General Manager

Cairn Group; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 75,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The Old Ship Hotel, Brighton’s historic landmark, seeks a commercially focused General Manager to lead hotel operations and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

You will develop and implement plans that drive revenue growth, coach a high-performing leadership team, and ensure standards are consistently exceeded across all departments, while collaborating with Sales, Revenue, F&B and central support functions to maximise performance. Join Cairn Group to steer sustainable success.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as General Manager within a hotel environment.
• Strong commercial awareness and business acumen.
• Track record of driving revenue growth and profit performance.
• Passionate about creating exceptional guest experiences.
• Experience leading, developing and retaining high-performing teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead the overall hotel operation across all departments.
• Develop and implement plans that deliver revenue growth and profitability.
• Create a culture focused on exceeding guest expectations.
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing leadership team.
• Ensure operational standards are consistently delivered across every area of the business.
• Drive employee engagement, talent development and succession planning.
• Work closely with Sales, Revenue, Food & Beverage and central support teams to maximise performance.
• Take ownership of financial results including revenue, payroll, profitability and cost control.
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety and statutory requirements.
• Build strong relationships within the local community and represent the hotel externally.
• Lead business planning, forecasting and performance reviews.
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Job description

Join Madison Cairn – Where People Drive Hospitality Forward, Together

At Madison Cairn, we're passionate about creating memorable guest experiences, and it all starts with our people.

We're looking for an inspiring and commercially focused General Manager to lead our hotel operation, creating exceptional guest experiences while driving performance through great people, strong leadership and operational excellence.

Working closely with the Regional Operations Director and central support teams, you'll lead the hotel strategy, develop a high-performing leadership team and create a culture where colleagues can thrive, guests return and the business delivers sustainable success.

About the Role

As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the successful operation of the hotel, ensuring exceptional guest satisfaction, engaged teams and strong commercial performance.

You will:

• Lead the overall hotel operation across all departments
• Develop and implement plans that deliver revenue growth and profitability
• Create a culture focused on exceeding guest expectations
• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing leadership team
• Ensure operational standards are consistently delivered across every area of the business
• Drive employee engagement, talent development and succession planning
• Work closely with Sales, Revenue, Food & Beverage and central support teams to maximise performance
• Take ownership of financial results including revenue, payroll, profitability and cost control
• Ensure compliance with all health and safety and statutory requirements
• Build strong relationships within the local community and represent the hotel externally
• Lead business planning, forecasting and performance reviews
• Create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement

Make Every Moment Matter

Every day is different, but every day you'll have the opportunity to make a positive impact. You will:

• Lead and inspire teams that deliver exceptional guest experiences
• Create an environment where colleagues feel valued, engaged and motivated
• Drive service excellence across every touchpoint of the guest journey
• Support the development and growth of future leaders
• Build positive relationships with guests, colleagues and stakeholders
• Help shape a culture where people can perform, grow and succeed

Bring Your Personality. We'll Help You Build Your Career.

We're looking for people who:

• Have proven experience as a General Manager within a hotel environment
• Demonstrate strong commercial awareness and business acumen
• Have a track record of driving revenue growth and profit performance
• Are passionate about creating exceptional guest experiences
• Have successfully led, developed and retained high-performing teams
• Can effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
• Build strong relationships with colleagues, guests and external partners
• Are confident analysing performance data and making informed decisions
• Lead by example and take ownership for results
• Embrace change and continuous improvement
• Want to continue developing their leadership career

If you enjoy leading people, delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving business success, we'd love to hear from you.

About The Old Ship

The Old Ship Hotel is Brighton’s Original – a landmark on the famous seafront and the city’s oldest hotel, with a story stretching back to 1559. For more than 450 years, it has evolved alongside Brighton, welcoming generations through its doors. Today, its historic character meets the creative, inclusive spirit of the city, creating a place to stay, dine, meet and celebrate right on Brighton’s seafront.

Join us and help create exceptional experiences every day

This application includes 8 screening questions. You will be asked to answer these when you apply.