Hotel Operations Manager

Saint Paul's Road, Bristol, BS8 1LX, UNITED KINGDOM

Ready to lead a brilliant team and make your mark on a boutique guesthouse in the heart of Clifton?

We’re looking for a friendly, commercially-minded and guest-focussed Hotel Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations and financial performance of The Washington Guesthouse .

Located in the heart of Clifton, The Washington is a welcoming boutique guesthouse known for its comfortable rooms, thoughtful in-rooms touches, freshly prepared breakfasts and warm hospitality. Most importantly, it’s home to an outstanding, genuinely friendly team who take pride in making every guest feel welcome.

This is a hands-on management role offering real ownership, variety and the support of an experienced Senior Manager, who will work at the hotel three days a week to provide guidance and training. As such, while some level of leadership experience is needed, those who are more junior in their management careers and looking to take a step towards management in a supportive environment are welcome to apply.

The Hotel Operations Manager role in a snapshot...

Location: the Washington Guesthouse in Clifton, Bristol

Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week (5 shifts)

Typical shifts: In a typical week you’ll work 4x 8am-4pm days (typically on weekdays, with some flexibility where required), and 1x reception desk shift each week (either 7am-3pm or 2pm-10pm, either on a weekday or a weekend according to business needs)

Salary: On-target package of £34,750 per annum - this comprises a basic salary of £29,250 plus up to £5,500 per annum in on-target annual bonuses.

What you’ll be doing as Hotel Operations Manager:

Taking responsibility for the hotel’s operational and financial success

Leading, supporting and developing the reception and breakfast teams

Forecasting revenue and working with our Revenue and Reservations teams to achieve targets

Monitoring invoices, payments, commission statements and financial processes

Encouraging direct bookings and ensuring agreed KPIs are achieved

Maintaining an excellent guest experience from initial enquiry to post-stay follow-up

Responding professionally to online reviews and acting on guest feedback

Managing rotas, holidays, absence, training and staffing levels

Overseeing the breakfast operation and working closely with other departments such as housekeeping and our nearby sister restaurant, Racks

Ensuring the hotel is welcoming, well presented and operating smoothly

Maintaining high standards of health and safety, fire safety, food safety and water hygiene

Working an average of one reception shift per week and helping with operational cover when required

Working collaboratively with HR and other departments across the Quarter group

What we’re looking for in our Hotel Operations Manager:

A warm, confident people person who enjoys working with guests and colleagues

Previous experience in hotel, hospitality or customer facing environments, ideally with some supervisory or leadership experience

A positive leader who can motivate, support and develop a team

A good head for numbers and a commercially focused approach

Strong organisation, problem-solving and decision-making skills

Excellent attention to detail, able to multitask with consistently high standards

A proactive team player who is happy to get stuck in

Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Excel

Flexibility to support the hotel according to business needs

Why join us as Hotel Operations Manager?

Excellent long term progression opportunities (see our people page for some inspiring stories!)

Strong support – our Project and Development Manager, who is currently holding the fort at the Washington, will continue working at the hotel three days a week, helping to train and guide you as you settle into the role

The Washington is part of Quarter, so you can look forward to a staff discount - this will give you a 20%-50% discount in all our restaurants , and will entitle you to fantastic friends and family rates within our hotels

Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 support, national discounts and other wellbeing advice

50% off HowTheLightGetsIn festival tickets for you, your friends and family

The opportunity to work within an award winning independent hospitality company

Pension contribution

First Bus travel discount (10% off)

Cycle to work scheme + secure bike storage

Competitive Gym membership at Anytime Fitness on Queen's Road in Clifton and other local discounts including hairdressers, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Hospitality Rewards scheme and a very handy B&Q + Tradepoint discount

Regular company socials - Quarter holds regular parties for our staff to say thank you (with free food and a few free drinks!)

Uniform provided

Ongoing training and support

Working pattern

Full-time (40 hours per week), worked across 5 days

4 of your weekly shifts will usually be 8am - 4pm

1 of your weekly shifts will be a reception desk shift (as per the rota - either an early shift, 7am-3pm, or a late shift, 2pm-10pm)

Some flexibility will be needed on busy arrival days and according to the needs of the hotel

You’ll provide Duty Manager/on-call support for one evening each week

You’ll also join the weekend Duty Manager rota, covering approximately one weekend in every five

Next steps:

We’ll be in touch with suitable applicants to arrange an initial phone interview – success at that stage would lead to face-to-face Zoom interview, and success at that stage would lead to a final, in-person interview.

Applications close Friday 25th September 2026 - but don’t hang about; we’ll interview as we go and may close the role early!

Screening Questions

• Do you have experience in a similar role?
• Why would you like to join us as Hotel Operations Manager at the Washington Gueshouse?
• Describe your customer service and / or leadership experience (or any related experience for this position)