Operations Manager - Dakota Manchester Airport opening summer 2026

We’re preparing to open our largest hotel yet, Dakota Manchester Airport, launching in early summer 2026. This brand-new property will feature our signature Bar & Grill and deliver the exceptional guest experience Dakota is known for. We are looking for 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.

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. It comes with a competitive salary and a target-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.
• Manage and develop Duty Managers, Reception Manager, Night Manager, and Head Concierge, coaching them to elevate service delivery across all guest touchpoints.
• Lead Reception and Concierge teams to deliver seamless arrivals, departures, and personalised guest service that reflects Dakota’s high standards.
• Oversee the effective use of the PMS and related systems to optimise room allocation, billing accuracy, and guest profiles, ensuring smooth workflows.
• Act as a floor-based leader during peak times, setting the tone for exceptional hospitality and operational efficiency.
• Maintain health & safety standards, licensing regulations, and operational policies, safeguarding both guests and team members.
• Collaborate with Food & Beverage, Maintenance and Housekeeping leadership to ensure smooth interdepartmental operations and uphold service standards across the entire guest journey.
• Oversee rotas to guarantee service excellence while meeting budgeted payroll 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

• 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 Rooms Division and Food & Beverage, 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!