Overview
We are looking for a leader who is strategic and hands-on, who can think and adapt to different situations quickly, and who is able to communicate calmly in frequently changing situations. The responsibilities of the role are broad and involve moving rapidly between planning for the future and managing in the everyday. This role requires a hands-on approach, whereby you are expected to lead by example and have a good understanding of menu development and delivery as well as strong customer service.
Salary: Highly competitive, dependent on experience and skills (GBP 45,000 – GBP 50,000) + Benefits
Hours: Full-time, permanent (40 hours per week); no split shifts.
Location: Ampleforth Abbey, YO62
Closing date: 29 August 2025
About Ampleforth Abbey
Ampleforth Abbey is home to the UKs largest Benedictine monastic community, rooted in the Rule of St Benedict. Our mission is to seek God through prayer and service, and to invite others to experience faith in action.
Located in the Howardian Hills near York, the Abbey sits within an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and welcomes thousands of visitors each year to its Retreat Centre, Visitor Centre, Shop and Tea Room.
Ampleforth Abbey Trust, a registered charity, works alongside the monastic community to support this mission. With around 60 lay staff, the Trust delivers on a five:year strategy, choosing a Future Together, to ensure a sustainable, faith:led future for the Abbey and its valley home.
Responsibilities
* Lead and ensure the smooth and efficient running of all guest and visitor operations from reservation to operational delivery
* Deliver new activities that complement our existing offer.
* Monitor and evaluate operational standards and identify ways in which we can improve the visitor and guest experience.
* Monitor and evaluate key commercial metrics to ensure all activities are contributing to the overall mission.
* Act upon feedback to improve the overall visitor and guest experience.
* Ensure all health and safety and safeguarding compliance requirements and documentation are fulfilled across the visitor and guest experience.
* Ensure we are collecting, using and reporting on the right data.
* Ensure that staff and volunteers are kept up to date with appropriate and timely communication.
* Oversee the reservation team, ensuring it takes enquiries, makes accurate bookings, maintains a smooth flow of communication with staying guests, builds the function sheets and ensures a seamless guest experience.
* Oversee the catering and housekeeping departments to provide best of class facilities and service.
Qualifications
* Proven success of operational leadership of a similar visitor destination or in hotel management/operations
* A commitment to the highest standards of food production and customer service
* Outstanding people leadership and management skills, with the ability to organise, inspire and motivate a large front of house team.
* Excellent customer awareness.
* Demonstrable success developing, implementing and evaluating strategic plans which improve the visitor offer.
* Proven experience in a line management role, including experience of recruiting, managing performance, coaching and developing a team.
* Proven budget management experience and a commercial approach
* Good knowledge of drawing on audience research, data and trends to inform visitor programming, experiences and operations.
* Experience of directing, and contributing to, the marketing function.
Skills and Attributes
* Excellent communication
* Integrity, professionalism and a positive,
Seniority level
* Director
Employment type
* Full-time
Job function
* Management and Manufacturing
Industries
* Advertising Services
#J-18808-Ljbffr