Director of Operations in Seekonk, Massachusetts at The Darling Group

The Director of Operations is a senior park leader responsible for the safe, efficient, and profitable operation of Seekonk Grand Prix. This role provides leadership over Ride Operations, Security, Park Services, Risk Management, and operational safety programs while providing direct oversight of the Maintenance Department.

The Director of Operations ensures all attractions, facilities, and operational systems are maintained and operated in accordance with company standards, manufacturer requirements, and applicable regulations. This position is responsible for operational readiness, risk mitigation, regulatory compliance, team leadership, and continuous improvement initiatives that support guest satisfaction and business performance.

The position serves as the primary operational leader for safety, incident management, risk management, and attraction availability while partnering closely with executive leadership to achieve company goals.

Core Responsibilities

A) Operations Leadership & Park Readiness

• Direct daily park operations including ride operations, security, park services, and attraction readiness.
• Ensure all rides, attractions, facilities, queue lines, pathways, and guest areas meet company standards.
• Lead daily operational planning, staffing deployment, and park readiness reviews.
• Coordinate responses to ride downtime, weather events, emergencies, and operational disruptions.
• Maintain attraction availability and operational efficiency while ensuring safety remains the top priority.

B) Ride Operations & Safety

• Oversee ride operations for all attractions including go-karts, roller coaster, drop tower, bumper cars, ropes course, and future attractions.
• Ensure ride operators and supervisors are properly trained, certified, and compliant with all operating procedures.
• Conduct operational audits and safety reviews to verify compliance with company standards and state regulations.
• Coordinate closely with Maintenance to maximize ride uptime while maintaining safe operating conditions.
• Support all state inspections, third-party inspections, and internal compliance audits.

C) Risk Management & Compliance

• Lead the park's overall Risk Management program.
• Conduct incident investigations and root-cause analyses.
• Monitor operational risks and implement mitigation strategies.
• Oversee workers' compensation, guest injury reporting, insurance claims coordination, and corrective action programs.
• Ensure compliance with Massachusetts amusement ride regulations, OSHA standards, company SOPs, and other applicable requirements.
• Manage regulatory inspections and maintain audit-ready records.
• Ensure contractor and vendor safety compliance while working on property.

D) Leadership & Team Development

• Recruit, develop, coach, and evaluate operational leaders.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability standards.
• Ensure departments are appropriately staffed and trained throughout the operating season.
• Drive a culture of professionalism, safety, accountability, and operational excellence.
• Support succession planning and leadership development initiatives.

E) Maintenance Department Oversight

The Director of Maintenance/LMT maintains ownership of day-to-day maintenance execution. The Director of Operations provides leadership oversight and accountability to ensure the Maintenance Plan is executed effectively.

Responsibilities include:

• Direct supervision of the Director of Maintenance/LMT.
• Review maintenance performance, staffing, ride readiness, work order completion, and downtime trends.
• Monitor preventive maintenance execution and inspection compliance.
• Ensure maintenance documentation and compliance records remain current and audit-ready.
• Support capital projects, offseason initiatives, and long-term infrastructure planning.
• Escalate operational or safety concerns requiring executive attention.

F) Strategic Planning & Continuous Improvement

• Support annual operating plans, staffing models, budgets, and seasonal readiness initiatives.
• Monitor key operational performance indicators and implement improvement strategies.
• Identify opportunities to improve safety, efficiency, attraction availability, labor utilization, and overall park performance.
• Partner with executive leadership on expansion projects, new attractions, and operational enhancements.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Safety & Risk Management
• Incident frequency and severity
• Workers' compensation trends
• Regulatory compliance performance
• Audit and inspection outcomes
• Operational Performance
• Attraction uptime
• On-time openings
• Downtime reduction
• Labor efficiency
• Leadership & Team Performance
• Employee retention
• Training completion
• Leadership development
• Accountability metrics
• Facility & Maintenance Performance
• Preventive maintenance completion rates
• Ride readiness scores
• Work order completion
• Inspection compliance

Direct Reports

• Ride Operations Leadership
• Security Leadership
• Park Services Leadership
• Director of Maintenance

Cross-Functional Partnerships Works closely with Guest Services, Food & Beverage, Admissions, Arcade Operations, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, and Ownership.

Pay Range: $70-$75k