General Manager, The River Club

The River Club | New York, New York

General Manager About the Club

Founded in 1931, The River Club is one of New York City’s most distinguished private family clubs, located in Midtown Manhattan at the base of the iconic River House overlooking the East River. Established as a premier sporting and social club, The River Club has welcomed generations of prominent New York families, including the Astors, Roosevelts, and Vanderbilts.

Nearly a century later, The River Club remains a unique destination for families seeking exceptional athletic, dining, and social experiences in the heart of Manhattan. The Club combines elegant surroundings, personalized service, and a rich sporting tradition with a welcoming, family-oriented atmosphere.

Members enjoy an impressive range of amenities, including indoor tennis and squash courts, golf simulators, an indoor saltwater pool, and a recently renovated fitness center. The Club’s junior athletic programs serve more than 100 children, while its dining venues and private event spaces accommodate everything from intimate gatherings to elegant celebrations for up to 300 guests.

The Club also offers 19 beautifully appointed overnight guest rooms, providing members and their guests with convenient accommodation and personalized hospitality. In 2018, The River Club completed a $25 million renovation of its building and many of its athletic and social spaces, reinforcing its commitment to preserving its heritage while enhancing the member experience.

The Club at a Glance

• Total Gross Revenue: Approximately $15.3M

• Annual Dues Revenue: $8.03M

• Food & Beverage Revenue: $1.84M

• Private Events: 54% of F&B revenue

• Total Memberships: 864

• Average Member Age: 56

• Year-Round Employees: 75

• Clubhouse: 75,000 square feet

• Overnight Accommodations: 19 rooms

• Two indoor Har-Tru tennis courts

• Three squash courts, including an interactive court

• Seasonal outdoor platform tennis court

• Two TrackMan golf simulators with putting area

• Indoor saltwater lap pool

• 3,000-square-foot fitness center

• Children’s camp and after-school athletic programming

• Main Dining Room, Bar, and Pool Arcade

• The Garden and multiple private dining and event spaces

• Outdoor dining and event patio

About the Position

The General Manager reports to the Club President and Board of Governors and oversees the Club’s overall leadership, management, and daily operations. This highly visible executive will uphold the Club’s distinguished traditions while delivering exceptional service, operational excellence, and premier member experience across all departments.

The successful candidate will be an accomplished private club leader with a strong hospitality background, financial expertise, and a genuine appreciation for The River Club’s unique culture. Working closely with the Board and senior management team, the General Manager will strengthen service standards, develop talent, oversee financial performance, and guide strategic and capital planning initiatives.

A key priority will be fostering a culture of personalized, anticipatory service while enhancing member engagement through exceptional dining, athletic, and social programming. The General Manager will also strengthen internal systems, communication, and operational efficiencies while preserving the Club’s historic character and longstanding relationships.

What You’ll Do

• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all Club departments, including food and beverage, athletics, overnight accommodation, facilities, finance, membership services, and administration.

• Preserve The River Club’s history, traditions, and family-oriented culture while identifying thoughtful opportunities to enhance the member experience.

• Establish and maintain exceptional service standards, emphasizing personalized hospitality, member recognition, and anticipatory service.

• Maintain a highly visible and approachable presence throughout the Club, building meaningful relationships with members, guests, employees, and the Board.

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing management team while promoting accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.

• Oversee food and beverage operations, ensuring outstanding dining experiences, innovative programming, and consistent quality.

• Develop and manage annual operating and capital budgets, financial forecasts, internal controls, and performance reporting.

• Partner with the Board of Governors and committees to establish strategic priorities, strengthen governance practices, and implement long-range plans.

• Oversee facility maintenance, capital improvements, and preservation of the Club’s historic physical plant.

• Strengthen recruitment, employee retention, training, and labor relations, including maintaining productive relationships with local unions.

• Enhance member communications, marketing initiatives, and technology systems to improve engagement, convenience, and operational efficiency.

• Develop and maintain excellent relations with the River House tenants

• Be an Ambassador of the Club in the New York City community and beyond

• Continue strong relationships with the Local Unions

• Develop compelling athletic, social, and family programming that encourages member participation and reinforces the Club’s distinctive identity.

What You’ll Bring

• Education & Credentials: A Bachelor’s Degree in business administration, Hospitality Management, or a related field is preferred. Professional certifications such as CCM, CCE, or CHA are highly desirable.

• Experience: A minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible management experience in high-end private clubs, ideally including General Manager experience at a distinguished city club or comparable private club.

• Hospitality Leadership: A demonstrated ability to deliver exceptional member experiences, strengthen service standards, and develop successful dining, athletic, and social programming.

• Financial Management: Strong expertise in operating and capital budgets, forecasting, financial controls, performance reporting, and strategic financial planning.

• Team Development: A proven record of recruiting, mentoring, motivating, and retaining high-performing, service-oriented management teams and employees.

• Labor Relations: Experience working with organized labor and maintaining productive relationships with unions while fostering a positive workplace culture.

• Strategic Planning: Experience guiding organizational improvements, capital projects, facility maintenance, and long-term planning in a complex hospitality environment.

• Technology: Proficiency with club management systems and the ability to leverage technology to improve operational efficiency, communications, and member convenience.

• Governance & Communication: Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with experience working effectively with a Board of Governors, committees, members, and staff.

• Leadership Style: A confident, polished, personable, and highly visible leader who values tradition, exercises sound judgment, and brings energy, creativity, and professionalism to every aspect of Club operations.

Apply for This Position

Interested candidates should complete the online candidate profile form and submit a compelling cover letter and resume for consideration to DENEHY Club Thinking Partners at http://denehyctp.com/apply-for-a-position/. If you have questions or would like to recommend a candidate, please contact Karen Alexander at 203.319.8228 or by email at karen@denehyctp.com.