Managing Director

Red Nucleus; Crawley; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading hospitality group is seeking an experienced Managing Director to oversee a new hotel project in Crawley, United Kingdom. The successful candidate will manage everything from redevelopment to opening, ensuring operational excellence across all services. This hands-on role requires strong leadership, commercial awareness, and the ability to deliver on ambitious timelines. Ideal candidates will have a proven track record in high-profile hotel projects and a strong focus on team development and financial performance.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience at Managing Director or General Manager level in a 4 or 5 star hotel.
• Proven experience in pre-opening, redevelopment, or major refurbishment projects.
• Operational expertise across rooms, F&B, spa and wellness.

Responsibilities

• Delivering the full operational hotel from redevelopment stage to opening.
• Overseeing systems implementation, SOPs, and service standards.
• Building and developing a large multi-disciplinary team.
• Managing all pre-opening and post-opening project phases.

Skills

Leadership

Commercial awareness

Operational management

Project management

Stakeholder management

Job description

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced Managing Director to take full ownership of a new, high-profile hospitality project from redevelopment through to opening and day-to-day operations. The project includes luxury accommodation, several food and beverage outlets, a spa, wellness facilities, and a coffee shop. It needs a Managing Director with enough operational depth and commercial discipline to deliver a fully functioning hotel on time and to standard. You'll lead the pre-opening plan, build the full leadership team, implement all systems and procedures, and take responsibility for financial performance from the earliest stages. It's a hands‑on role with real pressure points, especially around construction timelines, recruitment, and brand development. Anyone expecting a comfortable or light-touch MD job will struggle here.

Responsibilities

• Delivering the full operational hotel from redevelopment stage to opening.
• Overseeing systems implementation, SOPs, and service standards.
• Building and developing a large multi-disciplinary team.
• Full P&L responsibility, forecasting, commercial planning, and cost management.
• Leading supplier relationships, procurement, and contract negotiation.
• Ensuring operational performance across rooms, F&B, spa, gym and wellness.
• Working closely with senior stakeholders on timelines, budgets and brand positioning.
• Managing all pre-opening and post-opening project phases.

Qualifications

• Senior leadership experience at Managing Director or General Manager level in a 4 or 5 star hotel.
• Proven experience in pre-opening, redevelopment, or major refurbishment projects.
• Operational expertise across rooms, F&B, spa and wellness.
• Track record of building and leading large teams.
• Full P&L ownership with strong commercial awareness.
• Strong systems experience across hotel, property or membership management.
• Experience implementing SOPs and service standards.
• Supplier management and procurement experience.

Desirable Experience

• Background in hotels with multiple outlets (restaurant, bar, spa, gym, coffee shop).
• Experience collaborating with construction or design teams.
• Marketing or brand development experience.
• Familiarity with the hospitality market in Ireland or Northern Ireland.

Key Strengths

• Confident leadership and a track record of developing people.
• Strong commercial judgement and financial literacy.
• Ability to manage complex timelines and project deliverables.
• Clear communication and strong stakeholder management.
• High attention to detail and commitment to quality.
• Strategic mindset with practical follow-through.
• Comfortable working in a fast-moving, hands-on environment.

Personal Attributes

• Professional, credible and able to represent a high-end hospitality brand.
• Practical, solutions-focused and steady under pressure.
• Customer-focused with a genuine passion for hospitality.
• Resilient, decisive and comfortable with accountability.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and continuous improvement mentality.