Hotel Operations Manager in England

Key Details

• Location: Castle Cary, Somerset, England
• Compensation: £65,000 per annum plus bonus and benefits package
• Reports to: General Manager
• Requirements: Full right to work in the United Kingdom
• Relocation: Required; relocation assistance available
• Note: A driving licence is recommended due to the estate’s rural location

Overview

Sataya is representing a highly regarded luxury country estate in Somerset, operating as one of the more distinctive hotel offerings in the UK market. The property holds 3 Michelin Keys and operates across two interconnected sites: a Grade II listed manor house with 23 bedrooms and a sensitively restored farmyard conversion with a further 17, giving a combined hotel operation of 40 rooms across multiple dining spaces, a spa and extensive estate grounds. The estate has a clear identity rooted in its land, its produce and the craftsmanship behind how it presents to guests. It is not a conventional hotel environment. The guest experience is shaped by the estate’s own farming, gardens and seasonal story, and every operational department is expected to reflect that.

The Hotel Operations Manager sits at the centre of this, responsible for the day-to-day performance of the hotel across both properties. This is a hands-on senior leadership role with genuine accountability for standards, people and commercial performance. The successful candidate will work closely with senior leadership and head of department level teams across front of house, food and beverage, housekeeping and spa.

Scope of Role

• Operational Leadership & Team Management
  • Oversee daily hotel operations across both properties, ensuring a seamless and consistent guest experience throughout
  • Lead, develop and support heads of department across front of house, housekeeping, food and beverage and spa
  • Champion a culture of high standards, accountability and genuine care for the guest
  • Oversee recruitment, onboarding and ongoing team development across the hotel
  • Act as a visible and senior operational presence across both sites
• Guest Experience & Service Standards
  • Set and maintain the standard of guest experience across every touchpoint, from arrival through to departure
  • Ensure the estate’s identity, centred around its produce, gardens and seasonal story, is consistently reflected in how guests are received and looked after
  • Monitor guest feedback and lead structured improvement across all departments
  • Support the delivery of exceptional food and beverage experiences, which sit at the heart of the estate’s offering
  • Ensure consistency in presentation, cleanliness and atmosphere across both properties
• Commercial Performance & Operational Efficiency
  • Manage budgets, labour planning and forecasting across hotel operations
  • Take responsibility for financial performance within the hotel department and contribute to broader estate targets
  • Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency without compromising on the quality of the experience
  • Ensure full compliance with health, safety and regulatory requirements across the operation

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Proven senior operational experience within a luxury hotel, country house or estate environment
• A track record of leading multiple departments simultaneously, including food and beverage, housekeeping and front of house
• Commercially capable, with experience across budgeting, labour management and financial reporting
• Strong food and beverage knowledge and a genuine appreciation for high-end dining operations
• A hands-on leader who can hold standards and develop teams without losing the warmth that defines a guest-led environment
• Well-organised and resilient, with the ability to manage complexity across a busy multi-outlet operation
• Comfortable working in an environment with a strong identity and clear values, where the detail matters
• Eligible to work in the United Kingdom and willing to relocate to Somerset

Why Our Client

• One of the most distinctive luxury hospitality environments in the UK, with genuine critical acclaim and a strong, clear identity that sets it apart from conventional hotel operations
• A rare opportunity to take genuine senior ownership across a fully integrated, multi-site estate operation with real breadth and complexity
• A business that invests seriously in its people, its product and its physical environment, with the estate continuing to grow and evolve
• Strong benefits package including spa access, estate dining, generous leave and a relocation package for the right candidate
• The chance to work in an environment where the detail genuinely matters and where operational excellence is valued at every level of the business

This represents a confidential search conducted on behalf of our client. Given the nature of the property and the seniority of the hire, further details will be shared with shortlisted candidates only.