House Manager

Role Title: House Manager
Reports to: Director
Grade: Management
Salary: £38,000 to £42,000

Context
The Franciscan Centre Ladywell is a 24-bedroom Catholic Spirituality Centre. Guests come here to retreat from their busy lives to pray, meditate, engage in private or guided retreats, and participate in group courses or meetings. The Centre is a work of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood, a Catholic Congregation of Sisters.
This role is responsible for the management of the house, including three buildings and the quality and standard of the environment and ambience of the house. The House Manager collaborates closely with the Director of the Franciscan Centre, Head Chef, Hospitality Managers, Housekeeping Team, Finance Manager, Operations Director and Head of Estates. Accommodation in a community house may be available.

Purpose of the Role
The primary duties of the House Manager include:

1. Supporting the Director to implement the vision of the Franciscan Centre through high standards of service to guests.
2. Managing all operational aspects of the retreat house, including buildings, grounds, meeting rooms, housekeeping, and cleaning services.
3. Collaborating with the FCL Administration Office for seamless event coordination.
4. Ensuring compliance with Health and Safety, GDPR, and Safeguarding legislation.
5. Overseeing property maintenance and liaising with the Head of Estates and Facilities.
6. Providing support for external groups – both day and residential retreats.
7. Being on-call at night as part of a rota.
8. Deputising for the Director when necessary.

Key Responsibilities and Success Measures

1. Vision and Strategy Implementation
   Collaborate with the Director to achieve the Centre’s vision. Deputise for the Director as required.
2. Operational Management
   Oversee smooth operations, including line management of Head Chef, Housekeeping staff, and Hospitality Managers. Ensure all aspects of maintenance, cleanliness, and service quality are maintained. Ensure the Franciscan ambience in the house is maintained.
3. Compliance and Safety
   Monitor and ensure compliance with Health and Safety (fire checks, PAT testing, etc.), GDPR, and other necessary regulations. Conduct regular risk assessments and ensure PEEPS (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans) are in place when required.
4. Staffing and Training
   Manage personnel records for catering, domestic, and maintenance staff providing copies for centrally held HR files. Recruit, train, and evaluate operational staff.
5. Property and Grounds Maintenance
   Conduct regular inspections and resolve any issues that arise. Collaborate with the Estates Team for required works.
6. Support for External Groups
   Provide high-quality support and hospitality for outside groups.
7. Stock Control and Data Management
   Ensure good stock control and manage the collection of key data (e.g., bed occupancy, evaluations).
8. Weekend and Overnight Duties
   Provide weekend and overnight attendance as needed.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Smooth operation of the Centre with high-quality service delivery. Positive feedback from visitors, especially regarding catering, cleanliness, hospitality and ambience. Planned and routine maintenance carried out according to regulatory standards. Efficient stock control within budget.

Person Specification
Education and Qualifications
Relevant professional training or a degree (Essential)
Hotel Management Qualification (Desirable).

Experience
Experience in organisational and facilities management (e.g. Hotel or private house management or equivalent) (Essential)
Good knowledge of Health and Safety policies and willingness to engage in further training as required. (Essential)
Experience in procurement and stock control (Desirable)

Skills
Excellent communication skills (written and oral) (Essential)
Cooperative team-working abilities (Essential)
Strong organisational and management skills (Essential)
Problem-solving skills and initiative (Essential)
Ability to analyse and report on data (Essential)
Proficient in Microsoft Office, especially Excel (Essential)
Willingness to work flexibly (Essential)

Personal Attributes
Friendly, warm, and sensitive manner in communication (Essential)
Discreet with good judgment (Essential)
Sympathetic to the mission of the Catholic Church and the vision of the Franciscan Centre Ladywell (Essential)
Willingness to engage in formation training in line with the mission and ethos of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Divine Motherhood. (Essential)

To apply we would like applicants to send us a CV and covering letter to recruitment@ladywell.org.uk