Head of Operations – China

Company Description

Minor Hotels is an international hotel owner, operator and investor with a portfolio of more than 560 hotels in operation. Minor Hotels passionately explores new possibilities in hospitality with a diverse portfolio of properties designed intelligently to appeal to different kinds of travellers, serving new passions as well as personal needs. Through our Anantara, Avani, Oaks, Elewana, Tivoli, NH Hotel Group and Minor International properties, across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Europe and South America.

Job Description

The Head of Operations – China is a senior executive responsible for leading the operational management, performance optimization, and strategic growth of Minor Hotels’ joint venture business in China. This role combines hands-on execution with visionary leadership, ensuring excellence across a diverse portfolio of properties while driving alignment with corporate objectives and joint venture resolutions.

The Head of Operations serves as the operational face of Minor Hotels within the joint venture, acting as a key liaison to owners, board members, and local stakeholders. The role demands strong commercial acumen, deep understanding of the Chinese hospitality market, and the ability to manage across functions, brands, and ownership structures.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic & Operational Leadership

• Lead and manage all business operations in China in line with board-approved strategies and resolutions.
• Develop and execute annual operating plans and capital investment strategies for the region.
• Translate the corporate vision into actionable operational goals, KPIs, and property-level initiatives.
• Design and oversee an effective organizational structure, governance model, and internal policies/SOPs.
• Champion innovation, digital integration, and sustainability across the operational landscape.

Performance Management & Standards

• Drive financial and operational performance across all China properties, including GOP, RevPAR, and guest satisfaction targets.
• Ensure adherence to Minor Hotels’ brand standards and service quality benchmarks.
• Conduct regular property visits to monitor operational readiness and compliance.
• Oversee budgeting processes, cost controls, and capital expenditure approvals.
• Uphold rigorous health, hygiene, and safety protocols in line with local regulations and brand policies.

Business Development & Expansion

• Collaborate with development and JV teams to evaluate new project opportunities and market expansion strategies.
• Support property onboarding and pre-opening processes to ensure timely, on-brand launches.
• Partner with commercial leaders to tailor sales, marketing, revenue, and digital strategies to local market needs.
• Analyze white space opportunities and reposition underperforming assets where appropriate.

Stakeholder & Owner Relations

• Act as the primary operational liaison with joint venture partners, hotel owners, and the JV Board.
• Maintain high levels of engagement and trust with ownership groups, ensuring transparency and responsiveness.
• Provide strategic counsel on performance improvement, brand alignment, and conflict resolution.
• Engage proactively with local authorities and government agencies to ensure regulatory compliance and build goodwill.

People & Culture

• Recruit, develop, and lead senior operational talent across China, including GMs and support office teams (excluding board-appointed roles).
• Build a high-performance culture grounded in Minor’s values—integrity, accountability, innovation, and guest obsession.
• Drive succession planning, talent development, and capability building across the organization.
• Promote inclusivity and cultural adaptability, balancing corporate expectations with local talent dynamics.

Qualifications

• Minimum 15 years’ experience in hospitality operations, with at least 5 years in a senior multi-property leadership role in China or Greater China.
• Proven track record of managing diverse hotel portfolios with multiple brands and ownership structures.
• Demonstrated success in leading hotel openings, turnarounds, and commercial repositioning.
• Experience in joint venture or partnership governance models is highly preferred.
• Mandarin proficiency strongly preferred; fluency in English required.

Additional Information

Required Competencies

Leadership & Business Acumen

• Strategic thinker with the ability to convert vision into results.
• Deep commercial understanding, including pricing, distribution, brand positioning, and owner ROI expectations.
• Strong financial literacy and capability to drive and interpret performance metrics.

Stakeholder Management

• Politically and culturally astute, with proven ability to manage complex stakeholder landscapes.
• Confident communicator and negotiator with strong executive presence.

Operational Expertise

• Holistic understanding of hotel operations across Rooms, F&B, Engineering, Finance, HR, and Sales.
• Familiar with Chinese labor practices, consumer behavior, and digital ecosystems.
• Passionate about service excellence, operational innovation, and sustainable practices.

Core Attributes

• Results-driven with a high level of ownership and accountability.
• Collaborative and empowering leadership style.
• High personal integrity and professionalism.

Reporting Line & Key Relationships

• Reports To: SVP Operations – Asia (direct), JV Board (functional)
• Direct Reports: Hotel General Managers, regional operations, and support teams in China (excluding board-appointed roles)
• Key Relationships: Commercial, Finance, HR, Technical Services, Development, JV partners, local authorities