Hostel Manager

YHA (England and Wales); Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10 nights free hostel stays per year

Staff discount & cash back portal

Free YHA Membership

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

YHA Stratford-upon-Avon is seeking an exceptional Hostel Manager to lead this distinctive property, combining hospitality leadership with a sense of place. You’ll inspire a team, drive operational excellence and ensure every guest feels welcomed as part of the YHA community.

You will oversee budgets, food and beverage, and day-to-day operations while delivering memorable experiences for a diverse international guest mix.

Qualifications

• Proven hospitality leadership experience in hotels, cafés or hostels.
• Experience in people management including recruitment, induction and reviews.
• Strong customer service skills with handling difficult situations.
• Ability to manage varying workloads and prioritize duties.
• Food safety level 2 and APLH level 2 qualifications (desirable).
• Basic IT skills and proficiency with MS Office applications.
• Experience of managing budgets and P&Ls, including cash handling.
• Understanding of YHA's core purpose and HEART values.

Responsibilities

• Lead hostel operations to deliver exceptional guest experiences.
• Manage a team of employees and volunteers, with coaching and development.
• Oversee day-to-day tasks including housekeeping, reception and F&B duties.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

People management

Customer service

Budget management

P&L management

Food safety 2

ALPH 2

IT skills

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Job description

Hostel Manager

YHA Stratford-upon-Avon, Hemmingford House, Wellesbourne Rd, Alveston, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 7RG

Permanent, 42.5 hours per week

£35,655 - £41,949 per annum

Set in a beautiful Georgian mansion, YHA Stratford-upon-Avon offers much more than a place to stay. Located in the birthplace of William Shakespeare and at the heart of one of England's most celebrated cultural destinations, the hostel welcomes visitors from across the UK and around the world, creating an atmosphere that is truly international, vibrant and inspiring.

We are seeking an exceptional Hostel Manager to lead this unique property into its next chapter. This is an opportunity to combine outstanding hospitality leadership with a sense of place, bringing to life the rich heritage, culture and warm welcome that make Stratford-upon-Avon such a special destination. Every day, you'll connect with guests whose journeys have brought them from different countries, cultures and backgrounds, helping create memorable experiences that reflect the very best of YHA.

As Hostel Manager, you will inspire and develop a talented team, drive operational excellence and ensure every guest feels welcomed, valued and part of the YHA community. Whether it's families discovering Shakespeare's hometown, international travellers exploring England, or young people experiencing adventure and connection through travel, you'll play a key role in creating unforgettable stays. If you're passionate about people, hospitality and heritage, this is a rare opportunity to lead one of YHA's most distinctive and characterful hostels.

Why work for YHA?

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive staff benefits that support your well-being and career growth:

• 10 nights free hostel stays per year for you and up to 3 friends or family
• Access to YHA’s staff discount and cash back portal
• Free YHA Membership each year
• Access to support via our Employee Assistance Program

There’s lots more benefits to working for YHA so please visit our YHA Jobs website to find out more.

What will you be doing as a Hostel Manager?

We are a friendly team and will provide the training required for you to undertake the role. However, there is plenty for you to get stuck into from day one, including:

• Achievement of targets across all aspects of the hostel operation including food and beverage. You will be accountable for maximising as well as controlling expenditure.
• Managing a team of employees and volunteers.
• Contributing to the team effort in the day-to-day operation of the hostel, undertaking any tasks required, e.g. housekeeping, reception, food and beverage duties.

What Skills and Experience do you need to be a Hostel Manager?

Our Hostel Managers are responsible for the line management of the teams within their own hostels, along with the management of occasional volunteers. They are also responsible for managing the operational budget and the safeguarding of all guests.

To provide this service we are looking for candidates who have:

• Proven experience of working within the hospitality industry – hotels, cafés, hostels
• Experience of people management - recruitment, induction, development, conducting reviews and managing performance
• Excellent customer service skills – experience of handling difficult situations
• Ability to manage varying pressures, include peaks in workload demands – can prioritise, able to deal with conflicting duties
• Food safety level 2 and APLH level 2 qualifications (desirable)
• Basic IT skills (ideally Microsoft Office) – able to use Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel
• Experience of managing P&Ls (profit and loss) and budgets – cash handling, managing a budget
• Knowledge and understanding of the core purpose of YHA – what YHA does and how we do it
• Demonstration of our HEART values – they’re part of everything we do, and we look for people who bring them to life in their everyday work

For more information about the role and the skills and experience required, please refer to the job description.

At YHA, we understand the richness of life experiences, and we place just as much importance on lived experiences as we do on skills and knowledge. We provide a robust induction, ongoing training, and opportunities for personal growth. While certain roles may require specific skills, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. For more information about how we are creating an inclusive workplace please visit our jobs website.

Who are YHA?

YHA is a social enterprise with a mission to enrich the lives of all, especially young people. YHA does this by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and life skills.

If you would like to find out more about YHA the charity, the culture, the heritage and so much more please visit our jobs website.

PLEASE NOTE All relevant checks are in place to ensure safeguarding and legal requirements of safer recruitment are adhered to. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

YHA Job Title: Hostel Manager