At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and optimise operations for premium retreats across multiple destinations.
- Company: Fast-growing experience-led travel business focused on wellbeing and adventure.
- Benefits: Excellent salary, performance bonuses, 25 days leave plus birthday off, and training events.
- Why this job: Join a dynamic team and shape the future of luxury travel experiences.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in operational roles within travel or hospitality, strong leadership skills.
- Other info: Remote-first role with exciting international travel opportunities.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Have a genuine passion for fitness and wellbeing, thrive in highly organised, fast-moving environments, and enjoy being hands-on when it counts? Are you flexible and excited to travel regularly to resort locations, supporting live operations on the ground? Do you naturally spot risks, gaps or issues before they arise, putting solutions in place to ensure every tour runs seamlessly and delights guests rather than disappoints?
If you’re someone who combines calm leadership, sharp operational thinking and exceptional organisation with a love of premium, experience-led travel, this could be the role for you.
Our Customer
We are excited to be recruiting exclusively for a Head of Operations to support an ambitious and fast-growing, experience-led business. Our customer designs and delivers premium retreats in inspiring destinations worldwide, combining wellbeing, adventure and outstanding hospitality. With international growth underway, they are focused on strengthening their operational foundations while protecting the quality of the guest experience.
They are seeking a Head of Operations to join the team and help shape the next phase of growth. This role suits someone commercially minded, highly organised and people-focused, who enjoys working in a fast-paced environment. You will balance strategic oversight with hands-on delivery, ensuring operations run smoothly as the business scales.
As a Head of Operations, you will benefit from an excellent salary, performance-based bonus, 25 days’ annual leave plus your birthday off, and access to training events and retreats. The role is remote-first, with weekly travel into London, flexible hours to support global collaboration, and frequent international travel, particularly in the first year.
Job Description
In this role you will take overall responsibility for the delivery of day-to-day operations across multiple destinations, leading people, partners and processes to ensure consistent, high-quality experiences as the business grows.
- Oversee end-to-end operational delivery across all destinations, ensuring smooth and safe execution
- Lead, motivate and develop in-resort teams and operational leadership, maintaining high performance standards
- Plan and manage resourcing, rostering and staffing needs to support peak and live delivery periods
- Support recruitment, onboarding and readiness of in-resort teams in line with operational demand
- Build and manage strong supplier and partner relationships, including contracts and service performance
- Design, implement and refine scalable systems and processes to support growth
- Identify, assess and mitigate operational risks, including crisis and contingency planning
- Drive efficiency, cost control and continuous improvement across operations
- Act as a trusted operational partner to senior leadership, contributing to strategic initiatives
- Remain hands-on when required, particularly during live operations or high-pressure periods
Experience Required
- Must have at least 3 years in an operational role within travel, hospitality, events
- Experience working in fast-paced, scaling businesses or start-up environments
- Proven ability to lead international teams and oversee complex, multi-location operations
- Strong track record of designing and embedding scalable operational frameworks
- Hands-on people leader with the ability to motivate, support and develop teams
- Confident moving between strategic planning and day-to-day delivery
- Experience handling incidents, disruptions or crisis situations
- Exposure to premium retreats, events or high-end experience-led brands
- Comfortable collaborating across time zones and managing global stakeholders
Benefits and Perks
- Remote-first setup with regular London meet-ups
- Frequent travel opportunities across Europe and worldwide
- 25 days’ annual leave plus a birthday day off
- Training events and retreats
HEAD OF IN-RESORT OPERATIONS employer: Ambitions - Your Luxury Leisure Travel, Hospitality, Lifestyle & Events Recruitment Partner
Contact Detail:
Ambitions - Your Luxury Leisure Travel, Hospitality, Lifestyle & Events Recruitment Partner Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land HEAD OF IN-RESORT OPERATIONS
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the travel and hospitality industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about asking for introductions. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its culture. Understand their values and how they align with your passion for fitness and wellbeing. Tailor your responses to show how you can contribute to their mission of delivering premium experiences.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your hands-on experience! Be ready to discuss specific examples where you've led teams or managed operations in fast-paced environments. Highlight your ability to spot risks and implement solutions that ensure seamless operations.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always looking for passionate individuals who thrive in dynamic settings like this one. So, go ahead and hit that apply button!
We think you need these skills to ace HEAD OF IN-RESORT OPERATIONS
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion: Let your genuine passion for fitness and wellbeing shine through in your application. We want to see how you connect with the values of our customer and how that aligns with your own experiences.
Be Organised: Since this role thrives in a fast-moving environment, make sure your application is well-structured and easy to read. Highlight your organisational skills and any relevant experience that showcases your ability to manage multiple tasks effectively.
Tailor Your Experience: Don’t just list your past roles; tailor your experience to match the job description. We’re looking for someone who can lead international teams and oversee complex operations, so make sure to emphasise those aspects in your application.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates regarding your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at Ambitions - Your Luxury Leisure Travel, Hospitality, Lifestyle & Events Recruitment Partner
✨Know Your Operations Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into the company's operational framework. Understand their processes, challenges, and successes in delivering premium experiences. This will not only show your genuine interest but also allow you to discuss how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
Prepare examples that highlight your calm leadership and ability to motivate teams. Think of specific situations where you led a team through high-pressure scenarios or resolved conflicts effectively. This will demonstrate your hands-on approach and people-focused mindset.
✨Be Ready for Scenario Questions
Expect questions about crisis management and operational risks. Prepare to discuss how you've identified potential issues in the past and the solutions you implemented. This will showcase your sharp operational thinking and proactive nature.
✨Highlight Your Passion for Travel and Wellbeing
Since the role is centred around premium retreats and wellbeing, share your personal experiences related to travel and fitness. Discuss how these passions drive your work ethic and commitment to delivering exceptional guest experiences.