The RoleLead Forward Deployed Operator is the senior-most execution role on our strike team. You're the person we point at our highest-stakes operational problems. You architect end-to-end solutions, deploy into unfamiliar territory without a playbook, and leave behind systems that prevent the next fire. You mentor junior FDOs, triage the strike queue, and own outcomes - not tasks.
This role reports directly to the Founder and operates with high autonomy.
What You'll Do- Get deployed to the highest-priority operational problem in the business, regardless of department
- Architect multi-system workflows that eliminate manual work and reduce error rates
- Build, ship, and iterate on AI-augmented operational systems (automations, agent pipelines, internal tools)
- Triage incoming strike requests and sequence them by business impact
- Mentor Forward Deployed Associates and Operators on execution speed, build quality, and ownership mindset
- Context-switch between ops, tech, guest experience, and finance without ramp-up time
- Document every system you build so the next person can run it without you
What You'll Own (Outcomes & KPIs)Founder-approved outcomes:
- Deployment velocity - time from strike assignment to shipped v1 solution
- System durability - % of built systems still running without intervention after 90 days
- Leverage multiplier - hours of manual work eliminated per system deployed
- Mentorship output - junior FDOs promoted or independently deploying within 6 months
Who You Are (Builder Traits)- AI fluency - you use AI tools daily to build, not just to chat. You've shipped automations using Zapier, n8n, Make, Cursor, or equivalent.
- Ownership reflex - you see a problem and fix it before anyone assigns it to you.
- Speed of execution - you ship v1 in days, not weeks. You know when good enough beats perfect.
- Build portfolio - you can show us real systems you've built that real people use.
- Cross-functional fluency - you're as comfortable in a P&L review as you are in a workflow builder.
- Leadership under ambiguity - you don't need a playbook. You write the playbook.
Must-Haves- 3+ years building operational systems, automations, or internal tools in a fast-moving environment
- Demonstrated build portfolio (show us what you've shipped, not what you've managed)
- Proficiency with at least 2 of: Zapier, n8n, Make, Cursor, Python, low-code/no-code platforms
- Track record of autonomous execution - you've been the person who gets pointed at problems, not the person who delegates them
- Comfortable with radical transparency, direct feedback, and a founder-led operating model
Nice-to-Haves- Hospitality, resort, or guest-experience operations background
- Experience with AI agent frameworks (LangChain, CrewAI, AutoGen, etc.)
- Prior startup or founder's-office experience
Comp & Benefits- Base: $95,000-$120,000
- OTE: $136,000-$171,000
- Performance variable: 30% of OTE, tied to Founder-approved KPIs
- Health stipend: $400/mo
- Profit-pool participation: Yes - tiered by build output, not tenure
- Location: Hybrid (on-site deployment periods as needed in Whitwell, TN)
