Country House Manager

HF Holidays Limited; Washington; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 41,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

33 Days Holiday pro rata inclusive of

Pension Contributions

Volunteer Day

Group Life Assurance

Cinema Discounts

Online Shopping Discounts

Cycle to work Scheme

Discounted Gym Membership

Virtual GP

Health & Wellbeing Support 24/7 Helpl)

Job summary

HF Holidays Limited, Britain's walking holiday co-operative, is seeking a Country House Manager at Abingworth Hall, West Sussex. You will oversee guest service, kitchen and front-of-house operations, and lead maintenance coordination to uphold high standards across bedrooms and public spaces.

In this permanent, full-time role, you will manage a small team, collaborate with central HR, Health & Safety, Finance and Sales, and embody our cooperative values while ensuring guests enjoy memorable,

Qualifications

• Guest service excellence and hospitality leadership are required.
• Ability to manage kitchen and FOH operations within budget and standards.
• Experience leading teams in country houses, hotels, or similar settings.

Responsibilities

• Oversee guest service across all areas.
• Manage kitchen operations and food quality within budget.
• Lead front of house team and maintain cleanliness in bedrooms/public areas.
• Coordinate maintenance and property appearance with the team.
• Foster teamwork and a positive culture aligned with our cooperative values.
• Collaborate with HR, Health & Safety, Finance and Sales for central support.
• Develop a culture that reflects the Society's values and member care.

Skills

Guest service

Team leadership

Kitchen management

Front of House

Team development

Job description

Our Abingworth Hall Country house has 30 bedrooms, providing a serene retreat for up to 49 guests embarking on guided or self-guided tour holidays. As the Country House Manager, your role revolves around delivering an exceptional standard of guest service. Your responsibilities span various domains:

Key Responsibilities

• Guest Service Excellence: Elevate guest experiences by overseeing every aspect of guest service.
• Kitchen Management: Take charge of the culinary experience, managing chefs to consistently deliver exceptional food quality within the established budgetary framework.
• Front of House Management: Lead the front of house team, ensuring pristine conditions in all bedrooms and public areas.
• Property Maintenance and Appearance: Collaborate with Maintenance and properties team to monitor, report, and address internal and external repairs and property defects.
• Team Development & Culture: Foster a culture of teamwork and harmony, recognising the crucial role it plays in the overall success of our house.
• Centralised Support: Work with our central support teams including HR, Health & Safety, Finance and Sales.
• As an experienced Operations Manager your role encapsulates not just management but a commitment to creating an environment where every detail reflects the values of our Society and as a co-operative, where members are genuinely looked after.

What are we looking for?

We would love to hear from you if you have these essential skills:

A commercial background in the Tourism or Hospitality industry. We are keen to hear from Hotel Managers, Country House Managers, Hotel General Managers or Hospitality Managers, who can showcase a track record of successful operational management within a hotel, country house, or similar establishment.

Given the nature of our industry, flexibility is key. The role necessitates adaptability to varied working hours, particularly during evenings and weekends.

About HF Holidays

As Britain's only walking holiday co-operative, we are committed to creating meaningful connections through shared experiences in the great outdoors.

With 112 years of history, we bring like-minded people together through more than 260 carefully crafted walking and activity holidays in the UK, Europe, and beyond. We also own and manage 16 characterful country houses in the heart of the UK's best-loved national parks landscapes. Supported by our 500 strong team who are based both remotely and at our Head Office in Hertfordshire as well as our Houses.

Location

Abingworth Hall, Storrington Road, Thakeham, West Sussex, RH20 3EF

Contract

Permanent, Full Time

Salary

£35,334 per annum

Live in

Free live in accommodation inclusive of all bills

Job Benefits

• 33 Days Holiday pro rata inclusive of bank holidays
• Pension Contributions
• Volunteer Day
• Group Life Assurance
• Cinema Discounts
• Online Shopping Discounts
• Cycle to work Scheme
• Discounted Gym Membership
• Virtual GP
• Health & Wellbeing Support 24/7 Helplines
• Exclusive discounts on our holidays for you, your friends and family
• Annual familiarization visit at any of our country houses