Director, OPEX Transformation

Company: Entertainment Places
Location: Orlando
Posted on: May 18, 2025

Job Description:

Director, OPEX Transformation page is loadedDirector, OPEX TransformationApply locations SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment Corporate - Orlando, FL time type Full time posted on Posted 2 Days Ago job requisition id JR123003SeaWorld is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. Were also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals to join our team.United Parks & Resorts Inc. (NYSE: PRKS) is a leading theme park and entertainment company with a world-class portfolio of seven brands across 13 parks in the United States and Abu Dhabi. The Company's award-winning portfolio of iconic brands includes SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Discovery Cove, Sesame Place, Water Country USA, Adventure Island, and Aquatica.Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. We're also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals to join our team.We are seeking a highly motivated and driven Director of Transformation with a strong focus on Business Optimization and Operational Expense (OPEX) management. This role is ideal for a finance professional with a background in consulting or a similar field, who is eager to take on a leadership position and make a significant impact on optimizing financial performance across our business.As Director of OPEX Transformation, you will lead the identification, development, and execution of initiatives to optimize our OPEX cost at our parks, which includes all materials and services used by our fleet of theme parks in their daily operations.
You will be working closely with cross-functional teams across our theme park network and in Corporate to provide strategic financial insights that drive efficiency and cost optimization initiatives. You will have the opportunity to lead change management initiatives, contribute to high-impact decision-making, and shape the financial direction of the organization.Key responsibilities

• OPEX Optimization & Strategy:
  • Leverage your analytical background to lead cross-functional teams and third-party resources (as needed) in driving process improvements and operational efficiencies that directly impact OPEX.
  • Lead the development and execution of strategies to optimize operational expenses across the organization, focusing on cost efficiency, scalability, and resource utilization.
  • Facilitate workshops, brainstorming sessions, and collaborative projects aimed at continuous improvement in business processes and financial performance.
  • Collaborate with senior leadership and department heads to identify cost-saving opportunities and implement initiatives that drive financial performance improvement.
  • Continuously assess and refine the organization's OPEX model to ensure alignment with business objectives and operational goals.
  • Impact Assessment and Reporting:
    • Develop robust financial models to assess the financial impact of potential operational changes and optimization efforts.
    • Ensure that the impact of the initiatives is properly incorporated in the budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting processes related to OPEX.
    • Track operational expenses across the parks on a weekly basis to ensure that they are managed efficiently and within budget.
    • Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of OPEX optimization projects, ensuring that they deliver the desired financial and operational outcomes.
    • Develop and maintain dashboards, reports, and financial summaries to track OPEX performance and provide regular updates to senior leadership.
    • Provide in-depth analysis of key performance indicators (KPIs) related to operational expenses and efficiency, supporting the continuous improvement of business operations.
    • Support FP&A team in providing detailed financial analysis of OPEX trends, variances, and cost drivers, delivering actionable insights to key stakeholders.
    • Stakeholder Engagement & Leadership:
      • Assist in preparing presentations and reports for the executive team, offering financial insights and recommendations for ongoing optimization efforts.
      • Champion OPEX transformation initiatives, guiding the business through process and cost optimization changes.
      • Partner with business leaders to communicate OPEX insights, present optimization opportunities, and support data-driven decision-making.
      • Lead and mentor a cross-functional team (which may include third party resources at times), providing guidance on implementation of the initiatives.
      • Collaborate with functional leaders (e.g., Operations, HR, IT) to ensure that OPEX strategies are aligned with broader organizational goals and are being executed effectively.
      • Continuous Learning & Professional Development:
        • Stay up to date with industry trends, financial technologies, and best practices related to business optimization and OPEX management.
        • Participate in professional development opportunities, training, and certifications to further develop your expertise in finance and business optimization.Qualifications & Skills:
          • Education:
            • A Bachelor's degree in Finance, Accounting, Economics, Business, or a related field is required.
            • An MBA or relevant certifications (e.g., CFA, CPA) are highly preferred but not required.
            • Experience:
              • 3-5 years of experience in finance, transformation offices, process optimization, or consulting, with a focus on OPEX management and financial analysis.
              • Prior consulting experience is highly preferred, especially in roles focused on financial analysis, cost optimization, and business process improvement.
              • Experience with financial modeling, forecasting, and variance analysis.
              • Skills:
                • Strong proficiency in financial and variance analysis.
                • Advanced Excel skills (e.g., financial modeling, data analysis) and familiarity with business intelligence tools (e.g., Power BI, Tableau) is a plus.
                • Exceptional communication skills with the ability to present financial data and recommendations clearly to both financial and non-financial stakeholders, including senior leaders and Board of Directors.
                • Strong problem-solving abilities, with a strategic mindset and the ability to drive operational efficiency improvements.
                • Proven leadership and team management experience, with the ability to mentor and guide a high-performing team in a cross-functional setting.
                • Highly motivated, self-driven, and capable of managing multiple projects in a fast-paced environment.Personal Attributes:
                  • Highly motivated and results-driven with a strong work ethic.
                  • Strong business acumen and ability to think strategically about financial decisions.
                  • Ability to work collaboratively across teams and departments.
                  • Strong attention to detail and the ability to analyze complex financial data.
                  • A proactive approach to driving improvements and achieving organizational goals.The perks of the position:
                    • Paid Floating Holidays
                    • Paid Time Off
                    • Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes
                    • Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise
                    • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
                    • 401K Retirement plan
                    • Voluntary Insurance
                    • Life Insurance
                    • Disability Benefits
                    • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
                    • Employee Assistance Program
                    • Legal Assistance PlanEEO Employer: SEA WORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY, OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.The perks of the position:
                      • Paid Time Off
                      • Complimentary Park Tickets and Passes
                      • Park Discounts on Food and Merchandise
                      • Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
                      • 401K Retirement plan
                      • Voluntary Insurance
                      • Life Insurance
                      • Disability Benefits
                      • Tuition Reimbursement
                      • Dependent and Health Care Flexible Spending Accounts
                      • Employee Assistance Program
                      • Legal Assistance PlanEEO Employer:SEAWORLD PARKS & ENTERTAINMENT IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER. ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE CONSIDERED WITHOUT REGARD TO AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, SEXUAL ORIENTATION, PREGNANCY, GENDER IDENTITY OR EXPRESSION, DISABILITY OR COVERED VETERAN STATUS.About United Parks & ResortsUnited Parks & Resorts is a world-renowned leader in the themed-park and entertainment industry. Our success is built on a passion for caring for animals and a dedication to delivering positive, memorable experiences to people from around the world. We're also committed to helping ambitious people achieve their professional best. We're always seeking exceptionally skilled and knowledgeable individuals for a variety of roles throughout our organization.
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Keywords: Entertainment Places, Egypt Lake-Leto , Director, OPEX Transformation, Executive , Orlando, Florida