General Building jobs in Copthorne

We are looking for an experienced, people-centred Village Manager to lead Little Mount Lake, our brand-new retirement village in the Parish of Frant, near Tunbridge Wells.

Joining ahead of the village opening in Summer 2027, you will play a key role in recruiting and developing your team, establishing strong community partnerships, preparing the village for its first residents and creating an exceptional retirement living community from day one.

Little Mount Lake will bring together 146 carefully designed apartments and cottages on the beautiful border of Kent and East Sussex, with facilities designed for residents and the local community alike. This is a rare opportunity to shape a new retirement village, build its culture and create a thriving community where residents can enjoy independence, wellbeing and connection.

As a resident-focused business, our Village Managers are at the heart of everything we do. This is a senior leadership role where you will take full responsibility for the operational, financial and commercial performance of Little Mount Lake, guiding it through opening and into a thriving retirement community.

You will create a safe, welcoming and vibrant environment where residents, guests, families, visitors and colleagues feel at home. Leading multi-disciplinary teams across hospitality, housekeeping, maintenance, grounds, wellbeing and administration, you will oversee operations, financial controls, resident experience and commercial performance while acting as the face of the village for residents, families and service partners.

This role would suit an experienced Village Manager, General Manager, Operations Manager or Hospitality Manager with a strong track record of leading customer-focused, multi-service environments.

Combining strategic thinking with hands-on leadership, you will establish high service standards, build an engaged team and develop services as the community grows.

Before opening, you will work closely with our commissioning and central support teams to ensure the village, its services and colleagues are ready to welcome the first residents. You will also work in partnership with the on-site sales team, supporting prospective residents, first sales and, as the village becomes established, re-sales.

As residents move in and the community grows, you will combine clear direction with practical, visible leadership, adapting services to meet changing demand while maintaining quality and financial control.

This is a rare opportunity to join Little Mount Lake before opening and play a key role in commissioning, launching and growing a brand-new retirement village. You'll have the chance to build your team, shape the resident experience and create a thriving community from day one.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Recruiting, leading and developing colleagues across hospitality, housekeeping, maintenance, grounds, wellbeing and administration.
• Supporting commissioning and opening preparations, ensuring services, systems and working practices are ready.
• Creating a welcoming village culture that reflects our values and helps residents and colleagues feel they belong.
• Overseeing budgets, financial controls, service standards and commercial performance.
• Maintaining strong standards of health and safety, compliance and risk management.
• Building positive relationships with residents, families, service partners and the wider local community.
• Working collaboratively with the on-site sales team to support prospective residents and a smooth transition into village life.
• Reviewing performance, responding to feedback and continuously improving services as the village develops.

• Proven leadership experience within retirement living, later living, hospitality, leisure, residential communities or a comparable multi-service environment.
• A people-centred, empathetic approach, with the ability to motivate colleagues, develop managers and hold teams accountable.
• Strong operational and financial management skills, including experience managing budgets and delivering results.
• A clear understanding of health and safety, compliance and risk management.
• Confident communication and relationship-building skills, including the ability to manage sensitive or challenging conversations.
• Sound judgement, resilience and the ability to prioritise as circumstances change.
• A practical approach to solving problems and improving ways of working.
• Experience of opening a new operation, supporting commissioning activities or building a team through a period of growth would be particularly valuable, although not essential.

• Competitive salary, plus up to 20% annual bonus.
• 33 days' annual leave, inclusive of bank holidays.
• Holiday buying scheme, allowing you to purchase up to one additional week of leave.
• Big Birthdays Off, for those ending in a zero.
• Bupa Health Cash Plan, including access to an Employee Assistance Programme.
• Life assurance at four times your annual salary.
• 5% matched pension scheme.
• Retail discounts across a wide range of outlets.
• Wellbeing hub and resources, including discounts on wellbeing initiatives.
• Cycle to Work and Electric Car schemes.

At Inspired Villages, we welcome people from all backgrounds and experiences. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels valued, respected and empowered to thrive. We believe that diverse perspectives make us stronger and help us create exceptional experiences for our residents and colleagues alike.

More purpose. More opportunity. More impact. If you're looking for a career where you can grow, contribute and make a meaningful difference every day, we'd love to hear from you.

#LML