Cedar Cove Ranch
Sr. Hospitality & Guest Experience Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time
Location: Eustace, TX
Salary Range: $55,000 – $85,000 (Based on Experience and/or Lodging)
Position Summary
Cedar Cove Ranch is seeking a dynamic and highly organized Hospitality Manager to lead daily hospitality and food & beverage operations at our premier East Texas ranch destination.
This role is responsible for overseeing the full guest hospitality experience — including dining services, corporate retreats, ranch activities, and special events — while ensuring exceptional service standards across all guest touchpoints. The Hospitality Manager serves as a primary point of contact for guests throughout their stay, coordinating hospitality operations and ensuring seamless execution of dining experiences, activities, and events.
This position requires a hands-on leader with strong food and beverage expertise, including working with executive chef(s) on menu development, food costing, inventory control, and operational oversight. The ideal candidate combines strong hospitality leadership with the ability to deliver elevated guest experiences in a unique outdoor ranch setting.
Candidates without prior hospitality leadership experience in resorts, ranches, lodges, or similar guest-experience environments — and without strong F&B operational knowledge including menu costing — may not be the right fit for this position.
The successful candidate will demonstrate strong operational discipline, attention to detail, leadership ability, and a passion for creating memorable guest experiences.
Ideal Candidate Profile
The ideal candidate thrives in a hands-on hospitality environment where no two days are the same. This role is best suited for someone who enjoys leading a team, interacting with guests, and overseeing all aspects of the guest experience — from curated dining experiences and corporate retreats to hunting hospitality and ranch activities.
Success in this role requires someone who is operationally minded, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a dynamic lodge environment rather than a traditional hotel setting. The Hospitality Manager must be able to move seamlessly between guest interaction, team leadership, dining oversight, and event coordination while maintaining the highest standards of hospitality.
This is a leadership role rather than a shift-based position. The Hospitality Manager is expected to take ownership of the overall guest experience, ensuring hospitality and dining operations run smoothly while supporting the team and maintaining exceptional service standards.
This role is ideal for candidates with experience in boutique resorts, luxury lodges, ranch resorts, safari lodges, or experiential hospitality destinations.
Work Environment
Because Cedar Cove Ranch operates as a hospitality and retreat destination, the Hospitality Manager should expect a dynamic schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and peak activity during guest stays, retreats, and hunting seasons. This role requires a hands-on leader who is comfortable being present during key guest experiences and supporting the team when it matters most.
About Cedar Cove Ranch
Cedar Cove Ranch is a premier ranch destination located on 700 acres in East Texas, offering corporate retreats, sportsmen experiences, private events, and outdoor adventures. Our mission is to create personalized experiences that foster lifelong connections through exceptional hospitality, where nature, adventure, and refined service come together to create unforgettable memories.
Cedar Cove Ranch operates as a 35-room luxury ranch lodge and retreat destination, delivering highly curated guest experiences that combine exceptional dining, outdoor adventure, and personalized hospitality in a private East Texas setting.
Key Responsibilities
Hospitality & Food & Beverage Leadership
- Oversee the overall hospitality and food & beverage program for Cedar Cove Ranch, a 35-room luxury ranch lodge and retreat destination, ensuring exceptional service standards across accommodations, dining venues, retreats, and special events
- Provide operational leadership and oversight for the Executive Chef, F&B Manager, and culinary team, ensuring alignment with Cedar Cove Ranch hospitality standards, guest expectations, and operational goals
- Oversee the planning and execution of all ranch dining experiences including daily guest dining, corporate retreats, hunting groups, weddings, and private events
- Work closely with culinary leadership to ensure strong operational discipline around menu development, food costing, inventory management, and vendor relationships, while maintaining high-quality dining experiences
- Oversee operational readiness and ongoing management of the on-site ranch guest restaurant, ensuring the dining concept, service standards, staffing structure, and guest experience meet the ranch’s hospitality vision. The restaurant primarily serves ranch guests and retreat groups rather than the general public
- Oversee beverage and bar program development including wine, whiskey, cocktail, and specialty beverage offerings that complement the ranch’s hospitality experience
- Monitor hospitality and food & beverage performance metrics including guest satisfaction, service quality, operational efficiency, and cost controls
- Maintain exceptional standards across all guest-facing hospitality environments including lodges, dining venues, outdoor gathering areas, bars, and event spaces
Guest Experience & Signature Experiences
- Serve as a key leader responsible for ensuring every guest experience reflects Cedar Cove Ranch’s commitment to exceptional hospitality, personalization, and attention to detail
- Oversee the development and execution of signature ranch hospitality experiences, creating memorable moments for guests through curated programming such as:
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- Ranch Table outdoor dining experiences
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- Chef’s Table dinners
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- Whiskey and cigar evenings
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- Fireside gatherings and storytelling experiences
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- Wine pairings and tasting dinners
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- Seasonal culinary events and ranch-themed experiences
- Coordinate hospitality elements of corporate retreats, family retreats, hunting packages, and private events to ensure seamless guest experiences from arrival to departure
- Act as a senior guest-facing leader during retreats, special events, and high-touch guest experiences
Expanded Guest Amenities (Beginning Fall – New Lodge Opening)
- As the new lodge opens in Fall, oversee and manage additional guest amenities including the Pro Shop, Spa experiences, and Whiskey & Cigar lounge, ensuring these offerings operate at the same high hospitality standards as the rest of the ranch
- Lead the development of service standards, staffing plans, guest programming, and operational procedures for these new guest amenities
- Ensure these experiences are thoughtfully integrated into corporate retreats, hunting packages, and guest stays to enhance the overall ranch experience
Cross-Team Collaboration
- Collaborate closely with the Guest Services Manager, who focuses on administrative coordination including reservations, guest communications, and retreat logistics, while providing leadership and direction to ensure operational hospitality standards are executed at the highest level.
- Work closely with the Hunting Operations team to ensure exceptional hospitality for hunting guests, including coordination of dining schedules, guest logistics, and overall hunting retreat experiences
- Collaborate with the Grounds and Ranch Operations teams to ensure outdoor guest areas, event spaces, and ranch facilities are maintained to high standards for retreats and special events
- Coordinate with housekeeping, maintenance, and guest services teams to ensure a seamless guest experience across all areas of the ranch
- Work under the leadership of the Operations Manager, collaborating with department leaders to maintain consistent hospitality standards across the property
Staff Leadership & Operational Oversight
- Provide leadership, mentoring, and support to hospitality, service, and guest experience team members
- Assist in recruiting, training, and developing hospitality staff to ensure consistent service standards and a strong team culture
- Develop and maintain hospitality SOPs and service standards across dining, retreats, guest amenities, and special experiences
- Lead team meetings and coordinate with department leaders to ensure strong communication and operational alignment
- Support continuous improvement of hospitality programs as Cedar Cove Ranch continues to grow as a premier ranch retreat destination
Core Competencies
- Strong leadership and team development skills with the ability to lead cross-functional hospitality teams
- Advanced knowledge of food & beverage operations, including menu planning oversight, food costing, inventory control, and vendor management
- Exceptional guest service leadership with the ability to resolve issues professionally and maintain high hospitality standards
- Experience overseeing hospitality operations in retreat, lodge, resort, or experiential environments
- Ability to develop and execute curated guest experiences and hospitality programming
- Strong organizational, operational planning, and time management skills
- Excellent written and verbal communication abilities with guests, staff, and vendors
- Ability to collaborate effectively across departments including hospitality, culinary, hunting operations, and ranch operations
- Proficiency with hospitality management tools and systems including Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, scheduling systems, and hospitality software
- Strong problem-solving, decision-making, and operational leadership abilities
- Ability to thrive in a dynamic hospitality environment with evolving guest needs and retreat schedules
- Physical ability to participate in outdoor ranch activities and move throughout the property as needed
Education & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, Business Administration, Culinary Arts, or related field(preferred)
- Minimum3–5 years of hospitality leadership experience with demonstrated responsibility overseeing food & beverage or guest service operations
- Proven experience working with culinary leadership teams on menu development, food costing, inventory management, and vendor coordination(required)
- Experience in boutique resorts, lodges, ranch resorts, retreat destinations, or experiential hospitality environments strongly preferred
- Experience overseeing restaurants, retreat dining programs, or guest dining operations is strongly preferred
- ServSafe certification required or ability to obtain
- First Aid / CPR certification preferred
- Experience in outdoor recreation, ranch environments, retreats, or hunting lodge operations is a plus
Other Requirements
- Ability to travel approximately 10–15% for industry events, conventions, or business meetings
- Participation in occasional leadership meetings in McKinney, TX (approximately once per month)
- Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays during retreats, hunting seasons, and peak guest periods
- Valid driver’s license and clean driving record required
- Ability to be present and engaged during key guest experiences, retreats, and special events to ensure exceptional hospitality delivery
Success in This Role Looks Like
Within the first 6–12 months, the Hospitality Manager will have successfully:
- Established strong leadership and operational alignment across hospitality, culinary, guest services, hunting operations, and ranch teams
- Implemented consistent hospitality service standards and operating procedures across dining, retreats, and guest experiences
- Built a strong working relationship with the Executive Chef, F&B leadership, and Guest Services Manager to ensure seamless coordination between guest planning and on-site hospitality delivery
- Successfully supported the opening and operation of the on-site guest restaurant, ensuring the dining experience reflects Cedar Cove Ranch’s hospitality vision
- Helped launch and manage new guest amenities associated with the new lodge, including the Pro Shop, spa experiences, and the whiskey & cigar lounge
- Developed and executed memorable signature ranch experiences such as Ranch Table dinners, curated tastings, fireside gatherings, and special guest programming
- Ensured hospitality operations run smoothly during corporate retreats, hunting groups, and special events, maintaining exceptional guest satisfaction
- Built and mentored a strong hospitality team that consistently delivers the high-touch guest experience Cedar Cove Ranch is known for.
Benefits
- Health insurance
- Performance-based bonuses
- Paid time off
- Professional development opportunities
- Potential on-site housing
Why Join Cedar Cove Ranch
Cedar Cove Ranch offers a unique opportunity to be part of a rapidly growing luxury ranch destination where hospitality, adventure, and nature come together to create exceptional guest experiences.
As Hospitality Manager, you will play a critical role in shaping the guest experience and helping elevate the ranch’s reputation as a premier destination for corporate retreats, sportsmen, and private events.
If you are passionate about hospitality, food and beverage excellence, and creating memorable experiences in a unique outdoor environment, we would love to hear from you.
TO APPLY:
Please email your resume and a cover letter outlining your hospitality leadership experience and F&B management background.
Email
[email protected]
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