DAKOTA NEWCASTLE – OPERATIONS MANAGER
Dakota Hotel in Newcastle is set to open in early 2025, and we’re seeking an experienced and energetic Operations Manager to bring Dakota’s unparalleled standards of service to life. This is an exceptional opportunity to play a leadership role in the city’s newest luxury hotel, creating an extraordinary guest experience and coaching our team to set the standard in hospitality.
As the Operations Manager, you will oversee the daily operations of our luxury hotel, working closely with department heads to maintain Dakota’s signature blend of timeless elegance, tailored guest service, and flawless attention to detail. Your role will be pivotal in ensuring that each guest enjoys an exceptional, bespoke experience that embodies Dakota’s values of luxury, comfort, and seamless service.
Ideally situated by the Gateshead Millennium Bridge on the quayside, our hotel will boast 118 bedrooms including stunning 33 suites. Dakota Newcastle will host our renowned Bar & Grill, Champagne Room, Cigar Terrace, and an events space for up to 60.
If you’re a results-oriented luxury hotels professional who is well-connected within the Newcastle area and ready to take on a developmental journey to hotel management, we’d love to hear from you. This is an exciting chance to shape a landmark property from its beginnings, set new standards of luxury, and make a lasting mark in Newcastle’s hospitality scene.
PRIMARY ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES
* To support the Hotel Manager in leading and effectively managing the performance of our team across all departments, ensuring the highest standards of service possible by personifying the brands’ philosophies and cultural beliefs of positive leadership and sincere engagement.
* Be the direct line manager to our heads of departments, covering Reception, Bar, Grill, Housekeeping, and Maintenance. Engage the management team to challenge and develop them, always working to make our hotel a better place for our guests and team daily.
* Be floor-based and hands-on at all times in running the operation. Be appointed as a Duty Manager, responsible for the day-to-day management of the Hotel including overseeing the welfare and working environment of our team.
* Be appointed as a H&S ‘responsible person’ onsite and therefore action the corporate governance activities of the Hotel including, but not limited to, compliance to health and safety legislation and alcohol licensing regulations.
* Review rotas for your areas of responsibility to ensure staffing levels are always adequate to provide the level of guest service required of being a high-end hotel whilst also meeting budgeted payroll costs.
ABOUT DAKOTA HOTELS
Dakota is a growing UK-based lifestyle brand, known for our stylish hotels, bustling brasserie Grills and upscale cocktail Bars. Dakota’s story started with two boutique hotels on the outskirts of Edinburgh, in South Queensferry, and Glasgow, in Eurocentral. We have now expanded into prime city centre locations in Glasgow, Leeds, and Manchester, with Newcastle opening early 2025 and more in our pipeline.
Dakota is synonymous for delivering attentive and genuine guest service. We attract hard-working individuals who are passionate about working to the highest standards and have been voted within The Caterer’s Top 15 Best Employers in Hospitality for the last five years in a row. We were also featured within the Top 10 employers in the 2024 Sunday Times Best Places to Work in the UK, as well as being awarded the Spotlight Award for Best Places to Work for LGBTQIA+ employees.
As recent winners of The Cateys ‘People Team of the Year’, we have award-winning internal training programmes within Dakota Academy fostering continuous development and ongoing training. As a result, over 75% of our leaders have been promoted internally and, for four consecutive years, a member of our team has won a prestigious Acorn Award awarded by The Caterer to the ‘Top 30 under 30’ in the industry, demonstrating our success in developing talent.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
Successful candidates must demonstrate having researched our brand and a genuine desire to be part of our team. The successful applicant will have/be:
* At least 5 years’ experience in 4* and 5* hotels.
* A minimum of 3 years management experience.
* Demonstrably strong leadership skills, with the ability to mentor and coach team members of all levels.
* A strong professional network within Newcastle is highly beneficial, as you’ll be working with local vendors, community organizations, and business partners to enhance the hotel’s integration into the city’s hospitality landscape.
* A strong understanding of the commercial running of a hotel with experience attending P&L reviews, rota writing, and setting KPI’s. Strong financial acumen and a keen eye for detail are crucial, as well as excellent problem-solving skills.
* An individual with varied hotel experience in both rooms divisions as well as food and beverage, who approaches the operation with a holistic guest experience and revenue generating approach.
* Be a personal license holder with a strong understanding of LSO requirements in the area.
* A sincere love for hospitality and passion for high-end service delivery – a floor-based, guest focused individual.
* Hands-on approach to all aspects of the role, available to work fully flexible shifts and be present in the business during peak times.
* Previous training in health and safety, and food hygiene are highly desirable.
* An enthusiastic individual who will promote our culture of positivity and always be working with an outlook of coaching and mentoring the team around them.
* Be task oriented with a great pride for the work they do and attention to detail.
* Flexible with shift patterns and available around the needs of our business.
PACKAGE
This is a permanent, full-time role offering a highly competitive salary with a quarterly performance-based target bonus.
In addition to being part of a culture infused with positivity and opportunity for ongoing development, tangible benefits you could enjoy when you join our team include:
* 40 per cent off stays at any Dakota
* 25 per cent off drinks and dining at any Dakota
* Access to our Employee Assistance Program which includes free private mental health support and counselling sessions, video GP consultations and private prescription services, and access to daily rewards to be cashed out for shopping vouchers.
* Access to discounted gift card platform
* Support from our inhouse Mental Health Champions
* Additional holiday day on the first anniversary of your employment.
* Family-friendly flexible working options
* Meals on duty and uniforming
* £200 bonus to recommend a friend to join our team
* £10 bonus every time you are mentioned on Trip Advisor
* Free bi-annual eye testing for users of display screen equipment
* Accredited, certified compliance training given on employment such as in Food Hygiene, Alcohol Responsibility, Data Protection, and Health & Safety
* Access to a suite of external, certified resources via our Learning Management System
* Supportive continuous professional development culture with an annual appraisal and objectives, or a Personal Development Plan
* Opportunities to undertake both internal and external training courses, including potential for in-house Apprenticeships
Full terms on our benefits can be found in our Handbook.
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