Title: Vice President, Premium Experience
Philadelphia, PA, US, 19103
VP Premium Experience
Aramark Sports + Entertainment seeks an exceptional premium hospitality leader to serve as Vice President, Premium Experience. This newly created role will elevate service execution standards across our national portfolio of premium dining and hospitality operations. The ideal candidate brings distinguished credentials from four- and five-star hotel or fine dining environments, combining impeccable service expertise with the gravitas and polish to represent our Aura brand to discerning clients and guests.
This is not a traditional operations role—this is a transformational leadership position for someone who understands that where a knife is placed matters, that service and clearing protocols create lasting impressions, and that premium hospitality is an art form requiring both technical mastery and refined intuition- I’d remove this part.
Job Responsibilities
SERVICE EXCELLENCE & STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
- Establish and implement comprehensive service standards and protocols for premium operations across all Aramark S+E venues
- Define and document proper service techniques including table settings, wine service, course timing, clearing protocols, and guest interaction standards
- Create service playbooks and training materials that translate fine dining principles to the sports and entertainment environment
- Conduct site assessments and service audits to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement
- Develop service recovery protocols and guest experience escalation procedures
STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP
- Collaborate with culinary, design, and operations leaders to ensure holistic premium experiences
- Provide front-of-house perspective in new venue development and renovation projects
- Identify service trends, innovations, and best practices from luxury hospitality industry
- Develop metrics and KPIs to measure service quality and guest satisfaction
- Scale service excellence across the portfolio while respecting individual venue character
TRAINING & TEAM DEVELOPMENT
- Design and deliver virtual and in-person training programs for front-of-house staff, general managers, and district managers
- Partner with the Culinary Institute of America to enhance Aura's existing training curriculum with advanced service techniques
- Mentor venue leadership on premium service execution, even when their background is in high-volume concessions
- Build a culture of hospitality excellence where details matter and service is a source of pride
- Develop certification programs to ensure consistent service delivery across venues
BRAND REPRESENTATION & CLIENT ENGAGEMENT
- Serve as the face of Aramark's premium service capabilities in client presentations, venue tours, and high-stakes meetings
- Provide polished, confident representation of Aura brand standards to ownership groups, corporate clients, and VIP guests
- Support business development efforts with credibility and gravitas that reflects four- and five-star service pedigree
- Act as the "maître d" of our portfolio—someone clients trust implicitly with their most important events and spaces
- Build relationships with premium venue stakeholders and demonstrate service excellence firsthand
Qualifications
EXPERIENCE & EXPERTISE
- Minimum 10+ years in premium hospitality environments including four- or five-star hotels (luxury brands such as Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Bellagio, Peninsula, Mandarin Oriental, St. Regis), fine dining restaurants (Michelin-starred or equivalent high-end establishments), and/or premium private clubs or luxury resort properties.
- Extensive hands-on experience in front-of-house service execution and management.
- Proven track record training and developing service teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
- Deep knowledge of proper service techniques, wine service, table etiquette, and hospitality protocols.
- Experience with high-profile clientele and VIP guest services.
LEADERSHIP & BUSINESS ACUMEN
- Strategic mindset with ability to establish standards and scale best practices across multiple locations.
- Strong presentation and communication skills suitable for C-suite and ownership interactions.
- Ability to influence and inspire teams at all levels of the organization.
- Experience implementing change management in complex organizations.
- Business development and client relationship management experience strongly preferred.
PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES
- Polished, poised, and professional presence that commands respect and inspires confidence.
- Genuine passion for hospitality and service excellence.
- Meticulous attention to detail with understanding that small touches create memorable experiences.
- Ability to balance high standards with practical application in sports and entertainment environments.
- Collaborative leadership style with ability to work across culinary, operations, and design functions.
- Credible seller and brand ambassador who can authentically represent premium service capabilities.
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management or related field.
- Experience with catering and event management for large-scale operations.
- Familiarity with sports, entertainment, or convention center environments
- Multi-unit or multi-property leadership experience.
- Experience working with luxury brands or high-profile partnerships.
POSITION DETAILS
- Salary Range: Competitive, commensurate with experience.
- Location: Remote with up to 60% travel to venue locations.
- Reports To: President, Aramark Sports + Entertainment.
WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS
Aramark Sports + Entertainment operates premium hospitality at some of the most iconic venues in North America. You will have the opportunity to set the standard for premium service in the sports and entertainment industry—not by copying what already exists, but by establishing new benchmarks that reflect the Aura brand promise. This is a greenfield opportunity to build something transformational with immediate impact and visibility across the enterprise.
We need fresh perspective, uncompromising standards, and someone who understands that premium service is not just about what you do—it's about how you make people feel.
About Aramark
Our Mission
Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.
At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.
About Aramark
The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing - a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work - our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Nearest Major Market: Philadelphia