Head of Facilities and
Estates
Location: Ardencote Manor,
Warwickshire
About Us
Barons Eden is a collection
of iconic spa and hotel destinations where exceptional service and luxurious
experiences come to life. From stately architecture and serene grounds to
immersive wellness retreats, every detail matters and you’ll be at the heart of
making sure it all runs flawlessly.
Ardencote Manor is a luxury
countryside resort set in the heart of Warwickshire, renowned for its
exceptional hospitality, award-winning spa facilities, fine dining, and
outstanding guest experiences. Currently closed as part of an exciting
full-site refurbishment, Ardencote Manor is investing in a significant
transformation of its facilities, creating a fresh new chapter for both guests
and employees alike. Once reopened, the resort will offer an enhanced luxury
experience within its beautiful surroundings, alongside a professional and
welcoming environment, providing excellent opportunities to build a rewarding
career in hospitality.
About the Role
As Head of Facilities and Estates,
you will play a vital role in planning, executing, and overseeing hotel
renovations, upgrades, and maintenance projects ensuring they are completed to
the highest standard, on time, and within budget. You will lead all engineering
operations across our hotel and spa, ensuring the mechanical, electrical,
plumbing, and HVAC systems are fully compliant, efficient, and reliable. This
role carries responsibility for the overall maintenance and technical integrity
of the property’s estate, grounds, and infrastructure, directly supporting an
exceptional experience for both guests and staff. A strong technical
background, hands-on approach, and passion
for maintaining high-quality facilities and grounds are essential to
enhancing our estate and the overall guest journey.
Key Responsibilities
Maintenance and Operations
* Overseeing the day-to-day maintenance and repair
work of hotel and spa facilities, including guest rooms, spa areas,
restaurants, public spaces, back-of-house areas, grounds, and
biomass.
* Conducting regular inspections of the hotel and
spa’s facilities and grounds to identify potential areas for
improvement or necessary repairs.
* Evaluating the potential risks and challenges
associated with each project, proactively identifying solutions
to mitigate issues before they arise.
* Collaborating with the Spa Operations Team to
support the operation and maintenance of specialised spa equipment,
including water treatment systems, spa pools, hot tubs, and saunas,
ensuring all facilities consistently meet safety, hygiene, and quality
standards.
* Establishing clear performance metrics and service
level agreements (SLAs) with contractors, ensuring that project work is
completed to specification, fully compliant to regulations and RAMS (Risk
Assessment and Method Statement), delivered within agreed timelines, and
aligned with negotiated costs.
* Identifying and implementing operational
efficiencies within the department to enhance performance, reduce costs,
and support overall service excellence.
Team Management
* Leading, managing, and developing the maintenance
and grounds team to ensure the safe and effective operation of all hotel
and spa systems, including electrical, plumbing, HVAC, lifts, and other
critical systems.
* Ensuring the maintenance and grounds team has the
necessary skills, training, and resources to perform their duties
effectively.
* Acting as the primary point of contact for all
renovation and construction-related inquiries, ensuring hotel management,
department heads, and key stakeholders are kept informed on project
progress, challenges, and achievements.
* Assessing training needs within the team and
implement appropriate development initiatives, ensuring
alignment with budgetary constraints and operational
priorities.
* Fostering a supportive and inclusive team culture
by actively promoting mental health awareness and encouraging open, honest
communication within the maintenance and grounds team.
* Demonstrating a commitment to wellbeing by
modelling a healthy work-life balance and encouraging the same across the
team.
* Promoting a culture of respect, inclusion, and
emotional welfare where team members feel valued, listened to, and
confident to raise concerns or ideas.
* Remaining attentive to signs of stress or burnout,
offering appropriate support and guidance, including referrals
to HR or designated wellbeing resources when needed.
Safety and Security
* Ensuring compliance with health and safety
standards, building regulations, environmental regulations, and industry
best practices.
* Participating in crisis management and emergency
procedures to handle any engineering-related issues efficiently.
* Prioritising safety and security in all aspects of
the hotel and spa's operations.
* Implementing and maintaining safety
protocols and procedures.
* Prioritising the guest experience during all
renovation and maintenance activities, carefully managing noise, visual
disruptions, and any potential impact on guest comfort and safety.
* Coordinating works to minimise disruption, adapting
schedules as needed including evening shifts to ensure guest
satisfaction remains uncompromised throughout project
execution.
Planning and Scheduling
* Managing and scheduling preventive maintenance
programs to reduce downtime and increase the longevity of hotel and spa
assets.
* Developing and managing an annual maintenance
budget, ensuring cost-effective solutions for repairs and upgrades. Adjust
where necessary to avoid cost overruns.
* Implementing energy-saving initiatives and
sustainability practices to reduce the hotel and spa’s environmental
footprint.
* Monitoring ongoing costs and report any potential
issues or budget adjustments to senior management in a timely manner,
ensuring transparency and accountability throughout the process.
Quality Control and Asset
Protection
* Maintaining oversight of the project’s timeline,
ensuring that all phases are completed on schedule and that any delays are
managed effectively. You will coordinate with all parties involved to
ensure smooth transitions between phases of work.
* Enforcing strict quality control measures,
inspecting the work being completed to ensure it meets the hotel and
spa’s high standards. If necessary, oversee the testing and
commissioning of new systems, equipment, or installations before they are
integrated into daily operations.
* Responding promptly to management requests related
to maintenance or engineering issues, ensuring minimal disruption to guest
experience.
* Maintaining relationships with contractors,
suppliers, and service providers, ensuring quality service and adherence
to contracts.
* Ensuring the protection of the hotel and spa's
assets through proper maintenance and upkeep.
* Conducting thorough inspections of the renovated
areas and systems, ensuring that all work is completed to satisfaction. If
any issues arise after project completion, take prompt action to resolve
them.
* Collecting feedback from key stakeholders and
incorporate this into future project planning to continuously improve
processes and outcomes.
Personal specification
Essential
* Have proven experience in facilities, engineering,
or estate management, ideally within the hospitality or luxury property
sector.
* Have excellent technical knowledge of building
systems (mep, hvac, biomass, water treatment).
* Be a hands-on leader with excellent planning,
communication, and problem-solving skills.
* Have a track record of managing refurbishment
projects, budgets, and contractor relationships.
* Have a passion for high standards, safety,
sustainability, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
* Be committed to team development, wellbeing, and
inclusive leadership.
Additional Information
* Full-Time - 45 hours per week
* Salary: £55,000 - £60,000
* Full flexibility is required, as shifts will adapt
based on team and business needs
Benefits
* Competitive salary
* Complimentary Spa Day on work anniversaries at any
of our company spas
* Access to the Employee Assistance Program
* 30% discount on overnight stays and spa days
* Discounts on food, drink and retail across our
venues
* Pension scheme
* Free Parking
* Refer-a-Friend scheme
* Excellent Induction and training programme
* Perkbox Online benefits and discounts
* On-line Doctor support (appointments/prescriptions)
* A fun, supportive and inclusive work environment
with loads of development opportunities
Join our family
We value every team member, and
we're excited to support your growth and development in this dynamic role.