General Manager

Dunskey Estate

Stranraer

On-site

GBP 80,000 - 120,000

Full time

14 days+

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Benefits offered by this job

Generous salary dependent on experience

10-20% performance bonus

Pension contribution

Accommodation or housing allowance

Work-life balance

Christmas period off

Job summary

A luxury estate in Scotland seeks a General Manager to lead operations and ensure exceptional guest experiences. The successful candidate will oversee a motivated team, manage budgets, and maintain the estate’s respected culture. Responsibilities include leading events and luxury accommodations, fostering teamwork, and ensuring compliance with health standards. This role offers a generous package including salary, performance bonuses, and potential on-site accommodation, making it ideal for candidates looking for an engaging work environment.

Qualifications

Proven ability to lead, mentor and retain teams.
Strong judgment and communication skills.
Experience with both events and accommodations.
Strong guest-experience standards in luxury settings.
Budgeting, reporting and forecasting skills.

Responsibilities

Lead, support and develop staff across all departments.
Ensure guest experiences meet Dunskey’s standards.
Monitor budgets, costs and P&L.
Develop staff through training and progression.

Skills

Leadership

Team Development

Financial Management

CRM Utilization

Guest Relations

Education

5-10 years’ management experience in luxury hospitality

Tools

Monday.com

CRM systems

Job description

GENERAL MANAGER | DUNSKEY ESTATE

Lead a people‑first luxury estate known for exceptional guest experiences and an outstanding team culture.

ABOUT DUNSKEY ESTATE

Dunskey Estate is a 2,000‑acre, family‑run luxury destination on Scotland’s southwest coast. With an Edwardian castle, 13 high‑end lodges, award‑winning gardens, private beaches, and miles of woodland trails, it has become one of Scotland’s most distinctive venues for weddings, retreats, and luxury self‑catering stays.

Dunskey is widely recognised not only for exceptional guest experiences, but for something far less common in hospitality: a supportive, respectful, long‑standing team culture. Staff stay because they are valued, well led, and given positive opportunities to grow. Compensation is above industry standards, workloads are organised sensibly, and the resulting environment is known as a place where people enjoy coming to work.

THE ROLE

Dunskey Estate is hiring a General Manager to oversee the estate’s two core businesses:

Events: Up to 25 bespoke weddings, retreats, and celebrations each year (May–October), primarily for international clients.
Luxury Self‑Catering Lodges: Thirteen beautifully designed properties operating year‑round, offering privacy, independence, and a high level of comfort.

The GM will have full operational authority for day‑to‑day decisions, budgets within agreed parameters, and team leadership, working in close partnership with the owners on strategic direction. This is an on‑site role in rural southwest Scotland.

AIMS OF THE ROLE

Internal Aims: Leading a Motivated, Supported Team

The GM protects and strengthens Dunskey’s employee‑focused culture by:

Creating a fair, respectful, and collaborative working environment
Maintaining reasonable workloads and clear communication across departments
Leading with calm authority and setting high, consistent standards
Developing staff through training, encouragement, and structured progression
Promoting teamwork between events, kitchens, housekeeping, and maintenance
Ensuring stable staffing levels and reliable scheduling
Using clear procedures and modern systems to reduce stress and confusion
Maintaining strong financial control and transparency
Ensuring all health & safety, food hygiene and compliance standards are met

The GM ensures Dunskey continues to deliver reliable and memorable stays by:

Upholding luxury standards across events and lodges
Being a composed, capable point of contact for couples, families, and retreat hosts
Anticipating needs and resolving issues quickly and professionally
Ensuring guest journeys are smooth, thoughtful, and consistent
Building trust that leads to repeat bookings and referrals
Maintaining the estate’s reputation for warm and attentive service

WHY THIS ROLE IS UNIQUE

A Sustainable Approach to Hospitality

Maximum 25 events per year ensuring quality over volume
Predictable annual calendar
No Christmas trading
Genuine off‑season for planning, improvements, and rest
Typical 45–50 hours per week across the year

Employee‑Focused Culture

A loyal, long‑standing team who stay because they are treated well and with respect
Staff wellbeing, retention and pride in their work are treated as operational priorities, not secondary concerns
Owners who lead by example and work collaboratively
A kitchen run on professionalism, accuracy, and calm rather than pressure

Modern Operations

A custom Monday.com system integrating CRM, operations, finance, and scheduling
Clear workflows and real‑time information
Reduced duplication, clearer communication, and fewer points of failure

Growth and Innovation

New lodges, wellness features and upgraded infrastructure planned
Opportunity to shape new guest experiences and strengthen operational foundations
Room to introduce new ideas and refine current processes
New ideas and thoughtful challenge are actively encouraged

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Team & Culture

Lead, support and develop staff across all departments
Promote a positive, respectful, and reliable team ethos
Oversee recruitment, onboarding, training and performance reviews
Maintain strong internal communication and departmental alignment

Operations

Oversee daily delivery of events and lodge operations
Ensure consistent presentation, cleanliness, and maintenance standards
Coordinate scheduling, rotas and logistical planning
Manage suppliers, procurement and inventory

Guest Experience

Ensure every event and stay meets Dunskey’s standards
Build strong rapport with clients and host families
Respond to concerns promptly and with professionalism
Conduct regular inspections and quality audits

Finance & Planning

Monitor budgets, costs and P&L
Analyse occupancy, bookings and revenue trends
Provide monthly and quarterly performance updates
Support pricing and commercial decision‑making

Compliance & Risk

Oversee health & safety, food hygiene and licensing
Maintain up‑to‑date records and risk assessments
Ensure emergency and incident procedures are understood and followed
Contribute to long‑term planning and new project development
Improve workflows, systems and processes across the estate
Support sustainability efforts and community relationships
Champion responsible land use and sustainability in line with the long‑term stewardship of the estate

WHAT YOU WILL BRING

A high level of discretion and professionalism when working with private clients and high‑profile events
5–10 years’ management experience in luxury hospitality
A proven ability to lead, mentor and retain teams
Calm, confident, well‑structured leadership
Strong understanding of the highest guest expectations in a luxury setting
Competence with systems, CRM tools and data‑informed decision making
Solid financial capability (budgeting, reporting, forecasting)
Strong judgement and communication skills

Highly Valued

Experience with both events and accommodation
Familiarity with Monday.com or similar platforms
Background in destination weddings, retreats, or private estates
Understanding of rural hospitality and remote‑team management
Ability to create a stable, engaged and long‑term workforce

PACKAGE AND BENEFITS

This role is based on site in rural southwest Scotland and best suits someone, or a couple/family, comfortable with remote living and close involvement in the local community.

Generous salary dependent on experience
10–20% of basic annual salary performance bonus
Pension contribution (3–5%)
Accommodation (two or three bed flat/house on site) or housing allowance available
Supportive, balanced working environment
Christmas period off
Stunning place to live and work with significant career progression

FURTHER INFORMATION AND APPLICATION

Application

Please send your CV and covering letter to Katharine Landale, Bold New Recruitment katharine@boldnewrecruitment.co.uk stating why you feel you should be considered for this role. In this answer we would like you to outline the following: