ABOUT THE ROLE

Working on an island, in a castle with red squirrels at your window sounds like a fantasy but due to the wonderful and unique Brownsea Castle this could be your reality.

As Team Leader Hotels you will play a key role in delivering seamless service and exceptional guest experiences, across the Housekeeping team whilst also supporting other areas across the hotel.

Working in the hotel, you’ll be surrounded by a team of passionate and dedicated hospitality Partners to give our guests the best experience whether they are with us for the day or a longer stay. What is different about our guests though, is that they are Partners, their friends and family. As co-owners in the business, you’ll see this difference in the way your teammates and you approach your job and carry out your responsibilities.


You will support the leadership team in overseeing daily operations. You will have a hands on approach and be supportive of your team, coaching and motivating them to ensure their interactions reflect the highest standards of hospitality, for a unique and memorable guest experience.

As a Team Leader, you’ll be organising, and supervising Partners in your team both as an active member of the team and through shift/rota planning, holiday cover and other administration tasks, to make sure that we are offering high quality customer service and maintaining the high standards associated with the hotel. The role will offer you opportunities to display your talent, people management skills and knowledge of running a successful housekeeping and front of house team. In addition to your contractual pay, any time worked between 22:00 - 06:00 will attract Night Premium at a rate of £4.00 per hour. This will also apply to existing Partners who have enrolled onto Enhanced Hours Premium arrangements.

• This role will be working within our Housekeeping or
  Food Service teams.

• Expected pay range - £25,500 - £28,000

• Contract type - There is 1 Permanent role available and 1 Fixed Term Contract (starts from February - September)

• Working pattern/flexible working - A mix of shifts on a rota basis including weekends< Live in Earliest start 7am - latest finish 23:00, Live out Earliest start time 8:30 - latest finish 23:00. Ability to work flexible hours, including weekends and holidays

• Location - This role is based at our Brownsea Castle Hotel on Brownsea Island. 

• Live in accommodation is available if required.

Key responsibilities 

• Implement and supervise standards of cleanliness and across the hotel operation, to include audit reviews

• Implement and supervise standards of food, beverage and housekeeping service across the hotel operation.

• Build and lead a high performing and professional team. Plan and manage shifts, rotas, holiday planning, sickness cover, training and administration. Work in close cooperation with colleagues in Food Production, Reception, Events and House keeping.

• Efficiently manage resource allocation while ensuring the team adhere to compliance procedures taking action to address gaps.

• Lead team members to communicate updates, operational changes and daily priorities, ensure clear understanding amongst the team.

• Proactively manage and place timely orders for stock and equipment, sundry supplies and cleaning products against the need, budget and partnership procurement requirements.

• Ensuring that all applicable safety policies and procedures are implemented and followed.

• Allocate daily tasks, supervise work completed and resolve obstacles in maintaining standards.

• Ensure standards of uniform, PPE usage and grooming are adhered to in self and team.

• Ensure Partners are correctly trained to use relevant equipment and Cleaning Chemical Usage. Ensure training is up to date and correctly recorded

• Respond to business demand by ensuring adequate staffing for expected demand and promptly communicating this to staff and management.

• Identify and report maintenance issues, monitor progress and liaise with reception and maintenance departments to ensure timely resolution

• Support and promote the implementation of changes to ensure continuous innovations and improvements are made within the department in keeping with 3*+ hospitality operation.

• Act as the first point of contact to resolve guest queries and requirements relating to food service and the housekeeping operation. Liaise with stakeholders across our hotels to ensure smooth and consistent delivery of service.

• Support management in the running and organisation of events including leading the team on the day to assign tasks and ensure smooth delivery.

• Act as duty manager as required

• Foster a positive working environment, lead by example to create a happy and productive team.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Relevant and proven experience in supervising, managing and leading a team across hospitality and food and beverage or/and housekeeping hotel operations

• Self-motivated and hardworking with strong IT and communication skills.

• Excellent attention to detail and problem solving skills

• Skilled in preparing cocktails and other drinks to a high standard.

• Passionate about providing exceptional service with creativity and flair.

• Proven track record of driving your team to deliver high standards

Desirable skills/experience you may have 

• First aid at work 

• Personal licence

• Level 3 food safety.

About Brownsea Castle:

Brownsea Castle is our place by the sea, our island getaway across beautiful Poole Harbour offering an escape to our Partners with history and nature in abundance. Guests stay on the National Trust run island in the amazing Tudor castle, set amongst 17 acres of private grounds with stunning Italian gardens and a dedicated beach offering relaxation and beautiful nature walks.

If you are looking for a hotel with a difference, this could be it. With all of the island to explore or using any of the facilities on offer; a croquet lawn, children's play area, badminton, football, cricket, fishing, archery and frisbee golf you can guarantee that our guests will be hungry and looking to recharge with the fantastic food offering we give them.

Boats:  We have our own private boat service from Salterns Marina to get Partners to and from work, these boats run approximately once an hour between 7am - 11pm. Enterprise Boat berths in the Marina. 

Car parking: Parking can be found on BCP Council car park information page - https://www.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/parking/find-a-car-park/quay-visitors-multi-storey-car-park

Buses: Buses stop at 7pm and all staff are required to cover late night shifts beyond the bus times.

 

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Closing Date:

February 11, 2026

Pay:

£25,500.00 - £34,000.00 Annual

Contract Type:

Permanent

Hours of Work:

37.5

Job Level:

Partnership Level 9

Where You'll Be Working:

Brownsea Island, Poole Harbour, Poole, Dorset, BH13 7EE

ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP

We’re the largest employee owned business in the UK and home of our cherished brands, John Lewis and Waitrose. We’re not just employees, we’re Partners, driven by our purpose to build a happier world. As we look to our future, there’s never been a more exciting time to join us.  

We’re ruthlessly focused on being brilliant at retail. We continue to innovate, adapt and diversify. Never Knowingly Undersold on price, quality and service in John Lewis and passionately serving food-lovers in Waitrose.   

As Partners we all share the responsibility of ownership and in its rewards. We use our voices to contribute to our success, working together through the good and challenging times, holding true to our behaviours and treating everyone with kindness and respect. 

We all own making the Partnership somewhere we belong. Embracing our differences and creating an environment where we’re free to be ourselves and can THRIVE. Growing ourselves individually, and as a collective. 

As Partners, we make all the difference. And, we all own it.  

Important points to note:  

It’s important to note that some of our roles are subject to pre-employment vetting (which may include DBS checks for successful candidates). If required, you’ll be informed and provided with information about vetting during the recruitment process and we encourage you to complete any vetting documents quickly to avoid delays. Any DBS checks required will be carried out by a third-party registered body and financial probity checks may also be required for some of our roles.

We also recommend that you apply as soon as possible as vacancies can close early if we see a high number of applicants.  

We want all of our Partners to have a good work-life balance and we support flexible working. This might mean flexible or compressed hours, job sharing or shorter hour contracts, where possible. Please discuss this further with the hiring manager during your interview.