Chief of Staff – Hospitality

Recruiting Partner: Emily Lauro

Nashville, Tennessee | Food & Beverage & Lodging | Not Remote | $125,000 to $140,000 | Job ID: 161515

Job Summary

To Apply for this Job Click Here

We are a mission-driven hospitality group in Nashville known for cultivating community through elevated experiences and thoughtful dining concepts. We are seeking a Chief of Staff to work alongside ownership and senior leadership to drive operational excellence, build a culture-first team, and help shape the future of our growing brand.

About the Role

The Chief of Staff will serve as a strategic partner to the Owner and Managing Partners overseeing multi-unit performance, aligning department goals, and ensuring strong collaboration across all functions. This is a critical leadership role for someone with deep hospitality experience, a sharp financial mindset, and a strong commitment to people-first management.


Key Responsibilities

  • Team Leadership & Culture
    • Champion an inclusive, collaborative, and accountable work culture.
    • Provide guidance to General Managers and department heads, promoting professional development and high-performance standards.
  • Operational & Financial Management
    • Oversee budgeting, P&L optimization, and monthly financial reviews.
    • Identify cost-saving opportunities and improve operational efficiencies across units.
    • Maintain service excellence and brand standards at every location.
  • HR & Compliance Oversight
    • Ensure full compliance with labor laws and company policies.
    • Support hiring, training, and retention strategies in partnership with HR.
  • Strategic Vendor & External Partner Management
    • Negotiate vendor contracts and cultivate strong supplier relationships.
    • Coordinate with outsourced partners (e.g., CPAs, consultants) to ensure business continuity and financial integrity.
  • Process & Systems Development
    • Design and implement SOPs that promote sustainability, efficiency, and scalability.
    • Leverage tools and data to improve decision-making and operations.

Ideal Candidate Profile

  • Background as a Director of Operations, Chief of Staff, or similar multi-unit hospitality leader
  • Strong financial and analytical acumen, with a deep understanding of restaurant P&Ls
  • Proven track record of managing high-performing teams with a coaching leadership style
  • Experience working in fast-paced, culture-first organizations
  • Passion for hospitality with a strong guest service orientation
  • Familiarity with health-conscious and sustainability-driven food concepts
  • Professional integrity and a commitment to transparency
  • Keeps up with industry thought leaders (e.g., HQ, Eater, Michelin, James Beard)

Compensation & Perks

  • $125,000–$140,000 base salary
  • Bonus potential
  • Health, dental, and vision insurance
  • PTO and paid holidays
  • Opportunities for long-term growth and impact within a visionary hospitality group

Apply now to help shape the future of Nashville’s hospitality scene. This is your opportunity to lead with purpose and be a cornerstone of a team that values people, service, and sustainability.

At Goodwin Recruiting, we are committed to our core values and providing world class customer service. We are committed to helping our clients navigate and comply with the complex and ever-changing labor laws as well as help ensure that in every hiring decision, internally and with our client partners, that all viable candidates are considered, and the most qualified candidate is offered the role. We evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that meet the requirements of the position and aim to open doors and change lives. We value all people, understanding that uniqueness and diversity foster a stronger team that is innovative and brings varying perspectives to the table. We put our money where our mouth is and are proud of our efforts to identify a broad slate of candidates, with many hiring success stories to share.

 

JOB ID: 161515

#post

Emily Lauro

To Apply for this Job Click Here

Share This Job

Share This Job

Additional Information

At Goodwin Recruiting we are committed to our core values. We take our value, Dedicated to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, very seriously and will never discriminate against a candidate or client based on any protected classes. Our clients seek qualified candidates, and that is what we deliver. A person’s age, gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status, or arrest or conviction record has no bearing on whether he, she, or they are able to do the job. We evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that meet the requirements of the position and aim to open doors and change lives. We value all people, understanding that uniqueness and diversity foster a stronger team that is innovative and brings varying perspectives to the table. We put our money where our mouth is and are proud of our efforts to identify a broad slate of candidates, with many hiring success stories to share.

Emily Lauro

Senior Recruiting Partner & Training Coach

CFO for a QSR Restaurant Group

Orlando, Florida
Food & Beverage & Lodging
$140,000 to $190,000

Executive Chef

Richmond, Virginia
Food & Beverage & Lodging
$90,000 to $120,000

Venue Director / General Manager

Raleigh, North Carolina
Food & Beverage & Lodging
$100,000 to $120,000

Spa General Manager

Grapevine, Texas
Food & Beverage & Lodging
$80,000 to $85,000

Additional Information

At Goodwin Recruiting, our clients seek qualified candidates, and that is what we deliver. A person’s age, gender, race, color, marital or family status, national origin, disability, religion, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity has no bearing on whether they are able to do the job. We evaluate the knowledge, skills, and abilities that meet the requirements of the position and aim to open doors and change lives. We work hard to identify a broad slate of candidates for each of our clients, with many hiring success stories to share.

Emily Lauro

Senior Recruiting Partner & Training Coach