  
• Respond to ride interruptions, guest incidents, weather events, evacuations, and other operational emergencies while ensuring appropriate documentation and follow-up.  
• Develop staffing plans and deployment strategies to support attendance levels, seasonal fluctuations, and special events.  
• Own departmental labor budgets, operational expenses, and financial performance for assigned operational areas.  
• Approve hiring recommendations, performance management actions, and termination recommendations in partnership with Human Resources.  
• Develop and maintain department operating procedures, training programs, and service standards while ensuring consistent execution.  
• Conduct routine operational audits to ensure compliance with safety standards, ride operations, guest service expectations, and park cleanliness.  
• Partner with Safety, Maintenance, Human Resources, Security, Entertainment, Food & Beverage, Retail, and other departments to ensure seamless park operations.  
• Participate in park-wide operational planning, seasonal readiness, capital improvement projects, and special event execution.  
• Resolve escalated guest concerns and operational issues involving significant guest impact, liability, or operational disruption.  
• Foster a culture focused on Safety, Hospitality, Efficiency, Accountability, and Teamwork.  

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities 

• Extensive knowledge of amusement parks, theme parks, or water park operations.  
• Strong understanding of ride operations, admissions, guest services, park services, and guest flow management.  
• Knowledge of ASTM ride safety standards, OSHA regulations, operational risk management, and emergency response procedures.  
• Demonstrated ability to lead through other leaders while building accountability and developing high-performing teams.  
• Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, labor forecasting, payroll management, and operational reporting.  
• Ability to analyze operational performance and make data-driven decisions that improve efficiency and guest satisfaction.  
• Excellent communication, coaching, conflict resolution, and leadership skills.  
• Ability to think strategically while remaining actively engaged in daily operations.  
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel and Word.  
• Comfortable working outdoors for extended periods in varying weather conditions, including Texas summer heat.  

Required Qualifications 

• High school diploma or equivalent required.  
• Minimum five (5) years of progressive leadership experience in an amusement park, theme park, water park, family entertainment center, or similar attractions environment.  
• Minimum two (2) years of management experience leading multiple operational departments or functional areas.  
• Demonstrated experience managing Ride Operations, Park Services, Guest Relations, Admissions, or similar operational functions.  
• Experience leading large seasonal workforces in a high-volume guest environment.  
• Strong understanding of operational safety, guest experience, labor management, and frontline leadership.  
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and peak operating periods.  
• Ability to stand, walk, and work outdoors for extended periods.  
• Ability to lift up to 25 pounds.  

Preferred Qualifications 

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Recreation Management, or a related field.  
• Previous leadership experience overseeing Ride Operations, Park Services, Admissions, Ticketing, or Guest Services within an amusement park or water park.  
• Experience opening a new park, attraction, or major expansion.  
• Experience developing operational SOPs, training programs, and emergency response procedures.  
• Experience with workforce management software, scheduling systems, and operational analytics.  
• CPR/AED and First Aid Certification (or ability to obtain).  
• Bilingual (English/Spanish).  

Work Schedule and Conditions 

This position is based on-site at COTALAND Theme Park at Circuit of The Americas in Austin, Texas, and requires flexibility for evenings, weekends, holidays, rehearsals, installs, park openings, special events, and seasonal peak operating periods. 

Salary is commensurate with experience. 

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of this position.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY:

COTA strongly supports equal employment opportunity for all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, age, marital status, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by state and federal law.