General Manager

Hand Picked Hotels was founded in 2001 by owner, Chairman and CEO, Julia Hands MBE. Julia’s love of historical buildings, the English countryside, local food and good wine inspired her dream to own a collection of hotels that would celebrate these passions and invite others to share in them.

Today, the family‑owned group has 21 unique luxury country houses and coastal retreats, each hand‑picked for their individuality. Architecturally distinctive and quintessentially British, every hotel boasts an extraordinary location from Scotland to the Channel Islands, offering breathtaking views from vast countryside to expansive beaches to lush woodlands.

Dedicated to creating unique and enchanting stays, curated personalised service runs through the heart of every hotel. Whilst each hotel is individual, each property fulfills the company values of family, individuality, community and care, with a team rooted in their commitment to aim higher and delight their guests with magical experiences that offer a true escape from the everyday.

We are currently recruiting for a General Manager for Ettington Park Hotel, an amazing opportunity to join Hand Picked Hotels and take up the reins of this stunning 4‑Red‑Star Luxury Hotel and award‑winning dining operation. You will have the opportunity to be a key influencer, be part of our journey as we continue to focus on a transformation journey at Hand Picked Hotels with an emphasis on driving our philosophy of service, excellence and consistency.

As the General Manager you will be responsible for providing inspirational and dynamic leadership to your colleagues at an exciting time in Hand Picked Hotels’ journey to be recognised as the leading British collection of exclusive hotels delivering exceptional personal service.

About The Role

• As General Manager you will be fully accountable for exceeding guest expectations and delivering financial goals and objectives alongside team management.
• The General Manager is responsible for leading the hotel team to continually strengthen Hand Picked Hotels’ reputation in the market for hospitality, with service, excellence and consistency always being front and centre.
• As the owner of the Hotel’s P&L, you will be an experienced innovator who enjoys leading from the front with passion, heart and soul, inspiring, motivating, coaching and developing colleagues so they reach their maximum potential.
• You will inspire, motivate and develop your team to continually surpass guest expectations, while identifying and delivering new revenue streams and opportunities to engage with the local community.
• Be the face of Hand Picked Hotels in your area and foster a positive, healthy work environment, leading by example to promote the company’s vision, purpose and values and drive the overall philosophy of service, excellence and consistency.
• Be responsible for driving implementation of central initiatives and representing the hotel’s needs to the central teams.

About You

• You must have current experience as a General Manager within a luxury hotel environment, with experience of delivering and exceeding LQA or Forbes level service standards.
• This is not your first appointment; it requires an experienced General Manager with rounded hotel operations, commerciality and a proven track record of delivering a consistent and exceptional guest journey and experience.
• You must demonstrate solid commercial acumen, with the ability to drive sales, seek new revenue streams and partnerships that increase profitability.
• You have experience of business planning, developing and implementing new initiatives to drive sales, while delivering a bespoke high‑end guest experience.
• You have a proven track record in people management, coaching and development, and are an experienced innovator who will inspire others with your passion and flair, creating a winning team mentality.
• Previous experience of project and CAPEX management would be advantageous.
• You will have up‑to‑date knowledge of statutory obligations, including health and safety and compliance.
• You are proficient in hotel software, Opera, Excel and Office 365.

Benefits

• Excellent salary package, with bonus discussed at interview stage.
• Company pension scheme with a generous employer contribution of 10% of base salary.
• Life assurance.
• Employee Assistance Program to support you with whatever life throws at you.
• Company sickness scheme benefit.
• 33 days of holiday, including bank holidays.
• Forward career progression, with access to in‑house and external training programmes, including apprenticeships and other recognised hospitality industry courses supported by our learning and development team.
• Discounts on staff stays and off‑food and beverage.
• Annual loyalty awards (afternoon teas and overnight stays).
• An online retail discount platform offering thousands of savings with high‑street retailers and restaurants, as well as a health and well‑being platform.
• Opportunity to make lifelong friendships and be part of a team that celebrates diversity and inclusion.