General Manager

Whalar$140K — $165K *
Hospitality & Recreation
5 - 7 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 7-10+ years of leadership experience in complex, multi-functional business environments.
  • Genuine curiosity about creators, emerging technology, and the creator economy.
  • Experience in hospitality, media, or customer-centric industries.
  • Proven track record in managing performance: revenue, profitability, and financial planning.
  • Experience in leading senior leaders and developing high-performing teams.
  • Strong commercial acumen balancing creativity with business performance.
  • Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills.

Responsibilities

  • Lead strategy, operations, and performance of the campus.
  • Drive revenue growth and financial performance through budgeting and forecasting.
  • Grow and retain creator membership while enhancing the campus experience.
  • Maximize performance of studios, events, and revenue-generating offerings.
  • Build partnerships and identify commercial opportunities to strengthen the business.
  • Develop and coach a high-performing cross-functional leadership team.
  • Create operational excellence by improving systems and member experience.
  • Stay connected to the creator economy and evolve campus experiences accordingly.

Benefits

  • Medical, Dental, Vision insurance
  • Paid Time Off (PTO) and Sick Time
  • Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA)
  • Company Paid Life and Disability Insurance
  • 401(k) with Employer Matching and no vesting period
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • Voluntary life insurance and critical illness insurance.
Full Job Description
Job Title: General Manager

Location: Venice Beach, CA

Department: Operations

About the role:

The Lighthouse wasn't built simply to house creators-it was built to help them thrive.

As the GM Campus Leader, you'll be the steward of that experience.

You'll shape the culture, energy, and community that creators walk into every day, ensuring every interaction, event, space, and team member contributes to an environment where creativity flourishes.

This isn't a traditional General Manager role. It's a unique leadership opportunity at the intersection of creator experience, hospitality, operations, events, studios, community, and commercial growth. You'll lead far more than a building-you'll lead one of the most exciting creative communities in the world.

You don't need to be a creator yourself, but you should be endlessly curious about the people, platforms, and ideas shaping what's next. You'll stay connected to the creator landscape, build authentic relationships throughout the community, and continually evolve The Lighthouse to meet creators where they're going-not just where they are today.

Success in this role isn't measured only by revenue or occupancy. It's measured by whether creators genuinely feel that The Lighthouse is the best place in the world to build their careers.
Here's what you'll do day-to-day:
  • Lead the overall strategy, operations, and performance of the campus.
  • Drive revenue growth, profitability, and financial performance through effective budgeting, forecasting, and commercial decision-making.
  • Grow and retain a thriving creator membership while continually elevating the campus experience.
  • Maximize the performance of studios, events, meeting spaces, hospitality, and other revenue-generating offerings.
  • Build meaningful partnerships and identify new commercial opportunities that strengthen the business.
  • Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing cross-functional leadership team.
  • Create operational excellence by continuously improving systems, processes, and the overall member experience.
  • Stay closely connected to the creator economy, identifying emerging trends and evolving the campus experience to meet the needs of the next generation of creators.
Here's what we're looking for:
  • 7-10+ years of leadership experience running complex, multi-functional businesses.
  • A genuine curiosity about creators, emerging technology, media, and the future of the creator economy.
  • Experience within hospitality, media, experiential, membership, creator businesses, or similarly customer-centric industries.
  • A proven track record of owning business performance, including revenue, profitability, operations, and financial planning.
  • Experience leading senior leaders and building high-performing teams.
  • Strong commercial acumen with the ability to balance creativity, hospitality, and business performance.
  • Exceptional communication, coaching, and relationship-building skills.
  • Comfort operating in fast-paced, evolving environments where continuous improvement is expected.
What Leadership Looks Like To Us:
  • Think like owners and make decisions with the long-term success of the business in mind.
  • Build leaders, not dependency, by coaching others to grow and succeed.
  • Lead with presence, optimism, accountability, and integrity.
  • Balance hospitality with high standards and clear expectations.
  • Bring energy, urgency, and calm confidence to every challenge.
  • See complexity as an opportunity to innovate and continuously improve.
  • Foster an inclusive culture where creators and team members feel welcomed, supported, and inspired.
  • Are endlessly curious about creators, culture, technology, and what's next, and are excited to build something meaningful.

The salary range for this role is $140,000 - $165,000 and serves as a general guideline for the potential compensation. The final salary offer will be determined based on a comprehensive evaluation of factors such as the candidate's experience, expertise, alignment with the position's requirements, and, ultimately, budget approvals.
The Perks:

The Lighthouse provides flexible benefits and collaborative work environments and experiences so employees can work productively in a setting that best and uniquely suits their needs:
  • Medical, Dental, Vision
  • PTO + Sick Time
  • HSA, FSA, and Commuter + Parking Benefits
  • Company Paid Life & Disability Insurance
  • Voluntary Life Insurance Policy
  • Voluntary Hospital and Critical Illness Insurance
  • Employee Assistance Program
  • 401k with Employer Matching. No Vesting Period.

About Whalar

Whalar is a marketing services company that connects brands with social media influencers. The company uses a proprietary platform to match brands with influencers who have a large following on social media. Whalar also provides creative services to help brands develop content that resonates with their target audience. The company was founded in 2016 and is headquartered in London, England.
Learn more about Whalar
Size
50 employees
Industry
Founded
2016

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