What does a private club recruiter do? A private club recruiter finds and places senior leaders for country, golf, city, yacht and private members' clubs. Typical roles are General Manager/COO, Executive Chef, Director of Food & Beverage, Director of Culinary Operations and Clubhouse Manager. The search has to account for board governance, member expectations and club culture, and it is usually confidential. JWB Hospitality is a boutique hospitality executive search firm that recruits private club leaders nationwide. In one recent search, it placed an Executive Chef at a Manhattan private members' club in 34 days after the club had spent four months trying to fill the role.
At a glance: Most club searches take 6–12 weeks · 300+ hospitality placements · 95% offer acceptance · 20% of first-year base salary on contingency, no upfront retainer · 90-day replacement guarantee
A club is not a restaurant or a hotel. Its leaders answer to a board and committees, serve the same members every week and have to protect traditions while improving the club. A strong General Manager or Executive Chef lifts member satisfaction, dining revenue and retention. A poor fit shows up quickly in member complaints, staff turnover and board frustration.
The best club leaders are rarely on the market, and boards usually need the search kept private. A specialist recruiter knows who is running comparable clubs and the hotels and restaurants that produce strong club leaders. It can approach them confidentially and check results with former boards and supervisors.
Club leadership
General Manager, General Manager/COO, Assistant General Manager, Clubhouse Manager, Director of Operations
Culinary leadership
Executive Chef, Director of Culinary Operations, Executive Sous Chef, Chef de Cuisine
Food and beverage leadership
Director of Food & Beverage, Restaurant Manager, Beverage Director, Catering and Events Director
Membership and member experience
Director of Membership, Membership and Marketing Director, Member Experience Director
Country clubs and golf clubs. General Managers, Executive Chefs and F&B leaders for clubs where golf, dining, events and the clubhouse all have to run at a high standard.
Yacht clubs. Culinary and club leadership for waterfront clubs with dining rooms, events and seasonal demand.
City clubs and private members' clubs. Leaders for urban members' clubs where dining, nightlife, events and membership are the core of the experience.
New clubs. Opening General Managers and leadership teams for clubs launching their first season.
Athletic and social clubs. Leaders who can run fitness, dining and social programming under one membership.
JWB has completed club searches at yacht clubs, golf clubs and private members' clubs in New York, Florida and California. Named clients below are ones already public on our site. Other searches are described without names to protect client confidentiality.
Executive Chef Search: Manhattan Private Members' Club
Challenge: after four months of unsuccessful recruiting, the club needed an Executive Chef to oversee three dining outlets, banquet operations and a culinary team of more than 40.
Search: a confidential national search targeting culinary leaders from luxury hotels, resorts, private clubs and Michelin-recognized restaurants.
Result: search completed in 34 days, 5 candidates presented, offer accepted within 48 hours, placed from a luxury hospitality brand.
More club searches
Yacht club, Florida: Director of Culinary Operations.
Yacht club, New York: Executive Chef.
Golf club, New York: Executive Chef.
New private golf and social club, Los Angeles: opening General Manager.
Private members' club, New York City: General Manager.
Private members' club, Miami: Assistant General Manager, Membership and Marketing lead and Executive Chef.
Major Food Group: Assistant General Manager and Executive Sous Chef for its luxury dining and private-club concept.
1. Discovery. We meet with the GM, search committee or board to define the role, reporting lines, goals, compensation and club culture.
2. Market mapping. We identify leaders at comparable clubs and at the luxury hotels, resorts and restaurants that produce strong club talent.
3. Confidential outreach. We approach candidates directly and keep the search private, including from your members and staff if needed.
4. Evaluation and short list. We interview, verify results and check references, then present a small group of qualified finalists to the committee.
5. Offer and transition. We help with compensation, the offer and resignation, and stay in touch through the first months.
Read our guide on how to hire the right private club leadership team.
JWB Hospitality works on contingency: 20% of the placed leader's first-year base salary, invoiced only when you hire. There is no upfront retainer. Every placement carries a 90-day replacement guarantee. If the hire leaves or is let go within that period, we restart the search at no added fee.
Every search is confidential. We can recruit while your current leader is still in place, and we can work through a search committee. To compare search models, see retained vs. contingency search.
What does a country club recruiter do?
A country club recruiter finds and places General Managers, Executive Chefs, Directors of Food & Beverage and other senior leaders for country and golf clubs. The recruiter works with the board or search committee to define the role, approaches proven leaders confidentially and presents a short list of qualified finalists.
Why should a private club use an executive search firm?
A search firm reaches strong leaders who are not looking for a new role, keeps the search confidential and vets candidates before the committee spends time interviewing. This saves the board time and lowers the risk of a poor hire.
What positions do private club recruiters fill?
General Manager and GM/COO, Assistant General Manager, Clubhouse Manager, Executive Chef, Director of Culinary Operations, Director of Food & Beverage and Director of Membership.
How long does a private club executive search take?
Most club searches take 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the role, the club's location and the compensation. Our Manhattan members' club Executive Chef search took 34 days.
How much does a private club recruiter cost?
Club search fees commonly range from about 20% to 30% of first-year compensation, and some firms charge a retainer. JWB charges 20% of first-year base salary on contingency, with no upfront retainer and a 90-day replacement guarantee.
Do you recruit for golf clubs, yacht clubs and city clubs?
Yes. JWB recruits for country, golf, yacht, city, athletic and private members' clubs nationwide, including new clubs hiring their first leadership team.
How do I start a search for a club General Manager?
Contact us at hello@jwbhospitality.com or 916.402.3077. We will schedule a call with you or your search committee to discuss the role, timing and what the club needs from its next GM.
Tell us about the club, the role and your timing. We will tell you what the search will take and who is realistic to approach.
Related: General Manager recruiter · Executive Chef recruiters · hospitality COO recruiter · hospitality executive search · success stories
JWB Hospitality
Executive search for restaurants, hotels, resorts, private clubs, and hospitality brands nationwide.