About Douneside House and Spa
Originally the home of the MacRobert family, Douneside House is now owned and run by The MacRobert Trust, a charitable organisation, as a 4-star country house hotel. It is set within 17 acres of beautifully tended gardens with panoramic views and is surrounded by the spectacular setting of Royal Deeside.
We are embarking on an exciting journey with the development of a brand-new, luxurious spa facility. This is a unique opportunity for an experienced spa professional to take a leadership role while being directly involved in shaping the spa's future.
About the Role
Reporting to the Joint Hotel Managers, the Spa Manager will lead the operations of the newly refurbished Douneside House Spa. This is a unique opportunity to shape a brand-new position with the autonomy to lead and innovate, whilst also being hands-on with clients. Your exceptional customer service, dedication to quality, and drive to boost sales will be the cornerstone of this role. Working alongside the management team, you will present Douneside House as a premier wellness destination.
At the heart of the Trust lies our benefactor, Lady MacRobert, who believed that people can achieve great things, no matter their backgrounds. We strive to keep alive Lady MacRobert and her family's memory and legacy by creating opportunities and nurturing talent through our training programmes and apprenticeships. Therefore, to be successful in this role, you must have a passion for training and development, as well as be a natural coach and mentor who enjoys nurturing individuals to reach their full potential. You will also be an inspiring leader who motivates your team by setting a positive example, celebrating successes, and building genuinely committed relationships with the local community.
Key Responsibilities
* Manage smooth day-to-day spa operations, ensuring high-quality standards, and excellent customer service
* Drive Spa performance through strategic planning and revenue growth initiatives
* Successful team management – ensure adequate cover of team rota's, regular performance reviews and feedback, accurately implementing people policies and working alongside the People Manager to deliver effective recruitment and inductions
* Champion a coaching and training culture, ensuring everyone is supported to reach their potential
* Ensure the Spa environment is visually and operationally excellent, including cleanliness, ambience and maintenance
* Ensure Spa operations are in compliance with SOP's and health and safety procedures, and encourage high levels of wellbeing amongst the team
* Proactively address guest feedback and concerns, ensuring prompt resolution
* Deliver a flexible proportion of spa treatments based on guest demand, setting service standards for the team
* Collaborate with the Hotel Manager and other departments to meet financial goals, optimise occupancy, and drive revenue growth
* Manage spa systems and software, ensuring effective use by all team members for bookings and reporting
* Proactively identify opportunities for innovation and improvement within the Spa, proposing and, with the support of the wider team, implementing new ideas and projects
* Play a central role in the planning and development of the new spa facility, shaping design, service menu, and guest experiences.
Required Qualifications, Behaviours & Experience
* Substantial luxury spa experience and confident in running day-to-day operations to a high standard
* Qualified Therapist (NVQ in Spa Therapy Level 3 or above)
* Warm, professional, and guest-focused demeanour
* Results-focused, good commercial awareness and a track record of meeting budgets and driving ROI
* Natural coach and mentor who takes pride in developing others
* Enthusiasm, positivity and adaptability
* Hands-on leader and excellent attention to detail
* Proficient with Microsoft packages
* Able to work a mixture of shifts, regularly including opening, closing and weekends
Desirable
* Pool Plant Operations qualification and either Pool Responder or National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
To apply, please submit your up-to-date CV by 26th September 2025. We may close the advert earlier depending on the number of applications that we receive.
The MacRobert Trust is a dynamic and forward-thinking charity committed to taking positive action on diversity and inclusion. We believe that people can achieve great things, no matter their backgrounds. Our mission is to create opportunities and nurture talent so everyone can reach their full potential.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £34,000.00-£37,000.00 per year
Benefits:
* Additional leave
* Company pension
* Employee discount
* Enhanced maternity leave
* Free parking
* Life insurance
* On-site gym
* Paid volunteer time
* Sick pay
Work Location: In person