GENERAL MANAGER

GENERAL MANAGER AT LAKE WARAMAUG COUNTRY CLUB

Lake Waramaug Country Club (LWCC) in New Preston, Connecticut, is offering an exceptional opportunity for a highly qualified and dynamic leader to serve as its next General Manager (GM). The ideal candidate will bring innovation, high energy, and strategic vision to the role, demonstrating the ability to lead with confidence and purpose while fostering a culture of excellence.

The successful candidate will be highly organized and decisive, capable of taking charge, setting clear expectations, and ensuring accountability across all staff responsibilities. They will be a change-oriented leader who inspires, empowers, and mentors their team, while exhibiting strong financial, operational, and technical acumen. Equally important, they will be service-oriented and member-centric, personable and approachable, able to build authentic relationships with members, staff, and the Board of Directors, and skilled at guiding the Board from an operational to a strategic focus.

The new GM will play a pivotal role in achieving operational goals across the club, with particular emphasis on the food and beverage department, by providing proactive leadership, comprehensive management, and meticulous attention to detail. Their success will depend on combining these skills with an intuitive and forward-thinking approach that aligns with the club’s mission and values.

Central to this role is the commitment to enhancing the overall member and guest experience. The desired candidate will have exceptional listening skills, the ability to build and lead cohesive teams, and the capacity to drive strong leadership across all departments. The GM must be highly visible, actively engaged with members and staff, and an active participant in club committees. Success will be rooted in clear communication, authentic approachability, and consistent accessibility.

Lake Waramaug Country Club, located in the scenic town of New Preston, Connecticut, offers a serene, family-oriented retreat with a rich history dating back to its founding in 1916. The club’s evolution reflects a deep commitment to community and tradition, making it a cherished destination for its members. Combining recreational opportunities, dining excellence, and a picturesque setting, Lake Waramaug Country Club provides an inviting environment for both relaxation and social engagement.

The club features a charming 9-hole regulation golf course that stretches 3,128 yards from the longest tees, with a par of 35. Designed to challenge players of all skill levels, the course includes a variety of holes, highlighted by the signature par-3 4th hole, which offers stunning views of Lake Waramaug. As a private, non-equity course, the club operates under an “Accompanied By Member” guest policy, ensuring an exclusive and intimate golfing experience.

For tennis enthusiasts, the club offers four meticulously maintained red clay courts along the western shore of the lake. The adjacent Tennis House serves as a hub for the tennis community, providing a space to relax, check upcoming activities, or have racquets restrung. The club supports a variety of programs for both juniors and adults, including instruction, competitive play, and social events tailored to all levels. The combination of scenic surroundings and comprehensive programming makes tennis at Lake Waramaug both enjoyable and engaging.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, the club’s private beach on the northern end of the lake offers members a tranquil spot for swimming, lounging, and social gatherings. The serene waters and natural surroundings make it an ideal location to unwind and enjoy the summer season.

The clubhouse, overlooking the lake and golf course, offers a warm and inviting dining experience under the direction of Chef Ed Brennan. Members can enjoy exceptional meals ranging from casual après-golf lunches to intimate dinners. The club also hosts special dining events and themed nights, providing a vibrant social calendar while fostering a strong sense of community.

Lake Waramaug Country Club also serves as a premier venue for private events. The beautifully renovated clubhouse, with its stunning lake views, accommodates weddings, corporate luncheons, birthday parties, and other celebrations. The staff is dedicated to ensuring every event is meticulously planned and executed, creating memorable experiences for all attendees.

Membership options are designed to accommodate a range of individuals and families, fostering a welcoming environment. Family Membership requires candidates to be at least 35 years old and proposed by two Equity Family Members in good standing, while Intermediate and Junior Memberships provide opportunities for younger adults and children of members to engage in club life.

LAKE WARAMAUG COUNTRY CLUB BY THE NUMBERS

• 280 memberships in all categories
• Gross Volume : $3.1M
• Annual Dues Volume : Approximately $1.9M
• Gross Payroll : Approximately $1.5M
• Approximately 10,000 Rounds of Golf annually
• 13 FTE Employees ǀ 53 Seasonal Employees
• Club POS & Payroll System : Clubessential
• Consistently and sincerely engage with Members, maintaining a highly visible presence among Members and staff, and ensuring that all amenities and events are thoughtfully planned and flawlessly executed.
• Provide inspiring and positive leadership, demonstrating honesty, integrity, and professionalism in every interaction with Members, guests, and staff, while consistently leading by example.
• Oversee the preparation, management, and control of annual operating and capital budgets, ensuring alignment with financial objectives and operational standards.
• Serve as a mentor, fostering the growth and development of managers, supervisors, and staff.
• Address and resolve Member and guest feedback, including service concerns, employee performance, and the maintenance and presentation of the Clubhouse and all amenity areas.
• Plan, implement, and oversee comprehensive training and professional development programs for managers and supervisors, instilling a collaborative, team-oriented culture.
• Build and sustain a positive work environment and strong esprit de corps throughout all operational areas.
• Act as the primary administrative and communication link between departments to ensure coordinated operations across the Club.
• Promote a culture of teamwork, high moral, ethical standards, and operational excellence, positioning the Club as an employer of choice in the community.
• Collaborate closely with the Board to develop and implement long-range strategic plans, annual business plans, operating reports, forecasts, and budgets.
• Monitor budgets continuously and take proactive corrective action to achieve established goals and metrics.
• Provide guidance to departmental leaders on budget planning, capital expenditures, fiscal controls, and operational best practices.
• Introduce and implement innovative technologies and creative solutions that enhance service delivery and Member satisfaction.
• Maintain open and timely communication with the Board regarding operational performance, opportunities, challenges, and strategic priorities.
• Exhibit meticulous attention to detail in all aspects of operational management.
• Regularly report departmental performance metrics and financial results to the Board, ensuring transparency and accountability across the Club.
• Responsible for oversight of capital projects to ensure successful execution.
• Utilize technical and digital skills to ensure the Club is up to date with current technology, optimizing operations, best using POS system.
• Observe, listen, ask questions, and learn the culture and heritage of Lake Waramaug Country Club, embracing its friendly atmosphere, strong sense of community, and warm environment for members, guests, and staff.
• Take up oversight of major capital projects and planning, ensuring they stay on time and on budget, obtain necessary town and regulatory approvals, lead membership buy-in, and act as the primary liaison with the construction team.
• Focus on increasing overall member satisfaction by ensuring greater consistency across all areas of club operations while maintaining current high satisfaction levels.
• Collaborate closely with the Board to develop and implement a proactive plan for consistent and fair enforcement of club rules.
• Streamline processes to deliver faster, more accurate, and up-to-date financial reporting, supporting timely decision-making and enabling the successful execution of planned capital projects, including the proposed tennis capital project.
• Begin building meaningful relationships with members and department heads, engaging with as many members as possible to build trust, schedule interactive opportunities, and follow up on details. Being consistently visible and front-facing, particularly during peak usage times, is essential.
• Partner with the food and beverage team to establish a solid operational foundation in both culinary and service execution, ensuring high service standards and consistent delivery to meet the membership’s expectations in this critical area.
• Spend time with staff across all operational areas to understand their strengths, capabilities, and aspirations, fostering the existing culture of mutual respect and collaboration in support of the Club’s mission.
• Strengthen relationships with the Board of Directors and Committees, developing clear, open communication channels between membership, staff, and governance.
• Evaluate and elevate the Club’s performance management systems to ensure goals, objectives, accountabilities, and responsibilities are relevant, measurable, and aligned with the Club’s strategic direction.

CANDIDATE QUALIFICATIONS

Ideally, 7 - 10 years of progressive leadership / management experience, preferably in a GM, COO, or Executive Director role in a lifestyle-centric, private member-owned country club with multi-dimensional operations, or leading hospitality operations outside of the club industry in a similar quality. True ‘rising stars’ from the club industry who have been verifiably well-mentored.

EDUCATIONAL AND CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY VERIFICATION

In compliance with federal law, all hired employees must verify their identity and eligibility to work in the United States and complete the required employment eligibility verification form upon hire.

SALARY AND BENEFITS

Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The club offers an excellent bonus and benefits package, including association membership. Salary Range : $170,000 - $180,000 (Base)

INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO APPLY

Please upload your resume and cover letter in the order listed using the link below. When prompted for them during the online application process, you should have your documents fully prepared to attach. Please be sure your image is not on your resume or cover letter; it should be used on your LinkedIn Profile.

Prepare a thoughtful cover letter addressed to the Lake Waramaug Country Club / Mr. Jason Klein, Search Chairman. Clearly articulate your alignment with this role, why you want to be considered for this position at this stage of your career, and why LWCC and the New Preston, CT area will benefit you, your family, your career, and the Club if selected.

You must apply for this role as soon as possible, but no later than Friday, November 7, 2025 . Candidate selections and first interviews will occur in November 2025, with the second interviews a short time later. The successful candidate should assume his / her role in January 2026 .

IMPORTANT : Save your resume and letter in the following manner :

“Last Name, First Name - Cover Letter – Lake Waramaug”

(These documents should be in Word or PDF format)

Note : Once you complete the application process for this search, you are not able to go back in and add additional documents.

Click here to upload your resume and cover letter.

If you have any questions, please email Alice Stevens : alice@kkandw.com

Search Executive : Michael G. Smith, CCM, CCE, ECM

Search Executive

O : (833) KKW-HIRE, ext. 719

M : (585) 794-6150

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