Job title: Duty Manager

Job Description

Location: West Dorset, with staff accommodation available in Bridport
Salary: £30,000-£35,000, dependent on experience
Contract: Full-time
Hours: 40 per week
Working Pattern: Up to 3-4 night shifts per week. On-site only
Reporting To: General Manager
Driving Licence: Essential, own car required
Start Date: As soon as possible

Overview

Oplu is leading the search for a Duty Manager (Nights) to join the management team at a distinguished luxury country hotel and retreat in West Dorset.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role at £30,000-£35,000 dependent on experience. Full-time, 40 hours per week, with up to 3-4 night shifts per week. On-site only, no hybrid pattern. Staff accommodation is available in nearby Bridport for candidates relocating. A full driving licence and own car are essential given the rural setting.

Whether your background is as a Night Duty Manager, Hotel Night Manager, Hotel Duty Manager, Assistant Hotel Manager, or Operations Manager at a boutique or luxury property, this is a considered appointment at a distinctive West Country property.

The Opportunity

The Duty Manager (Nights) takes primary responsibility for the safe, seamless, and market-leading operation of the entire estate during their on-shift periods. The role spans Finance and Governance, overall Duty Manager site accountability, F&B operational support, Guest Relations coverage, Housekeeping set-up support, and Wellness operations.

The successful candidate will lead Emergency Action Procedures across First Aid, Fire, and Evacuation. They will act as Competent Person under the property’s Health & Safety Policy, manage overnight guest and site demands, oversee locking-up, opening-up, cash-up, and check-lists, and coordinate contact with third parties as required.

They will also cover late check-ins, early check-outs, wake-up calls, invoice preparation and payments, driving the company car for guest transfers and deliveries, and supporting F&B service including breakfast when required.

This is a broad, high-responsibility operational seat requiring composure, judgement, breadth across every hospitality discipline, and comfort with the reality of night-shift leadership.

Who this role suits

This role is best suited to a hospitality operations professional with prior duty management experience at a boutique or luxury hotel, country house hotel, private members’ club, luxury retreat, or comparable high-end serviced property.

Night Duty Manager, Hotel Night Manager, Duty Manager, Assistant Manager, Operations Supervisor, and Reception Manager backgrounds all translate directly.

The role will also suit candidates from a yacht interior or luxury villa hospitality background looking for a land-based operational leadership seat, or hospitality graduates with strong operational experience at recognised luxury properties who are ready to step into a night duty leadership role.

Prior experience with Mews and Salto is a real advantage. A WSET Level 2 wine qualification is a strong plus given the vineyard setting. An APLH, Personal Licence Holder qualification, is a must-have for premises operations under UK licensing law.

Key Responsibilities

Duty Manager, safety and site leadership

  • Accept responsibility as a Competent Person under the property’s Health & Safety Policy, supporting the development and implementation of health and safety standards.
  • Take overall site safety and service accountability when Duty Manager in charge, in line with schedules, RAMs, and SOPs.
  • Ensure staff across all departments are delivering to standard.
  • Take primary lead of Emergency Action Procedures across First Aid, Fire, Evacuation, and other incidents.
  • Assess situations, take responsibility for next actions, and ensure reporting is completed.
  • Serve as overnight Duty Manager on-call for guest and site demands on scheduled shifts.
  • Manage locking-up, opening-up, check-lists, cash-up, and other duties.
  • Maintain full working knowledge of all contact numbers and third-party escalation paths.
  • Address guest comments, complaints, and queries to the highest standard.
  • Connect the appropriate team member if unable to resolve directly.
  • Through comprehensive understanding of the operational estate, including mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and utilities, address queries and issues with approved contingency actions.
  • Ensure GDPR compliance across all internal, external, and guest-facing operations.
  • Ensure all required scheduled inspections and checks are carried out.
  • Provide daily handover communications at the end of each shift.
  • Drive the company car and other vehicles for guest collection, drop-off, deliveries, and equipment movement, in line with set standards and SOPs.
  • Maintain all areas to a high standard of cleanliness and presentation.
  • Support Quality Control measures and take responsibility for specific projects, SOPs, and RAMs as required.
  • Check that third parties and casual staff are inducted under site health and safety RAMs before access.
  • Ensure daily Sign-In and Sign-Out procedures are followed.

Finance and governance

  • Comply with Financial Procedures across procurement, administration, stock handling, resource use, and personnel utilisation.
  • Activate financial reporting from the PMS, POS, and CRM systems.
  • Report and communicate accurately and in a timely manner.
  • Monitor and audit stocks.
  • Record and re-order as required, transferring stock or raising procurement requests.
  • Prepare invoices, bills, and cheques for vendors, employees, and contractors.

F&B operational support

  • Support the Head of F&B in developing the F&B department, offering, and service standards.
  • Undertake F&B service duties for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as required.
  • Support the wider team in service delivery.
  • Ensure compliance with stock controls and FSA requirements.
  • Proactively drive sales and upselling within the F&B department.

Guest Relations coverage

  • Manage late check-ins, early check-outs, and respond to guest enquiries and requests.
  • Prepare invoices and take payments at check-out and for daily sales, in line with Financial Procedures.
  • Schedule wake-up calls and manage other concierge services.
  • Support the Head of Guest Relations in maintaining the highest standard of Guest Relations function.
  • Schedule staffing and resources within approved budgets.
  • Maintain full CRM proficiency to optimise operational and governance accuracy, and maximise upsell opportunities.
  • Take responsibility for central guest resources, including promotion, storage, upkeep, cleanliness, maintenance, and booking of bikes, off-road vehicles, outdoor equipment, and accessories.

Housekeeping set-up support

  • Ensure layout and set-up of all hospitality areas and rooms in line with plans, procedures, and approved SOPs.
  • Organise and mobilise signage, barriers, screens, lifting and working-at-height support, additional team resource, and other measures in advance.
  • Demobilise on completion to maximise efficiency and comply with health and safety requirements.
  • Be fully conversant with COSHH and MSDS for chemical handling, storage, transport, and use around the site.
  • Support the preparation of rooms for check-in and stay-overs, including cleaning, resourcing, set-up, and handover checklist quality control.

Wellness operations

  • Ensure safe, effective, and efficient set-up and operation of the Wellness barn, including spa and classes.
  • Provide cover in Wellness as required for days off, sickness, breaks, and demand peaks.
  • Be fully conversant with Wellness SOPs to implement or supervise.
  • Ensure access control and safe use of the Wellness facility for guests, staff, and third parties.

Requirements

Must-haves

  • Prior duty management or comparable senior hospitality operations experience at a boutique or luxury hotel, country house hotel, private members’ club, luxury retreat, or comparable property.
  • Excellent guest-facing communication with warmth, poise, and personal presentation.
  • APLH, Award for Personal Licence Holder qualification, required for premises operations under UK licensing law. Willingness to complete before start accepted for otherwise strong candidates.
  • First Aid, Fire Marshall, COSHH, and Manual Handling training, or willingness to complete before start.
  • Proficiency with a hotel PMS. Mews strongly preferred.
  • Comfort leading Emergency Action Procedures across First Aid, Fire, and Evacuation.
  • Willingness and ability to work up to 3-4 night shifts per week.
  • Comfortable with the rhythm of night-shift operational leadership.
  • Full driving licence and own car. This is essential given the rural setting and vehicle duties.
  • Solid understanding of financial procedures, stock management, and invoicing.
  • Health and Safety awareness and comfort acting as a Competent Person on shift.
  • Fluent English, spoken and written.
  • Right to live and work in the UK.

Strong advantage

  • WSET Level 2 wine qualification, given the vineyard setting.
  • Salto access system experience.
  • Yacht interior, luxury villa, private club, or high-end serviced property background.
  • Prior F&B service experience at a luxury property.
  • Wellness or spa operational familiarity.
  • Health and Safety leadership qualification beyond the essentials.

Preferred background

  • Career hospitality operations professional with a genuine long-term interest in duty management, not a stepping stone.
  • Familiarity with rural, agricultural, or estate-based hospitality environments.

Why this role

  • Duty management leadership at a distinctive luxury country hotel and retreat in a farm and vineyard setting in West Dorset.
  • Genuine operational breadth across Duty Manager, Finance, F&B, Guest Relations, Housekeeping, Wellness, and Emergency Response.
  • Direct reporting line to the General Manager.
  • Real ownership of the guest experience on your shifts.
  • Staff accommodation available in nearby Bridport for candidates relocating.
  • Route into hotel operations leadership at a boutique luxury property.

About the property

A distinguished luxury country hotel and retreat in West Dorset, set within a rural farm and vineyard environment. The property blends hospitality with agriculture and wellness, offering guests a highly personalised experience across accommodation, food and beverage, spa, and event programming. The property uses Mews as its PMS and Salto for access.

About Oplu

Oplu is the executive search partner of choice for principals, family offices, financial services firms, and luxury brands. We place senior support, right-hand, and specialist hospitality appointments with the discretion and rigour these environments demand.

Practical Information

  • Location: West Dorset. On-site only. No hybrid pattern.
  • Working Pattern: 40 hours per week, with up to 3-4 night shifts per week. Weekend, evening, and night cover required.
  • Salary: £30,000-£35,000 per annum, dependent on experience.
  • Driving Licence: A full driving licence and own car are essential. The role includes driving the company car for guest transfers and deliveries.
  • Staff Accommodation: Available in Bridport for candidates relocating. Rent £450-£750 per month depending on room.
  • Contract: Full-time.
  • Start Date: As soon as possible.

Application Process

Apply via the form on this page. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not hear from us within 14 days, please consider your application unsuccessful on this occasion.