General Manager | Sundew Court Integrated Retirement Community

Compass Associates; England; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading staffing firm seeks a General Manager for a new retirement community in Newport, Shropshire. The role requires experienced leadership, team building skills, and a passion for enhancing the lives of older adults. Responsibilities include commissioning the service, recruiting a team, and ensuring operational excellence. Competitive salary and bonuses are offered, making this an exciting opportunity for those looking to make a difference in senior living.

Benefits

Bonus

Pension

Wider company benefits

Qualifications

• 5+ years in senior leadership in retirement living or similar.
• Experience in opening a new service is highly desirable.
• Proven ability to build and lead new teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead the commissioning and operation of Sundew Court.
• Recruit and develop a high-performing team.
• Ensure safety and compliance in all operations.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Communication

Financial management

Customer focus

Job description

General Manager | Sundew Court Integrated Retirement Community (Untold Living)

Location: Newport, Shropshire

Salary: £60,000 - £70,000 per annum (negotiable DOE)

Benefits: Bonus, pension & wider company benefits

Remit

Compass Associates have partnered with Untold Living to appoint a new General Manager for Sundew Court, a brand new integrated retirement community in the picturesque market town of Newport, Shropshire.

Sundew Court is designed for older adults who want to maintain and enhance their independence, while enjoying a richer social life, fewer chores and the reassurance of on-site care and support, 24/7.

The General Manager will be the heartbeat of the village, leading a high-performing team, shaping a warm and inclusive culture and ensuring residents truly feel at home, free to “write their own story” in later life.

As this is a new service, the General Manager will also play a key role in commissioning Sundew Court, building and training a brand-new team, embedding best practice from day one and ensuring a smooth, high-quality opening for residents and their families.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide visible, inspiring leadership across the whole village; hospitality, wellbeing, sales, maintenance, housekeeping and care.
• Lead the full commissioning of the village, working with central support teams on mobilisation plans, policies, processes and CQC readiness to ensure a successful launch.
• Recruit, induct and develop a brand new, multi-disciplinary team - setting clear standards, delivering robust training and fostering a culture of accountability and continuous learning.
• Create and nurture a culture built on kindness, security, hospitality and connection where residents feel known, valued and listened to.
• Oversee day-to-day operations to the highest standards of safety, experience and compliance (including supporting the Care Team in line with CQC requirements).
• Take full responsibility for Sundew Court's commercial and financial performance, managing budgets, occupancy and key KPIs while protecting service quality.
• Build strong, trusting relationships with residents and their families encouraging feedback, resolving concerns with diplomacy and championing quality of life.
• Support vibrant social, wellbeing and engagement programmes that turn neighbours into friends and ensure life at Sundew Court feels joyful and purposeful.
• Partner with central sales & marketing teams to position Sundew Court as the leading retirement community of choice in the area.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior leadership role (c.5+ years), ideally within retirement living, senior care, hospitality or a similar customer-focused environment.
• Experience of commissioning a new service, opening a new site or leading significant service change (e.g. reconfiguration, extension, turnaround) is highly desirable.
• Proven track record of building, training and leading new teams including recruitment, induction, coaching and performance management.
• Strong understanding of senior living models and a genuine passion for improving quality of life for older adults.
• Demonstrable commercial acumen confident managing budgets, financial targets and village level KPIs.
• Exceptional people leadership skills able to attract, motivate and develop a high performing, multidisciplinary team.
• Natural relationship builder with excellent communication skills and a calm, empathetic approach to problem solving.
• Resilient, organised and adaptable; comfortable balancing strategic thinking with a very hands on, visible presence across the community.
• Understanding of regulatory environments and a commitment to continuous improvement in safety, governance and resident experience.

Location

Sundew Court is located in Newport, Shropshire, a friendly market town with independent shops, cafés, pubs, churches and a bustling market hall. The village is close to local highlights including Aqualate Mere National Nature Reserve, Lilleshall Abbey and Mere Park Garden Centre, with Telford, Stafford and Shrewsbury all within easy reach.

This role is ideal for candidates based in or commutable from Telford, Stoke-on-Trent, Stafford, Shrewsbury, Wolverhampton, Walsall, Market Drayton and surrounding areas.

Interview Process

• Stage One - Initial MS Teams conversation with Tom Berrisford, Compass Associates
• Stage Two - Face-to-face/Teams interview with senior Untold Living leadership
• Stage Three - On-site visit to Sundew Court and final face-to-face interview

Summary

This is a rare opportunity for an ambitious General Manager to take the lead at a beautiful new integrated retirement community, commission a service from the ground up, and shape a culture where later life genuinely feels like a new beginning. In return, Untold Living are offering a competitive salary (circa £60,000 - £65,000 DOE) plus bonus and benefits, along with the chance to make a tangible difference every day.

Contact Details

If you would like to be considered for this exciting opportunity, please contact Tom Berrisford at Compass Associates