Job Description
Description General Manager – Hotel Oceana Santa Monica #1 Hotel in Los Angeles, as voted by Travel + Leisure
This is not just a hotel job. This is an opportunity to lead one of the most celebrated luxury properties in Los Angeles.
Hotel Oceana Santa Monica, a stunning oceanfront, all-suite hotel, reopened in July 2019 following a $35 million transformation. Recognized as the #1 Hotel in LA by Travel + Leisure, Oceana offers an unmatched guest experience, and now we’re looking for a hands-on, passionate, high-touch General Manager to lead our team into its next chapter of excellence.
The Role As General Manager, you’ll be the heartbeat of the property—leading by example and ensuring every corner of the hotel reflects the refined, boutique luxury our guests expect. You’ll be most focused on the Rooms Division—including valet, bell, front desk, housekeeping, and engineering/maintenance—where you will be relentless about detail, consistency, and five-star polish.
You won’t just manage the experience—you’ll be the experience. Greeting guests with genuine warmth. Ensuring every room looks brand new. Walking dinner service because you want to connect with every guest. Solving problems before they’re even noticed. You’ll be the face of Hotel Oceana—approachable, poised, and sincerely passionate about exceptional hospitality.
Who You Are - A luxury hotel leader through and through, with a strong Rooms Division background (this is non-negotiable).
- A minimum of 3 years as General Manager (or #2 like Director of Operations, Hotel Manager, or Rooms Division Director) in a 4-star or 5-star hotel or resort—5-star preferred.
- Ideally local to the area and familiar with the luxury guest profile of Santa Monica and the broader LA market.
- Known for being hands-on, not hands-off. This is not an office job. You’re on the floor, in the rooms, walking the halls, and interacting with guests daily.
- Committed to operational excellence and cost-effective leadership, with a strong grasp of labor productivity, team accountability, and brand standards.
- A people person at heart—high-touch, high-energy, emotionally intelligent, and someone guests remember by name.
- Someone who understands this is a privately owned hotel: Family-managed, tightly run, and full of pride. You’ll need to operate independently and wear many hats. There is no large executive team here.
What You’ll Lead - Housekeeping & Rooms Perfection – Your #1 priority. You’ll hold the highest standards for every room, every day. It should always feel like the first guest is about to walk in.
- Guest Experience & Front-of-House – From valet to check-in to turn-down, you’ll ensure guests feel personally cared for and genuinely welcomed.
- Facilities & Engineering – Nothing gets overlooked, from lighting to landscaping. You know the difference between good and unforgettable is in the details.
- Leadership & Culture – You’ll develop, support, and inspire a tight-knit, passionate team that shows up for each other and our guests every day.
- Financial Stewardship – You’ll drive performance, control labor costs, and make thoughtful decisions that protect the hotel’s integrity and profitability.
What Else You Should Know - You’ll work a full-time hospitality schedule, including weekends and holidays, as dictated by the operation’s needs.
- Familiarity with Hilton systems (OnQ, R&I, GRO, etc.) is strongly preferred.
- We offer a comprehensive benefits package including medical, dental, vision, basic life insurance, a 401(k) with auto-enrollment after 60 days, 80 hours of vacation in the first year, 72 hours of paid sick time, and holiday pay (eligibility rules apply).
- Our grooming and appearance standards reflect the elevated tone of our property: no visible tattoos while in uniform, no unnatural hair colors, no facial piercings (other than one pair of earrings), and neatly groomed facial hair.
Final Word This role is for someone who doesn’t just want to work in luxury hospitality —
but lives for it. If you love being on the floor, solving problems, raising standards, delighting guests, and building a team that’s just as obsessed with the guest journey as you are — this is your stage.
Apply today. Then check your phone and email regularly — we’ll be reaching out to schedule interviews with qualified candidates soon. Hotel Oceana Santa Monica is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We will consider all qualified applicants, including those with criminal histories, consistent with applicable laws including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
Qualifications Required Skills and Abilities - Treats all guests with the highest level of concern and care; demonstrates a natural disposition towards personal and public safety; operates from a place of integrity, honesty, and ethics.
- Has broad knowledge of local restaurants, nightlife, museums, current events, and attractions. Must be able to provide accurate and precise directions.
- Able and willing to maintain regular attendance and punctuality to ensure all essential duties are fulfilled.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills with the ability to write and speak clearly.
- Treats everyone with respect and dignity, accepts responsibility and takes ownership of tasks, follows through on commitments, takes initiative and maintains confidentiality.
- Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and strong time management skills with a proven ability to meet goals and deadlines.
- Understanding of, and compliance with, hotel policies and regulations and communicating these clearly to the staff
- Ability to function well in a fast-paced, high-volume environment.
Education and Experience - A bachelor’s degree in Hotel Management, Hospitality, Tourism, or other related areas of study, or equivalent work experience in the hospitality industry.
- A minimum of three years of prior experience in a luxury hotel environment as a concierge, front desk, or guest service is required, as well as at least five years of supervisory experience in hotel guest services or reservations management.
- Previous Hilton software experience (OnQ, R&I, GRO, etc.) required
Physical Requirements - Expected work hours: Full-time on a schedule defined by operational needs
- Travel: Occasionally, you may need to drive a personal vehicle for business.
- Work environment and physical demands:
- Able to frequently lift or move items weighing up to 10 pounds; occasionally needs to lift or move items weighing up to 50 pounds.
- Able to use hands to use and manipulate tools and objects or control equipment; adequate vision to do the same safely.
- Able to move about the property to perform assigned tasks and responsibilities, including standing for extended periods, walking, climbing stairs, stooping, kneeling, crouching, or crawling to perform functions.
- FLSA Status: Exempt
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.
Hotel Oceana Santa Monica is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
We will consider all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, for employment in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.
Job Tags
Holiday work, Full time, Work experience placement, Local area,