Assistant Night Manager

Port Lympne Hotel and Reserve & Howletts Wild Animal Parks; Hythe; On-site; GBP 19,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days annual leave

Staff training & development

Sick, Maternity & Paternity policies

Free park entries for you and guest

Employee discounts

Counselling line

Other length/service rewards

Job summary

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is seeking an Assistant Night Manager to lead the Night Team during overnight operations. You will act as the Person Responsible, field guest queries, and ensure a high standard of service and safety throughout the shift.

Ideal candidates will have hospitality supervisory experience, strong leadership, and proficiency with IT systems (Office 365). A UK manual driving licence and GDPR/Health & Safety knowledge are essential.

Qualifications

• Hospitality leadership or supervisory experience.
• Strong face-to-face customer service skills.
• Valid UK driving licence (manual).
• Knowledge of GDPR, Health & Safety, and Fire Safety regulations.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Night Team and act as Person Responsible during shifts.
• Oversee overnight operations and guest interactions.
• Train and develop staff to deliver high‑standard guest experiences.
• Ensure facilities are maintained to a high standard.
• Coordinate with Front of House Manager and Guest Relations Manager.
• Manage night processes and audits as required.

Skills

Leadership

Night shift management

Guest service

IT literacy

Opera PMS

Driving licence

GDPR knowledge

Health & Safety

Education

Management qualification

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Opera PMS

Job description

Closing Date: 11 September 2026

Salary: Up to £31,649.00 Per Annum, Plus Desirable Benefits

Full-Time, Permanent Position

Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?

Do you want to work in a place where you can hear the roar from our pride of Lions, or calls from troops of Howler Monkeys?

As our Assistant Night Manager, you will play a key role in ensuring the smooth running of overnight operations at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve. You will lead the Night Team, supporting the on‑duty Front of House Manager, and act as the Person Responsible (PR) during your shift. You will be the first point of contact for any guest queries or incidents, ensuring all situations are handled professionally and resolved efficiently.

This is a hands‑on role requiring strong leadership, excellent problem‑solving skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. You will oversee, train, and develop the Night Team, ensuring staff deliver a seamless, high‑standard guest experience. You will also ensure that all facilities are operated to the highest standards and continuously maintained and enhanced, contributing to a welcoming, professional, and memorable stay for every guest.

Who We Are Looking For

This role is ideal for someone with a high standard of face‑to‑face customer service, strong leadership skills, and the ability to remain calm under pressure. You should have proven management or supervisory experience where you were a key point of contact for a team, ideally within hospitality. You’ll be confident communicating with guests and colleagues, both in writing and verbally, and comfortable using personal radios.

We’re looking for someone who can assess situations, make logical decisions based on the information available, and adapt well to changing circumstances. You must be proficient with common IT hardware and software, particularly Microsoft Office 365, and able to quickly learn our room‑booking systems (Opera experience preferred).

A full, valid UK driving licence (manual gearbox), covering groups B, BE, and B1, is essential. You will also need a strong understanding of GDPR, Health & Safety, and Fire Safety regulations, and be committed to following safe working practices. Hospitality experience is required, and experience with night processes or audits would be an advantage. First Aid certification is also beneficial. Desirable qualities include formal training or a qualification in management within a guest‑focused environment, and an understanding or empathy for wildlife conservation and environmental concerns.

Contract Details

This is a full‑time, permanent position, working 40 hours a week, five days out of seven. Working hours will be between 18:00– 08:00 depending on the requirements of the department. Availability required on weekdays and weekends. The Assistant Night Manager will report directly to our Guest Relations Manager & Front of House Manager. A reliable mode of transport is recommended due to our remote location. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The location

Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world‑renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodations, free roaming animal safaris, once‑in‑a‑lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.

Why You Should Join Us

As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will also join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.

You can also expect a host of other benefits including:

• 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays (pro‑rata to start date and working hours), rising with length of service.
• Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e‑learning
• Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
• Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
• Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
• Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24‑hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
• And many more length or service‑related rewards and Benefits.

A Full Job Description Is Available On Request.

Please note, this role may close early if we receive a high volume of applications.