General Manager

Chicago, IL

Full Time

Experienced

ABOUT

General Manager, WNDR Chicago

Location: Chicago, IL, On-Site

Reports to: Director of Operations, WNDR Global

Salary: BOE and Bonus Eligible

Own the Experience. Lead the Team. Drive the Business.

WNDR isn’t just a museum. It’s an ever-evolving experience where art, technology, and imagination come together to inspire curiosity and creativity. Our flagship location in Chicago welcomes hundreds of thousands of guests every year, and we’re looking for a General Manager who will take full ownership of its success.

This is more than running a venue. It’s about leading a team, shaping unforgettable experiences, and driving a business that blends art, hospitality, and innovation. The right person is hands-on, strategic, and thrives in a fast-paced, guest-first environment. If you’ve ever wanted to own the full operation of an immersive experience, this is your opportunity.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Own the Business

Oversee the entire operation of WNDR Chicago, including daily museum functions, lounge, and retail.
Manage profit and loss (P&L) with full accountability for revenue, expenses, and financial performance.
Develop strategies to increase attendance, grow revenue streams, and optimize operations without compromising the guest experience.
Monitor key metrics and report performance insights to WNDR Global leadership.
Partner with senior leadership on long-term strategies and new initiatives.

Lead the Team

Recruit, train, and lead a high-performing team that delivers exceptional hospitality and operational excellence.
Cultivate a collaborative and inclusive culture where creativity, accountability, and guest focus thrive.
Identify top performers and provide development opportunities to help them grow.
Address performance challenges head-on with coaching and clear expectations.
Work side-by-side with the team—this is not a desk job.

Deliver an Unforgettable Guest Experience

Set the standard for world-class hospitality, ensuring every guest interaction is seamless and memorable.
Be present on the floor, engaging with guests, solving problems, and leading by example.
Oversee the execution of events, installations, and special programming to ensure everything runs smoothly.
Handle escalations with professionalism, finding solutions that enhance guest satisfaction while protecting the business.
Use guest feedback and data to continually refine and improve the experience.

Run an Efficient Operation

Oversee staffing, payroll, scheduling, inventory, and purchasing to keep things running efficiently.
Ensure all employees comply with labor laws, policies, and procedures.
Manage vendor relationships, including cleaning services, security, and third-party contractors.
Lead new exhibit installations and operational upgrades, working cross-functionally with internal teams and external partners.
Ensure the venue is safe, clean, and always show-ready.

Build Something Bigger

Be the face of WNDR Chicago. Build and maintain relationships with sponsors, vendors, local organizations, and community partners to expand the museum’s reach and impact.
Identify and develop strategic partnerships that enhance WNDR’s visibility and align with our brand.
Drive private event sales and execution, working with the marketing team to grow event revenue.
Develop innovative ways to attract new audiences and deepen guest engagement.
Collaborate with artists and partners to bring new immersive elements to life.
Stay ahead of industry trends, helping WNDR remain a leader in the immersive experience space.

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR

Experience & Leadership

5+ years of experience in high-volume entertainment, attractions, hospitality, or guest-centric environments.
Proven success in leading large teams and managing multi-million-dollar P&Ls.
A hands-on leadership style—you’re in the action, not just calling the shots.
Strong decision-making skills, with the ability to think on your feet in a fast-paced environment.
A hospitality-first mindset—guest experience is at the core of everything we do.
Experience with private events, ticketing, retail operations, and premium guest experiences.
High-level organizational and project management skills—you know how to balance the big picture and the details.
Proficiency in POS systems, ticketing platforms, and financial reporting tools.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements

Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
Comfortable in a multi-sensory environment with audio, visual, and lighting effects.
Ability to lift up to 50 lbs. and be on your feet for extended periods.

Why This Role?

You want to lead a flagship immersive experience and take full ownership of its success.
You thrive in a high-energy, creative environment that’s always evolving.
You’re excited by the challenge of driving both guest experience and business performance.
You love working with people—guests, employees, partners, and artists alike.
You want to be part of a team that’s pushing the boundaries of art, technology, and storytelling.

We’re Excited to Hear From You.

At WNDR, we are passionate about finding self starters who can help us grow our organization. We encourage you to apply, even if your experience doesn’t match every detail of the job description. If we don’t see something that immediately fits, we will keep your resume on file for future opportunities.

WNDR Museum warmly welcomes people of all ages, identities, ethnicities, beliefs, religions, and backgrounds to join our team. WNDR Museum is an equal opportunity employer, fully committed to achieving an inclusive and diverse workplace and we strongly encourage nontraditional candidates to apply. We hold ourselves to our commitment and continuously strive to attract, engage, and grow with our talented team.

Apply for this position

Required*

First Name*

Last Name*

Email Address*

Phone*

Address

Resume*

We've received your resume. Click here to update it.

Attach resume or Paste resume

Attach resume as .pdf, .doc, .docx, .odt, .txt, or .rtf (limit 5MB) or Paste resume

Paste your resume here or Attach resume file

The following questions are entirely optional.

To comply with government Equal Employment Opportunity and/or Affirmative Action reporting regulations, we are requesting (but NOT requiring) that you enter this personal data. This information will not be used in connection with any employment decisions, and will be used solely as permitted by state and federal law. Your voluntary cooperation would be appreciated. Learn more.

Gender

Race/Ethnicity

Invitation for Job Applicants to Self-Identify as a U.S. Veteran

A “disabled veteran” is one of the following:
- a veteran of the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service who is entitled to compensation (or who but for the receipt of military retired pay would be entitled to compensation) under laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs; or
- a person who was discharged or released from active duty because of a service-connected disability.
A “recently separated veteran” means any veteran during the three-year period beginning on the date of such veteran's discharge or release from active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval, or air service.
An “active duty wartime or campaign badge veteran” means a veteran who served on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service during a war, or in a campaign or expedition for which a campaign badge has been authorized under the laws administered by the Department of Defense.
An “Armed forces service medal veteran” means a veteran who, while serving on active duty in the U.S. military, ground, naval or air service, participated in a United States military operation for which an Armed Forces service medal was awarded pursuant to Executive Order 12985.

Veteran status

I IDENTIFY AS ONE OR MORE OF THE CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTECTED VETERAN LISTED ABOVE
I AM NOT A PROTECTED VETERAN
I DON’T WISH TO ANSWER

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability

Voluntary Self-Identification of Disability Form CC-305
OMB Control Number 1250-0005
Expires 04/30/2026

Why are you being asked to complete this form?

We are a federal contractor or subcontractor. The law requires us to provide equal employment opportunity to qualified people with disabilities. We have a goal of having at least 7% of our workers as people with disabilities. The law says we must measure our progress towards this goal. To do this, we must ask applicants and employees if they have a disability or have ever had one. People can become disabled, so we need to ask this question at least every five years.

Completing this form is voluntary, and we hope that you will choose to do so. Your answer is confidential. No one who makes hiring decisions will see it. Your decision to complete the form and your answer will not harm you in any way. If you want to learn more about the law or this form, visit the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP) website at www.dol.gov/ofccp.

How do you know if you have a disability?

A disability is a condition that substantially limits one or more of your “major life activities.” If you have or have ever had such a condition, you are a person with a disability. Disabilities include, but are not limited to:

Alcohol or other substance use disorder (not currently using drugs illegally)
Autoimmune disorder, for example, lupus, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS
Blind or low vision
Cancer (past or present)
Cardiovascular or heart disease
Celiac disease
Cerebral palsy
Deaf or serious difficulty hearing
Diabetes
Disfigurement, for example, disfigurement caused by burns, wounds, accidents, or congenital disorders
Epilepsy or other seizure disorder
Gastrointestinal disorders, for example, Crohn's Disease, irritable bowel syndrome
Intellectual or developmental disability
Mental health conditions, for example, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD
Missing limbs or partially missing limbs
Mobility impairment, benefiting from the use of a wheelchair, scooter, walker, leg brace(s) and/or other supports
Nervous system condition, for example, migraine headaches, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis (MS)
Neurodivergence, for example, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, dyslexia, dyspraxia, other learning disabilities
Partial or complete paralysis (any cause)
Pulmonary or respiratory conditions, for example, tuberculosis, asthma, emphysema
Short stature (dwarfism)
Traumatic brain injury

Please check one of the boxes below:

YES, I HAVE A DISABILITY, OR HAVE HAD ONE IN THE PAST NO, I DO NOT HAVE A DISABILITY AND HAVE NOT HAD ONE IN THE PAST I DO NOT WANT TO ANSWER

PUBLIC BURDEN STATEMENT: According to the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 no persons are required to respond to a collection of information unless such collection displays a valid OMB control number. This survey should take about 5 minutes to complete.

You must enter your name and date
Name	Date

Human Check*

Submit Application