Operations Manager in Newcastle upon Tyne

Dakota Hotel based in Newcastle City Centre are seeking an experienced hospitality leader with a genuine passion for service to join us as Operations Manager, the second-in-command to the Hotel Manager. This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives in a hands-on environment and is committed to driving operational excellence and revenue growth. Ideally situated by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge on the quayside, our hotel will boast 118 bedrooms including stunning 33 suites. Dakota Newcastle will host our renowned Bar & Grill, Champagne Room, Cigar Terrace, and an events space for up to 60.

Contract and Pay Rate

The role carries a permanent contract of 45 hours per week working fully flexible shifts, working any 5 days out of 7 including working weekends. This role carries a gross annual salary of £42,500, plus a £5k performance-based bonus, with a planned start date of 1st April 2026.

Primary Role Responsibilities

• Support the Hotel Manager in leading and inspiring our team across all departments, with a strong emphasis on Food & Beverage operations.
• Act as a floor-based leader during peak dining periods, setting the tone for exceptional service and operational efficiency in the Bar & Grill and event spaces.
• Manage and develop Restaurant Manager, Bar Manager, Duty Managers, coaching them to elevate service delivery and guest experience across all F&B touchpoints.
• Drive revenue through effective menu engineering, upselling strategies, and collaboration with the culinary team to maintain Dakota’s high standards of quality and presentation.
• Oversee compliance with food safety, health & safety legislation, and alcohol licensing regulations, safeguarding guests and team members.
• Monitor and optimise staffing levels for F&B outlets to ensure seamless service while meeting budgeted payroll targets.
• Work closely with the Hotel Manager to identify opportunities for improving dining experiences, beverage programs, and overall guest satisfaction.
• Collaborate with Front of House and Housekeeping leadership to ensure smooth interdepartmental operations and a consistent luxury experience throughout the hotel.
• Maintain accurate stock control, supplier relationships, and cost management to protect margins and deliver financial targets.

Benefits

In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:

• Special discounts on stays and dining at any Dakota.
• Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, as well as access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers.
• Support from our in-house Mental Health Champions.
• Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment.
• Family-friendly flexible working options.
• Meals on duty and uniforming.
• Bonuses to recommend a friend to join our team and every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor.
• Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment.
• Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System.
• Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan.
• Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships.

Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.

About Dakota Hotels

Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle with Manchester Airport coming soon and more in our pipeline.

Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last six years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK for the last two years, where our inclusive culture was spotlighted.

As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’, we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for five consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’ in the industry, demonstrating our success in developing talent.

Applicant Requirements

The successful applicant will have/be:

• At least 5 years’ experience in 4* and 5* hotels. (required)
• A minimum of 3 years’ management experience with demonstrably strong leadership, mentoring, and coaching skills. (required)
• Strong commercial understanding, including participation in P&L reviews, rota management, and KPI setting. (required)
• Varied hotel experience across Food & Beverage and Rooms Division, with a holistic approach to guest experience and revenue generation. (required)
• A sincere love for hospitality with a guest-focused, floor-based leadership style. (required)
• Personal licence, Health and Safety, and Food Hygiene training are highly desirable.
• An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity.
• Be task-oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
• Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.
• Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team.

Apply

Please send us your up-to-date CV. For more information on our luxury hotel, visit our Careers page to learn about current opportunities and find your #DreamRolesAtDakota – we’d love to hear from you!