A unique opportunity has become available to join Hawthornden Foundation as their Head Housekeeper. You will be based in the beautiful, idyllic, and historic setting of Hawthornden Castle, working with a passionate team whilst communicating with global stakeholders. The Organisation Established in 1982 as a charity, Hawthornden Foundation has grown internationally with residences in Italy and the United States. The Foundation aims to support creative writers by providing a peaceful sanctuary, free from distractions and pressures. Additionally, the organisation provides funding on a global scale and annually awards the Hawthornden Prize, one of Britain’s oldest major literary prizes, recognising outstanding talent. The foundation's main activity is hosting a writers' retreat at Hawthornden Castle. This retreat offers writers from around the world a unique opportunity to focus solely on their work without the distractions of daily life. Residencies typically last for one month, during which writers are provided with accommodation, meals, and the peace and quiet necessary to write. Many writers who have participated in the residency programme have gone on to produce significant works, furthering the foundation's impact on the literary world. The castle is currently undergoing restoration works, with the aim of accommodating guests at the beginning of 2025. Once restored, it will once again play a significant role in supporting the literary community by providing a space for reflection, creation, and collaboration. The Role Hawthornden Castle is seeking a dedicated and highly organised Head Housekeeper to oversee and coordinate our housekeeping staff and cooks, ensuring seamless daily operations and maintaining a professional atmosphere for up to six guests. As the Head Housekeeper, you will be responsible for leading a small but dedicated team, ensuring that appropriate resources are in place and high standards are maintained. Your role requires a hands-on approach, leading by example and motivating your team to deliver the best service. You will follow a structured timeline to maximise efficiency and guest satisfaction. This includes ensuring timely service delivery for breakfast, lunch, and evening meals, while maintaining cleanliness and organisation in guest rooms, common areas, and dining spaces. In guest rooms, you will perform thorough inspections and cleaning, addressing any issues promptly, and handling guests' personal laundry with care and attention to individual preferences. Self-starter qualities, ambition, passion, and excellent leadership skills are vital for this role, where you will communicate daily with the relevant team members regarding necessary items, dietary requirements and meal preparation, housekeeping supplies, and managing stock levels. To be successful in this role, excellent people management skills are essential, along with an understanding of rotas and schedules. A welcoming, friendly, and engaging manner is crucial, as well as the ability to develop and motivate your team. You must possess a high level of attention to detail and demonstrate a commitment to maintaining high standards of quality. Flexibility in working hours, including weekends, may be required, depending on business needs. If you are an organised, detail-oriented individual with a passion for hospitality and team leadership, we would love to hear from you. Please reach out to our recruitment team today to apply How To Apply Please email us to request a candidate pack or for more information on how to apply for this role. Closing Date: 5pm, 17th September 1st Stage Interview Date: 3rd October 2nd Stage Interview Date: 11th October Start date: 11th November This search is being conducted exclusively for Hawthornden Foundation by BTA (Bruce Tait Associates). Our leadership team have all worked in the voluntary sector and we use this experience to match organisations and individuals to create great appointments. We are committed to building and sustaining an inclusive and equitable working environment for all staff. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age; ethnicity; gender; gender identity and expression; nationality; parental status; physical, mental and developmental abilities; race; religion; sexual orientation; skin colour; socioeconomic status; and human styles.