Contract: 37.5 hours per week, permanent,
5 days out of 7, including a minimum of one weekend day per week
About the role
We are looking for a well-organised, experienced and flexible person to join our team. We are a registered charity caring for the historic Grade 1 listed Sharpham House and Estate on the banks of the River Dart near to Totnes. At the heart of the Sharpham Trust ethos is our desire to build a more mindful, compassionate and environmentally sustainable world. We connect people with nature and foster mindfulness and well-being through our programme of retreats, mindfulness courses, public events, outdoor learning and the arts.
This management team role is vital to the effective and smooth running of the organisation. You will be responsible for managing the day-to-day operation of our retreat venues including Sharpham House, the Coach House, our seasonal campsite and holiday lets. Managing a team of house assistants and cooks and supported by two Assistant Managers, you will help ensure that all guests are well looked after and have a comfortable and rewarding experience during their stay at Sharpham. The role will include liaising with staff and leaders from our own retreats, as well as those from external hire groups.
You will be responsible for staff rotas, record keeping, responding to enquiries, venue show rounds, overseeing catering staff, implementing Health & Safety, ordering provisions, monitoring costs and ensuring the smooth turnover of the venues on changeover days. The role will also be involved in the delivery of the limited number of weddings we host annually. The retreats and hires are planned and delivered by other members of the team and our freelance leaders.
The Manager will line manage and be supported by two part-time Assistant Managers (3 days pw each) as well as various members of the Trust Staff team who are responsible for: programming, finance, marketing, bookings, health and safety, property management, gardening and catering. The overall Trust is governed by a board of volunteer Trustees who set the overall direction and strategy. This is a varied role, within a small team, in an organisation that has seen significant growth in the last few years.
About you
This is a role for someone with relevant hospitality experience who is well organised with excellent communication skills and the ability to work on their own initiative, as part of a small team. We are looking for someone who understands that hospitality at Sharpham is about creating a welcoming, caring and grounded environment in which people can rest, connect and participate in our programmes. You will have previous experience in a management role and be able to manage multiple priorities and always achieve high standards. Alignment with the Trusts values and an interest our charitable work and mindfulness would also be an advantage. Staff are able to access the Trust’s programme of courses and retreats and employer’s pension scheme.
For this role you will need to be able to travel to Sharpham House which is not served by public transport.
Apply
To apply, please complete our application form attached and return to admin@sharphamtrust.org
CVs or incomplete application forms are not accepted.
Closing Dates: 9am Wednesday 14th October 2026
Interviews: Monday 19th October 2026
Further Information
Please see our website for further information.
The day-to-day operation of our venues is being integrated and will be overseen by the Retreat Venue Manager, supported by the two Assistant Managers, with the aim that one of them is onsite most days. This will enable more consistency, efficient staffing, integrated management and cost control. There is a core team of contracted housekeepers and cooks supplemented by casual staff when required.
Sharpham House
The Main House is a Georgian mansion dating from 1765 which now operates as a mindfulness retreat centre. There are 24 bedrooms of various sizes and 10 bathrooms. A team of housekeepers look after the cleaning, support at mealtimes and clean during changeover days between groups. Our own retreats or external hire groups run every week of the year with varying lengths between 3 and 6 nights. The cooks produce vegetarian food, which is served buffet style and guests help with washing up. The House Manager or Assistant Managers help welcome guests and groups at the beginning of their stay and deal with any issues day to day. There is a live in Caretaker who deals with simple maintenance and is on call.
The Coach House
The stable yard was converted five years ago and has 18 bedrooms, 12 of which are en-suite. It operates both as a separate centre and sometimes in tandem with the Main House. It has its own kitchen to provide meals staffed by two part-time cooks. The Housekeeping team support at mealtimes and carry out cleaning and changeovers.
Woodland Campsite
The Woodland Campsite operates seasonally from June to September with guests staying in bell tents. There is a seasonal campsite manager whom the housekeeping team support. Catering is done by the Sharpham House kitchen with food transported up to the campsite. There are plans to replace the tents with timber pods in the future.
Holiday Lets
Currently the Trust operates two popular holiday lets The Bathing House and the Boathouse which are adjacent to each other on the riverbank below Sharpham House. The housekeeping team clean the properties on changeover days. Bookings are handled by an external website provider.
Weddings
Up to half a dozen weddings can take place at weekends in Sharpham House annually although this has recently reduced as external hire groups have increased. The Retreat Venue Manager will liaise with the wedding couple and oversee the wedding but the Trust does not provide the catering.
Retreat Venue Manager in Totnes employer: The Sharpham Trust
The Sharpham Trust is an exceptional employer, offering a unique opportunity to work in a historic and tranquil setting on the banks of the River Dart. As a registered charity, we foster a supportive work culture that prioritises mindfulness and well-being, providing employees with opportunities for personal growth and development through our diverse programmes. Joining our expanding team means being part of a dedicated community that values collaboration and strives to create meaningful experiences for all participants.
