General Manager / Chief Operating Officer, St Ives Country Club

About St Ives Country Club Johns Creek, GA | For more than 34 years, St Ives Country Club has established itself as one of North Metro Atlanta’s premier private clubs, providing an exceptional lifestyle experience centered around golf, tennis, aquatics, dining, and family-oriented social activities. At the heart of St Ives is a culture that is difficult to replicate: warm, welcoming, friendly, and genuinely member-focused. Members consider St Ives more than a country club. It is a place where families gather, friendships flourish, and generations create lasting memories. Perched atop one of the highest points in North Fulton County, the club’s 45,000-square-foot clubhouse serves as the centerpiece of the property. The clubhouse features multiple dining venues, private dining rooms, a ballroom, meeting and event spaces, men’s and mixed grilles, board and meeting rooms, and comprehensive locker room facilities. Its distinctive English manor-inspired architecture and elegant appointments create an atmosphere that combines tradition, warmth, and sophistication. St Ives offers an outstanding platform for continued growth and excellence, with a strong membership, exceptional amenities, an attractive market, and a deep commitment to delivering an outstanding club experience. MEMBERSHIP St Ives offers four membership categories, including Full Privilege Golf, Young Executive Golf, Social, and Pool/Clubhouse memberships. The club currently has strong demand across its membership categories and maintains waitlists in all categories except Full Privilege Golf when the initiation fee is paid in full. This demand reflects the strength of the St Ives brand, the quality of its amenities, and the desirability of its Johns Creek location. The Golf Experience Renowned architect Tom Fazio designed the club’s 18-hole golf course, widely regarded as one of the finest courses in the Johns Creek area. At 7,003 yards from the championship tees, the course provides a compelling challenge while remaining highly enjoyable and accessible for the broader membership. Broad fairways, thoughtful design, significant elevation changes, and natural topography create an engaging experience for golfers of all abilities. Originally constructed in 1988, the course has been meticulously maintained and strategically renovated over the years. Significant improvements include a comprehensive drainage and irrigation renovation and expansion of the teeing areas in 2009, followed by the successful transition from Bentgrass to MiniVerde ultradwarf Bermudagrass greens in 2013. The golf complex also features a two-tiered driving range, putting green, practice bunker, and a visually impressive setting immediately adjacent to the clubhouse and outdoor dining areas. TENNIS, PICKLEBALL & AQUATICS St Ives has developed an exceptional racquet sports program with more than 600 active tennis players. The facility includes 10 hard courts, six clay courts, four pickleball courts, state-of-the-art lighting, indoor and outdoor gathering areas, spectator pavilions, a fire pit, and a full-service pro shop. The program offers a broad range of recreational and competitive opportunities for adults and juniors, including social events, club tournaments, charity and professional events, and ALTA and USTA league play. The program has produced numerous champions and has represented the club extensively at city and state finals. The St Ives pool is another signature family amenity, featuring a full-size waterslide, zero-entry splash park, adult-only lounge, Aqua Café & Bar, children’s playground, covered pavilion, towel service, and a resort-style pool environment. Seasonal social programming and family events further enhance the member experience. Dining & Social Experience Dining is an important part of the St Ives experience, offering members a variety of casual and formal options throughout the club. The Ascott Room provides an elevated formal dining experience featuring seasonally inspired cuisine and exceptional views of the North Georgia landscape. The adjacent Main Bar offers full bar service, seasonal cocktails, and a comfortable social environment. The Turnberry Grille and Patio provides a more casual setting for lunch, dinner, and social gatherings, with indoor and outdoor seating overlooking the club’s golf practice facilities. Together, these venues provide an opportunity to serve members across a broad range of occasions, from everyday dining and family gatherings to private events, business meetings, and major celebrations. CLUB DETAILS Facility: Member-Owned Course Access: Private Number of Holes: 18 Total Annual Rounds: 32,000 Initiation Fee: $40,000 Annual Dues: $10,320 Dues Volume: $4.5M Food & Beverage Volume: $4.4M Total Revenue: $11.7M Members: 807 Primary Golf Season: Year-Round Caddie Program: No Practice Range: Yes Short Game Area: Yes Number of Staff Managed: 125 Position Overview Title: General Manager / Chief Operating Officer Reports to: President and Board of Directors Supervises: All Staff Position Description: The General Manager / Chief Operating Officer serves as the chief executive of St Ives Country Club and reports directly to the President and Board of Directors. The GM/COO will have broad responsibility for the club’s operational, financial, strategic, and cultural performance. This individual will lead a talented professional team while ensuring that every aspect of the club reflects St Ives’ commitment to exceptional member service, operational excellence, financial discipline, and long-term sustainability. The successful candidate will be both a strategic leader and an engaged operator—someone who can work effectively with the Board while staying highly visible and connected to members, employees, and the club’s day-to-day operations. This is an opportunity for an accomplished club executive to lead a highly regarded private club with exceptional amenities, strong membership demand, and significant opportunity for continued growth and improvement. THE OPPORTUNITY AHEAD St Ives Country Club offers its next General Manager / Chief Operating Officer an exceptional platform: a highly regarded club, engaged membership, outstanding amenities, a strong market, and an established culture of hospitality. The next GM/COO will have the opportunity to build upon that foundation while leading the club into its next chapter of growth and excellence. The successful candidate will be a strategic thinker, exceptional communicator, visible leader, financial steward, and passionate advocate for the member experience. Most importantly, this individual will understand that the General Manager’s ultimate responsibility is not simply to operate the club, but to lead its people, strengthen its culture, serve its membership, and protect and enhance the club for generations to come. Essential Job Functions Strategic Leadership & Governance Partner with the President and Board of Directors to establish and execute the club’s strategic vision and long-range plan.Lead implementation of the club’s master facility plan and capital improvement strategy.Serve as a trusted advisor to the Board and standing committees, providing insight, recommendations, and professional management expertise.Establish and maintain clear governance protocols and ensure effective communication between the Board, management team, employees, and membership.Balance the immediate needs of the membership with the long-term strategic interests of the club. Financial Leadership & Business Performance Develop and manage an annual operating budget exceeding $12 million, along with capital reserve and expenditure plans.Establish clear financial goals and performance expectations across all departments.Monitor key financial and operating metrics and take timely corrective action when necessary.Maintain strong financial controls, risk management practices, legal compliance, and insurance programs.Identify opportunities to increase revenue, improve operating efficiency, and strengthen the club’s long-term financial position. Member Experience & Club Culture Champion a culture in which exceptional member service is embedded in every aspect of the club.Establish clear service standards and accountability throughout the organization.Maintain a highly visible presence throughout the club and its amenities, particularly during peak periods and major events.Develop strong relationships with members and proactively understand their expectations, priorities, and concerns.Ensure that communications with members are timely, professional, transparent, and consistent with the club’s brand.Protect and strengthen the culture that makes St Ives distinctive within the Atlanta private club market. Executive Leadership & Team Development Lead, mentor, and hold accountable the club’s executive leadership team, including the Head Golf Professional, Golf Course Superintendent, Executive Chef, Director of Food & Beverage, Chief Financial Officer, Membership Director, Tennis Director, and Facilities Director.Create a culture of teamwork, accountability, professional development, and continuous improvement.Establish clear performance expectations and meaningful development plans for the leadership team.Oversee human resources strategy, including recruiting, onboarding, training, performance management, employee engagement, and safety.Attract, develop, and retain high-performing professionals who are aligned with the club’s values and service standards. Food & Beverage & Facilities Provide strategic leadership for all food and beverage operations, including formal dining, casual dining, social spaces, pool operations, and private events.Ensure a consistently exceptional culinary and service experience while maintaining appropriate financial controls.Oversee the stewardship, maintenance, and enhancement of the clubhouse, golf course, practice facilities, athletic amenities, infrastructure, and other physical assets.Work closely with department leaders to establish appropriate capital priorities and ensure projects are delivered effectively, on time, and within budget. Experience And Qualifications Including, but not limited to, the following: 7–10+ years of progressive leadership experience within premier private clubs, preferably as a General Manager, Chief Operating Officer, or senior-level Assistant General Manager.Experience leading a club with comparable membership, amenities, financial complexity, and operational scale.Demonstrated success managing multiple departments and developing high-performing leadership teams.A track record of successfully leading capital projects, improving operations, strengthening member engagement, and delivering financial results. Leadership Exceptional interpersonal and relationship-building skills.High emotional intelligence and the ability to build trust with members, employees, Board members, and club committees.A visible, approachable, and service-oriented leadership style.The ability to make difficult decisions while maintaining strong relationships.The confidence and executive presence to lead effectively in a sophisticated private-club environment. Business Acumen Strong understanding of private club financial management and operational performance.Demonstrated ability to manage complex budgets, capital expenditures, and financial objectives.Strategic thinker who can translate vision into measurable action.Strong understanding of food and beverage, golf, racquet sports, aquatics, facilities, membership, and overall club operations. Education & Credentials Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, or a related discipline preferred.Certified Club Manager (CCM) designation and active CMAA membership strongly preferred.Strong proficiency with private club management and accounting systems. Compensation And Benefits The club will provide a compensation and benefits package commensurate with experience and qualifications. This includes but is not limited to: Salary is open and commensurate with qualifications and experience. The club offers an excellent bonus and benefits package.Comprehensive health, dental, and vision benefits401(k) plan with club contribution/matchCMAA national and chapter membershipProfessional development and World Conference supportRelocation assistance, if applicable APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS All applications MUST be submitted through the PGA of America’s Career Services Department as described below. Resume deadline is September 25th, 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Time Combine your cover letter, resume, references, and any supporting documents into one (1) PDF document with the following file naming convention: Last Name, First Name, General Manager / Chief Operating Officer, St Ives Country Club, Please address all correspondence to – Mr. Bob Clark | Club President | St Ives Country Club Jim West, PGA, and Doug Wert, PGA are leading this search. Please contact them with any questions. Email: jwest@pgahq.com dwert@pgahq.com The employer does not wish to be contacted at this time