Operations Specialist, New Development

Position Overview:
Experience Senior Living is looking for an experienced New Development Operations Specialist to provide operational leadership and support for new senior living communities from pre-opening planning through opening and stabilization. This role is ideal for a candidate who has previously served as an Executive Director and brings a deep understanding of senior living operations, financial management, sales, team development, and regulatory compliance.
The New Development Operations Specialist will partner closely with community leadership and corporate teams to ensure new communities are operationally prepared for successful openings. This individual will provide hands-on support with operational readiness, team onboarding and training, systems and process implementation, regulatory preparation, resident move-ins, and post-opening stabilization. The role will serve as a key resource to newly hired Executive Directors and community leadership teams as they establish strong operating practices and build the culture of each new community.
Travel: This position will support new developments across the Experience Senior Living portfolio. Extensive travel is required and may include extended periods on-site before, during, and following community openings.
Key Responsibilities:
New Community Operational Readiness: Support the operational planning and execution of new community openings, ensuring teams, systems, processes, policies, vendors, and resources are in place and ready for day-one operations.
Pre-Opening Support: Partner with corporate and community leadership to develop and execute pre-opening plans, timelines, readiness assessments, and operational checklists leading up to community launch.
Opening & Stabilization Support: Provide hands-on, on-site leadership during community openings and the initial stabilization period, helping teams navigate resident move-ins, staffing needs, workflows, service delivery, and other operational priorities.
Executive Director Support & Development: Partner closely with newly hired Executive Directors throughout the pre-opening and stabilization process, providing coaching, guidance, and operational support to prepare them to successfully lead their communities.
Team Onboarding & Training: Support the onboarding and training of new community leadership teams, reinforcing Experience Senior Living's operating standards, culture, systems, policies, and expectations.
Operational Excellence: Establish and reinforce effective community operating practices across staffing, financial management, sales and occupancy, resident experience, team engagement, and day-to-day operations.
Systems & Process Implementation: Support the implementation and adoption of company systems, policies, procedures, and operational processes within newly developed communities.
Regulatory & Compliance Readiness: Partner with community and corporate teams to prepare for licensing, inspections, and regulatory requirements and ensure operations align with state and federal regulations, company policies, and industry best practices.
Performance Monitoring: Assess community performance following opening, identify operational gaps or emerging needs, and develop action plans to support successful stabilization and long-term performance.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work closely with Operations, Sales, Health & Wellness, Culinary, People, Development, and other corporate partners to coordinate new community readiness and ensure alignment across functional areas.
Continuous Improvement: Capture lessons learned from each community opening and recommend improvements to new development processes, tools, training, and operational standards for future communities.
Requirements
Proven leadership experience as an Executive Director in a senior living environment; experience with assisted living, memory care, and independent living required.
Experience supporting new senior living community openings, pre-opening operations, community stabilization, or significant operational transitions strongly preferred.
Strong understanding of senior living operations, regulations, financial management, sales and occupancy, staffing, and operational best practices.
Demonstrated experience coaching, training, and mentoring Executive Directors and community leadership teams.
Ability to manage multiple priorities, timelines, and workstreams in a fast-paced new development environment.
Strong organizational, problem-solving, communication, and decision-making skills.
Ability to build effective partnerships across community, regional, and corporate teams.
Ability to travel extensively and remain on-site at new communities for extended periods before, during, and following openings.
Passion for senior living and a commitment to creating exceptional experiences for residents, families, and team members.
Benefits
We offer a full benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, life and voluntary life, 401k with employer matching, paid holidays, and up to 20 days PTO in the first three years.
Application Deadline: We anticipate reviewing applications through November 27th, 2026.
Compensation: $125,000 - $140,000 annual salary, 30% annual bonus target

Work arrangement
No