General Manager

Hand Picked Hotels; Uckfield; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A luxury country hotel group is seeking an experienced General Manager for their Buxted Park Hotel in Uckfield. You will lead hotel operations, exceed guest expectations, and develop your team while fostering local community relationships. Ideal candidates will have a strong background in luxury hospitality, excellent leadership skills, and a passion for customer service. Competitive salary and numerous benefits are included.

Benefits

Competitive salary package

Company pension scheme

Life assurance

Employee Assistance Program

33 days holiday

Career progression opportunities

Discounted hotel stays

Annual loyalty awards

Retail discount platform

Qualifications

• Current experience as a General Manager in a luxury or boutique hotel.
• Strong understanding of high-end weddings and events.
• Proven track record in local engagement initiatives.
• Hands-on approach to guest interaction.

Responsibilities

• Exceed guest expectations and deliver financial goals.
• Innovate and lead hotel operations and sales.
• Inspire and develop team to surpass guest satisfaction.
• Identify and deliver new revenue opportunities.

Skills

Leadership skills

Commercial acumen

Customer service

Food and beverage knowledge

People management

Event management

Tools

Hotel software

Excel

Office 365

Job description

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner, Chairman Julia Hands MBE. Julia’s love of historical buildings, the English countryside, local food and good wine inspired her dream to own a collection of hotels that celebrate these passions and invite others to share in them. Today, the family-owned group has 21 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel offers an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, with views ranging from vast countryside to expansive beaches and lush woodlands.

Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. While each hotel is individual, the properties share the Hand Picked Hotels values of family, individuality, community and care, with teams committed to aiming higher and delighting guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the everyday.

We are currently recruiting an experienced General Manager for Buxted Park Hotel, this glorious country hotel in Uckfield where Georgian styling meets modern comfort. The Grade II listed Palladian mansion, set in the finest parkland, makes Buxted Park Hotel in East Sussex one of the region’s most renowned rural wedding venues, while the award-winning 2 AA Rosette restaurant in Uckfield boasts an exquisite menu.

About The Role

• As General Manager you will be fully accountable for exceeding guest expectations, delivering the financial goals and objectives alongside team management and development for the team.
• As General Manager within Hand Picked Hotels you are expected to be innovative with excellent leadership skills and a well-rounded knowledge of managing all hotel operations alongside sales, RevPAR, profit and guest satisfaction.
• You will be involved in taking Buxted Park Hotel forward in line with Hand Picked Hotels’ future strategy and aspirations.
• You will be responsible for inspiring, motivating, developing your team to continually surpass guest expectations, while identifying and delivering new revenue streams and opportunities.
• Leading from the front you will be an aspirational leader, who thrives on coaching and mentoring your team.

About You

• To be considered for this role you must have current experience as a General Manager within a luxury country house or boutique hotel environment, with an excellent understanding of food and beverage and high-end weddings and events.
• This role will suit an experienced General Manager or Hotel Manager with knowledge of the local area and a proven track record of building and fostering local engagement initiatives and relationships.
• You must be able to demonstrate a solid commercial acumen, with the ability to drive sales.
• Be hands on and enjoy leading from the front and interaction with guests.
• Have experience of business planning, developing and implementing new initiatives to drive sales while delivering a bespoke high-end guest experience.
• You will have up-to-date knowledge of statutory obligations, including health and safety, compliance, and capex management.
• A proven track record in people management, coaching and development and an experienced innovator.
• Proficient in hotel software, Excel and Office 365.

Our Benefits

• A competitive salary package discussed at interview stage.
• Company pension scheme with a generous employer contribution.
• Life assurance.
• Employee Assistance Program to support you with whatever life throws at you.
• Company Sickness Scheme Benefit.
• 33 days including bank holidays.
• Forward career progression, with access to our in-house and external training programs, including apprenticeships and other recognised hospitality industry courses which are all supported by our learning and development team.
• Discounted colleague stays in our hotels and on food and drink.
• Annual loyalty awards (like afternoon teas and overnight stays).
• Online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high street retailers and restaurants as well as a health and well-being platform.
• Opportunity to make lifelong friendships and be part of a team that celebrates diversity and inclusion.