General Manager

Heartwood Collection

Highcliffe-on-Sea

On-site

GBP 70,000 - 90,000

Full time

6 days ago

Be an early applicant

Application generator

An application made for this job — a tailored resume and cover letter that speak straight to the posting.

Get past ATS filters

Benefits offered by this job

TRONC bonus

Private healthcare (Bupa)

Stepping Stones training & career dev.

Employee Assistance Programme

Reward Gateway discounts

EarlyPay access

Enhanced maternity/paternity leave

Referral bonus up to £1,500

Holiday buy/sell option

50% off food at Heartwood Inns & Br/Bl

Bedroom discounts

Job summary

Heartwood Collection is seeking an exceptional General Manager for The Oaks, a premium pub with plans to add 20 boutique bedrooms after a 2027 refurbishment. You will lead from the floor, build and mentor a strong management team, and deliver outstanding guest experiences while driving profitability.

You will manage high-volume fresh-food operations, maintain high standards and own all aspects of the business from guest relations to rooms where applicable, with a clear pathway to the

Qualifications

2-3+ years' experience as a General Manager, ideally within a quality branded or multi-site hospitality environment.
Proven track record of running a successful, high-volume fresh-food operation.
Strong commercial understanding, including P&L, labour, sales, KPIs and profitability.
Ability to lead from the front and be highly visible with guests and your team.
Passion for developing people and building strong management teams.
High standards and an eye for the details that create an exceptional guest experience.
Confidence managing all aspects of a hospitality business, including rooms and reception where applicable.
Genuine desire to take ownership, drive performance and make your site the very best it can be

Responsibilities

Lead from the floor to oversee operations and guest experience.
Develop and coach a high-performing hospitality team across the site.
Drive profitability, labour control, sales and KPI delivery.
Support the refurbishment and pre-launch phase for the new bedrooms.
Uphold brand standards, culture and exceptional guest service.

Skills

People leadership

Guest experience focus

P&L management

Commercial acumen

Team development

Brand and standards

Job description

At Heartwood Collection, we're not just looking for a General Manager; we are looking for an exceptional hospitality leader who can build a brilliant team, deliver outstanding guest experiences, and take a successful business to the next level.

You'll be an accomplished General Manager with a strong track record in premium pubs, restaurants or fresh-food hospitality. Experience of leading a refurbishment, opening bedrooms or managing a business with accommodation would be particularly valuable We're particularly interested in leaders who can demonstrate:

2-3+ years' experience as a General Manager, ideally within a quality branded or multi-site hospitality environment
A proven track record of running a successful, high-volume fresh-food operation
Strong commercial understanding, including P&L, labour, sales, KPIs and profitability
The ability to lead from the front and be highly visible with both guests and your team
A passion for developing people and building strong management teams
High standards and an eye for the details that create an exceptional guest experience
Confidence managing all aspects of a hospitality business, including rooms and reception where applicable
A genuine desire to take ownership, drive performance and make your site the very best it can be

Above all, we're looking for people-first leaders with personality, energy and ambition - General Managers who inspire their teams and genuinely love hospitality.

The Oaks is an established and much-loved pub with an exciting future ahead. In early 2027, the site will undergo a major refurbishment and introduce 20 beautiful boutique bedrooms, transforming it into an even more impressive hospitality destination. This is a rare opportunity to join the business ahead of that transformation: strengthening the existing operation, developing the team and building strong relationships with guests and the local community. You will then play a leading role in preparing for the refurbishment, launching the new bedrooms and unlocking the full potential of the expanded business. Across Heartwood Inns and Brasserie Blanc, our General Managers are at the heart of their businesses. They lead from the floor, know their guests, develop their people and take genuine ownership of everything from standards and culture to sales, labour and profitability.

Competitive salary package including TRONC and KPI-based bonus
48-hour contract
Private healthcare with Bupa
Bespoke training and career development through our Stepping Stones programme
Employee Assistance Programme with Hospitality Action
Hundreds of discounts through Reward Gateway
Instant access to pay through EarlyPay
Enhanced maternity and paternity leave
Up to £1,500 referral bonus
Option to purchase up to 5 additional days' holiday
50% off food at Heartwood Inns and Brasserie Blanc, plus 20% for family and friends
Discounts across our beautiful Inn bedrooms
Birthday gift and Long Service Recognition
Cycle to Work Scheme