Ready to lead a brilliant team and make your mark on a boutique guesthouse in the heart of Clifton?

We’re looking for a friendly, commercially-minded and guest-focussed Hotel Operations Manager to lead the day-to-day operations and financial performance of The Washington Guesthouse.

Located in the heart of Clifton, The Washington is a welcoming boutique guesthouse known for its comfortable rooms, thoughtful in-rooms touches, freshly prepared breakfasts and warm hospitality. Most importantly, it’s home to an outstanding, genuinely friendly team who take pride in making every guest feel welcome.

This is a hands-on management role offering real ownership, variety and the support of an experienced Senior Manager, who will work at the hotel three days a week to provide guidance and training. As such, while some level of leadership experience is needed, those who are more junior in their management careers and looking to take a step towards management in a supportive environment are welcome to apply.

The Hotel Operations Manager role in a snapshot...

• 
  Location: the Washington Guesthouse in Clifton, Bristol

• Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week (5 shifts)

• Typical shifts: In a typical week you’ll work 4x 8am-4pm days (typically on weekdays, with some flexibility where required), and 1x reception desk shift each week (either 7am-3pm or 2pm-10pm, either on a weekday or a weekend according to business needs)

• Salary: On-target package of £34,750 per annum - this comprises a basic salary of £29,250 plus up to £5,500 per annum in on-target annual bonuses.

What you’ll be doing as Hotel Operations Manager:

• 
  Taking responsibility for the hotel’s operational and financial success

• Leading, supporting and developing the reception and breakfast teams

• Forecasting revenue and working with our Revenue and Reservations teams to achieve targets

• Monitoring invoices, payments, commission statements and financial processes

• Encouraging direct bookings and ensuring agreed KPIs are achieved

• Maintaining an excellent guest experience from initial enquiry to post-stay follow-up

• Responding professionally to online reviews and acting on guest feedback

• Managing rotas, holidays, absence, training and staffing levels

• Overseeing the breakfast operation and working closely with other departments such as housekeeping and our nearby sister restaurant, Racks

• Ensuring the hotel is welcoming, well presented and operating smoothly

• Maintaining high standards of health and safety, fire safety, food safety and water hygiene

• Working an average of one reception shift per week and helping with operational cover when required

• Working collaboratively with HR and other departments across the Quarter group

What we’re looking for in our Hotel Operations Manager:

• 
  A warm, confident people person who enjoys working with guests and colleagues

• Previous experience in hotel, hospitality or customer facing environments, ideally with some supervisory or leadership experience

• A positive leader who can motivate, support and develop a team

• A good head for numbers and a commercially focused approach

• Strong organisation, problem-solving and decision-making skills

• Excellent attention to detail, able to multitask with consistently high standards

• A proactive team player who is happy to get stuck in

• Confidence using Microsoft Office, including Excel

• Flexibility to support the hotel according to business needs

Why join us as Hotel Operations Manager?

• 
  Excellent long term progression opportunities (see our people page for some inspiring stories!)

• Strong support – our Project and Development Manager, who is currently holding the fort at the Washington, will continue working at the hotel three days a week, helping to train and guide you as you settle into the role

• The Washington is part of Quarter, so you can look forward to a staff discount - this will give you a 20%-50% discount in all our restaurants, and will entitle you to fantastic friends and family rates within our hotels

• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 support, national discounts and other wellbeing advice

• 50% off HowTheLightGetsIn festival tickets for you, your friends and family

• The opportunity to work within an award winning independent hospitality company

• Pension contribution

• First Bus travel discount (10% off)

• Cycle to work scheme + secure bike storage

• Competitive Gym membership at Anytime Fitness on Queen's Road in Clifton and other local discounts including hairdressers, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, Hospitality Rewards scheme and a very handy B&Q + Tradepoint discount

• Regular company socials - Quarter holds regular parties for our staff to say thank you (with free food and a few free drinks!)

• Uniform provided

• Ongoing training and support

Working pattern

• 
  Full-time (40 hours per week), worked across 5 days

• 4 of your weekly shifts will usually be 8am - 4pm

• 1 of your weekly shifts will be a reception desk shift (as per the rota - either an early shift, 7am-3pm, or a late shift, 2pm-10pm)

• Some flexibility will be needed on busy arrival days and according to the needs of the hotel

• You’ll provide Duty Manager/on-call support for one evening each week

• You’ll also join the weekend Duty Manager rota, covering approximately one weekend in every five

Next steps:

If you’re ready to take the next step in your hospitality career and would love to lead a brilliant hotel team in the heart of Clifton, we’d be delighted to hear from you - apply now with your CV and a short covering letter / message telling us why you’re interested in the role.

We’ll be in touch with suitable applicants to arrange an initial phone interview – success at that stage would lead to face-to-face Zoom interview, and success at that stage would lead to a final, in-person interview.

Applications close Friday 25th September 2026 - but don’t hang about; we’ll interview as we go and may close the role early!

#MP