Resort Director / General Manager
Ballyness Resort
Location: Ballyness Resort, Northern Ireland
Package: Excellent salary, performance-related bonus, and relocation / accommodation support for the right candidate
The Opportunity
Ballyness Resort is a growing family-owned hospitality, wedding and accommodation business with ambitious plans for expansion.
We are looking for an exceptional hands-on senior operator to help lead Ballyness through its next stage of growth — someone who can run the venue properly, drive business, lead the team, raise standards, bring fresh ideas, and play a major part in building Ballyness into one of the most exciting destination venues in Ireland.
This is not a corporate role for someone who wants to sit behind a desk issuing instructions from a distance. We are a family business, and we need someone who is comfortable in that environment — someone practical, energetic, commercially sharp and willing to roll their sleeves up when needed.
The right person will be just as comfortable walking the site, checking standards, helping push a wedding day, supporting staff, hosting clients, solving problems and driving revenue as they are reviewing figures, planning strategy and helping shape the future of the business.
We want someone who can become a trusted right hand, a visible figurehead, and a driving force behind Ballyness as it grows.
International candidates are welcome. Relocation support may be available for the right person.
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About Ballyness
Ballyness is not a faceless hospitality group or a corporate chain. It is a family business with character, ambition and personality. We care deeply about standards, guest experience, atmosphere, growth and doing things properly — but we also value people who are practical, adaptable, loyal, energetic and capable of getting things done.
This role would suit someone who wants to be part of building something special, who enjoys variety, who has pride in a place, and who understands that in a growing family-run business, leadership means being present, being accountable and being willing to muck in when needed.
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The Role
The successful candidate will take a leading role in the day-to-day running, growth and development of Ballyness Resort, with responsibility across weddings, accommodation, events, guest experience, team leadership and commercial performance.
They will be expected to:
* help run Ballyness to a consistently high standard across all areas of the business
* drive revenue, occupancy, bookings and profitability
* help deliver Ballyness’s expansion plan on the ground
* lead and strengthen the team
* improve standards, systems and accountability
* bring ideas, energy and momentum
* act as a visible figurehead for the venue
* be hands-on enough to make a real difference day to day, not just in theory
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Key Responsibilities
1. Lead the day-to-day operation of Ballyness
* Take senior responsibility for the daily running, presentation and performance of Ballyness Resort
* Be a visible presence across the venue, accommodation and guest areas
* Make sure the business is organised, guest-ready, commercially focused and running properly at all times
* Keep a close eye on standards, service, presentation and operational detail
* Step in where needed to support the team and keep things moving
2. Be a hands-on leader, not a desk manager
* Lead from the front and set the tone for the rest of the team
* Be prepared to get involved in the real day-to-day running of the venue when needed
* Support weddings, events, guest issues, team management and site presentation in a practical way
* Notice problems early, deal with them quickly and help create a culture where standards matter
* Balance leadership and delegation with a willingness to roll your sleeves up when Ballyness needs you
3. Drive revenue and business growth
* Increase wedding bookings, accommodation occupancy, guest spend and event revenue
* Help Ballyness maximise the commercial opportunity across weddings, stays, food and beverage, events and new experiences
* Review weekly figures, booking pace, conversion, margins and performance, and take action based on what the numbers are saying
* Bring forward ideas for packages, upsells, promotions, events and new income streams
* Play a central role in helping Ballyness deliver on its wider growth and expansion plans
4. Help deliver Ballyness’s expansion plan
* Work closely with ownership to support Ballyness’s next phase of development and growth
* Help turn ideas into practical delivery on the ground
* Identify what needs to improve operationally, commercially and structurally for Ballyness to grow well
* Support the launch of new offerings, guest experiences and revenue opportunities
* Help build the systems, people and standards needed for a larger business
5. Lead weddings, events and guest experience
* Support the delivery of outstanding weddings, events and guest stays
* Ensure the customer journey is polished, warm, efficient and memorable from first enquiry to departure
* Help with key viewings, important clients and major event delivery where needed
* Make sure Ballyness is always presented at its best and feels special to guests
* Constantly look for ways to improve the overall guest experience
6. Lead and strengthen the team
* Manage, motivate and support staff across the relevant areas of the business
* Set clear expectations and create accountability
* Help build a team culture of energy, pride, flexibility and ownership
* Recruit, train and develop people where needed
* Support staff firmly but fairly, while making sure standards are maintained
7. Raise standards across the whole business
* Take ownership of presentation, housekeeping standards, maintenance awareness, cleanliness, guest communication and service levels
* Make sure Ballyness is always ready for weddings, guests, viewings and events
* Improve systems and routines so the business becomes more consistent and better organised
* Push for high standards without losing the warmth and personality of a family-run venue
8. Be a figurehead and trusted senior presence
* Represent Ballyness with professionalism, energy and pride
* Build confidence with couples, guests, staff, suppliers and ownership
* Act as a trusted senior person within the business who can make things happen
* Bring momentum, ideas and a sense of leadership to Ballyness every day
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Who We Are Looking For
We are looking for a strong operator with real presence — someone who can think commercially, lead people well and get stuck in when required.
The right person is likely to have:
* significant experience in hospitality, weddings, events, premium accommodation, resort operations or venue management
* a proven ability to drive business performance, increase revenue and improve standards
* strong commercial instinct and a good grasp of figures, margins and operational performance
* confidence managing people, solving problems and taking responsibility
* the personality and presence to act as a visible leader and figurehead
* the work ethic and attitude to thrive in a family-run business where no two days are the same
* a practical, hands-on mindset rather than a purely corporate management style
* the ability to balance bigger-picture thinking with day-to-day delivery
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Personal Qualities
We are looking for someone who is:
* hands-on and practical
* commercially aware
* energetic and proactive
* organised and reliable
* confident and personable
* ideas-driven
* calm under pressure
* demanding of standards
* comfortable taking responsibility
* happy working in a family-business environment
* willing to lead from the front rather than hide behind a title
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What Ballyness Offers
* the opportunity to play a major role in the growth of an ambitious family-owned hospitality business
* a varied, high-impact role with real responsibility
* the chance to help shape Ballyness’s future, not simply manage what already exists
* a competitive package for the right person
* relocation or accommodation support for the right candidate if required
* the opportunity to become a key part of Ballyness’s long-term success story
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How Success Will Be Measured
Success in the role will be judged by visible and measurable progress in areas such as:
* growth in wedding bookings and event revenue
* growth in accommodation occupancy and guest spend
* stronger systems, standards and team accountability
* improved guest experience and feedback
* successful delivery of Ballyness’s expansion plans
* the energy, momentum and professionalism brought into the business
* overall commercial performance and day-to-day strength of the operation
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How to Apply
If you are an experienced hospitality or venue operator who can combine leadership, commercial drive, hands-on delivery and high standards, and you are excited by the opportunity to help grow a distinctive family-run venue with real ambition, we would love to hear from you.
Pay: £30,000.00-£59,310.22 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
