Hotel Operations Manager

Vanrath; Belfast City District; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

28 days holiday

Pension scheme

Free parking

Employee discounts on stays and dining

Training and progression opportunities

Long service recognition

Job summary

VANRATH, on behalf of a well-established 4-star hotel in Belfast, is recruiting a Hotel Operations Manager. The successful candidate will lead from the floor, oversee day-to-day operations and ensure standards are consistently met across guest areas and back-of-house.

You will work closely with Reception, Housekeeping and other departments, handle guest queries, manage downtime and busy periods, and coach teams to maintain service levels, with a flexible schedule including evenings and weekends.

Qualifications

• Experience in hotel operations, duty management or a similar hands-on hospitality management role.
• Strong understanding of reception, housekeeping and guest service, and how departments work together day to day.
• Confident being on the floor, taking ownership of problems and seeing them through.
• Ability to prioritise, juggle competing demands and stay calm under pressure.
• Capable of coaching supervisors and colleagues while respecting reporting lines.
• Knowledge of hotel health, safety and security standards.
• Flexible to work evenings and weekends as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day hotel operations with a visible presence in guest areas and back-of-house.
• Handle escalated guest queries and complaints, including VIP arrangements and room moves.
• Review occupancy, arrivals, departures, groups and events to prevent operational gaps.
• Coordinate with Reception and Housekeeping to ensure rooms are cleaned and ready on time.
• Support department managers during busy periods and ensure procedures and standards are followed.
• Manage shift cover, address last-minute staffing gaps and coach staff on the floor.
• Log maintenance issues, carry out health, safety and security checks and escalate incidents.
• Coordinate with the F&B and events teams on guest numbers and timings.
• Identify service issues and drive improvements, keeping the GM and DGM updated.
• Balance with hotel strategy; provide hands-on coordination and support across the hotel.

Job description

Hotel Operations Manager

VANRATH are delighted to be working with a well-established 4-star hotel in Belfast to recruit a Hotel Operations Manager. This is a newly created, hands-on role for someone who leads from the floor, keeping the property running smoothly day to day and making sure standards are consistently met.

You’ll work closely with the department managers, supporting busy periods, resolving issues quickly and following them through to completion. The focus is on delivery and accountability rather than hotel-wide strategy.

Salary: Competitive, depending on experience

Hours: Full-time, 37.5 hours per week, with flexibility to work evenings and weekends

Location: Belfast

About the Role

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day hotel operations with a strong, visible presence in guest areas and back-of-house, walking the property daily to check standards and presentation
• Deal personally with escalated guest queries and complaints, and follow through on VIP arrangements, room moves and special requests
• Review the day's occupancy, arrivals, departures, groups, events and staffing so operational gaps are solved before guests notice
• Work with Reception and Housekeeping to ensure rooms are cleaned, inspected and ready on time, carrying out regular room checks
• Support department managers during busy periods, and make sure agreed procedures, checklists and standards are followed consistently
• Check shift cover, resolve last‑minute staffing gaps, and coach supervisors and team members on the spot
• Log and track maintenance defects until resolved, carry out routine health, safety and security checks, and ensure incidents are recorded and escalated promptly
• Coordinate with the food and beverage and events teams on guest numbers, timings and special requirements
• Identify service issues and bottlenecks, put agreed improvements in place, and keep the General Manager and Deputy General Manager updated on issues, actions and risks
• Hotel strategy, budgets and senior decisions stay with the General Manager and Deputy General Manager. This role provides hands-on coordination and support across the hotel.

What You Will Need

Essential

• Experience in hotel operations, duty management or a similar hands-on hospitality management role
• A good understanding of reception, housekeeping and guest service, and how departments work together day to day
• Confident being on the floor, taking ownership of problems and seeing them through
• Strong at prioritising, juggling competing demands and staying calm under pressure
• Able to coach supervisors and colleagues while respecting reporting lines
• Practical knowledge of hotel health, safety and security standards
• Comfortable with hotel systems, checklists, shift reporting and basic operational KPIs
• Flexible to work evenings and weekends as needed

What's on Offer

• Competitive salary, depending on experience
• 28 days' holiday for full-time staff
• Pension scheme
• Free parking
• Employee discounts on hotel stays and dining, plus friends and family rates
• Training, development and clear progression opportunities
• Long service recognition