Picture this: you're leading a hotel that's doing something different. Operating under a government contract, this isn't a traditional hospitality environment—but it is a place where strong leadership, operational excellence and genuine care for people make all the difference.
As General Manager, you'll oversee every aspect of the hotel's operation, ensuring it delivers a safe, compliant and well-managed environment while meeting the highest contractual and operational standards. You'll lead and develop a passionate team, drive financial and operational performance, build strong relationships with government partners and local stakeholders, and create a positive culture where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.
Alongside successfully leading today's operation, you'll play a key role in preparing the hotel for tomorrow. You'll develop your people, strengthen operational standards and help shape the hotel's future, ensuring it's ready for a smooth and successful return to full commercial trading when the time is right.
Every day is an opportunity to inspire your team, make a meaningful difference to people's experiences and leave the hotel in an even stronger position for the future.
As General Manager, your key responsibilities will include:
- Oversee Daily Operations: Ensure the smooth and compliant operation of all hotel departments — including reception, housekeeping, catering, and facilities/maintenance — with a focus on delivering safe, consistent, and respectful service to all service users in line with contractual and regulatory requirements.
- Manage staff: Supervise, train, and motivate hotel staff to ensure excellent guest service and efficient operations, while also handling recruitment, performance management, and fostering a positive work environment to support staff development and retention.
- Budget management: Monitor and manage hotel expenses and budgets to ensure financial targets are met, including overseeing banking activities, and ensuring accurate financial reporting and reconciliation.
- Maintain safety and cleanliness standards: Ensure the hotel complies with health and safety regulations, support external auditors during their audits, and ensure all necessary documentation and procedures are in place to maintain cleanliness and safety across all areas.
- Community Engagement: Act as a key liaison between the hotel, local community, and external stakeholders. Promote clear, open communication to foster positive relationships with residents, local authorities, and partner organisations. Support initiatives that enhance understanding of the hotel’s role and services, ensuring the respectful integration of service users within the local context. Work closely with internal teams to ensure consistent, community-aware operations.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Liaise and cooperate closely with government contract partners, to ensure contractual obligations are met and operations remain aligned with agreed standards and expectation
- Collaborate with the Region or Network: Work with marketing, sales, and other departments to drive occupancy and improve service offerings.
- Monitor inventory and ordering: Ensure adequate stock levels of supplies for hotel operations and manage ordering and inventory control.
- Be instrumental in the planning and development of the hotel, helping to position it for long-term success when it returns to full trading.
You're an experienced hotel leader who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment and knows how to bring out the best in people. You lead with integrity, communicate openly and create a culture where everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed.
You'll also bring:
- Previous experience as a General Manager or in a senior operational leadership role within hospitality or a customer-focused environment.
- A proven track record of leading high-performing teams, driving operational excellence and delivering strong commercial and financial results.
- The ability to build trusted relationships with a wide range of stakeholders, balancing operational priorities with contractual requirements.
- Confidence in managing compliance, health and safety, budgets and performance, ensuring consistently high standards.
- A calm, resilient and adaptable leadership style, with the ability to navigate change and lead through evolving operational priorities.
- A passion for developing people, creating an inclusive culture and delivering exceptional experiences for everyone who works in or visits the hotel.
- A full UK driving licence is desirable.
- Ideally, you'll live within a commutable distance of the hotel or be willing to relocate. Temporary hotel accommodation can be provided initially to support your move where required.
We live by our values – and we’d love you to bring them to life every day:
- Open - you’re welcoming and approachable, making everyone feel valued and part of the team.
- Nimble - you adapt with ease, turning challenges into opportunities and keeping things running smoothly.
- Brilliant - you inspire your team, take pride in what you do, and create memorable experiences for guests.
- Honest - you lead with integrity, are trustworthy in every decision, and build a culture of respect. Lead with your experience, enthusiasm, and commitment to your team, with the tools and backing to make a real impact.
When you join Splendid, you will enjoy a reward package to support your lifestyle, wellbeing and career. Here are just some of the benefits on offer
- Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) – confidential wellbeing support whenever you need it with 24/7 access to remote GP appointments.
- Hotel Room Discounts – stay with us or our partner hotels at special team rates including discounted rates for friends and family.
- Food & Beverage Discounts – enjoy meals and drinks at reduced prices across our hotels.
- Life Assurance – peace of mind for you and your loved ones.
- Salary Sacrifice – Car Scheme - Our team members can enjoy the ultimate benefit of driving a brand new, full insured and maintained car for a fixed monthly amount taken from their salary.
- Stream – access your earned wages up to 50% whenever you need them giving you financial flexibility and Highstreet discounts available.
- Pension - Auto enrolment into the company pension scheme.
- Learning & Development - Opportunities available to progress your skills and career.
The 62-room four-star hotel nestled close by to Dumfries comprises of two distinct properties, a mid to late 20th century extension, and an early to mid-19th century domestic house. It is the story of the resident of the domestic dwelling which has evoked the rich design throughout the accommodation in a contemporary and playful way.
