General Manager
| Company: | Cairn Group Hotel |
|---|---|
| Salary: | £90,000 to £95,000 a year |
| Hours: | Full-time |
| Location: | Brighton, BN1 1NR |
| Job type: | Permanent |
| Posting date: | 19 Oct 2026 |
| Closing date: | 18 Nov 2026 |
Summary
Location: The Old Ship
Department: Management
Join Madison Cairn – Where People Drive Hospitality Forward, Together
At Madison Cairn, we're passionate about creating memorable guest experiences, and it all starts with our people.
We're looking for an inspiring and commercially focused General Manager to lead our hotel operation, creating exceptional guest experiences while driving performance through great people, strong leadership and operational excellence.
Working closely with the Regional Operations Director and central support teams, you'll lead the hotel strategy, develop a high-performing leadership team and create a culture where colleagues can thrive, guests return and the business delivers sustainable success.
About the Role
As General Manager, you will have overall responsibility for the successful operation of the hotel, ensuring exceptional guest satisfaction, engaged teams and strong commercial performance.
You will:
Lead the overall hotel operation across all departments
Develop and implement plans that deliver revenue growth and profitability
Create a culture focused on exceeding guest expectations
Lead, coach and develop a high-performing leadership team
Ensure operational standards are consistently delivered across every area of the business
Drive employee engagement, talent development and succession planning
Work closely with Sales, Revenue, Food & Beverage and central support teams to maximise performance
Take ownership of financial results including revenue, payroll, profitability and cost control
Ensure compliance with all health and safety and statutory requirements
Build strong relationships within the local community and represent the hotel externally
Lead business planning, forecasting and performance reviews
Create a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement
Make Every Moment Matter
Every day is different, but every day you'll have the opportunity to make a positive impact. You will:
Lead and inspire teams that deliver exceptional guest experiences
Create an environment where colleagues feel valued, engaged and motivated
Drive service excellence across every touchpoint of the guest journey
Support the development and growth of future leaders
Build positive relationships with guests, colleagues and stakeholders
Help shape a culture where people can perform, grow and succeed
Bring Your Personality. We'll Help You Build Your Career.
We're looking for people who:
Have proven experience as a General Manager within a hotel environment
Demonstrate strong commercial awareness and business acumen
Have a track record of driving revenue growth and profit performance
Are passionate about creating exceptional guest experiences
Have successfully led, developed and retained high-performing teams
Can effectively manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment
Build strong relationships with colleagues, guests and external partners
Are confident analysing performance data and making informed decisions
Lead by example and take ownership for results
Embrace change and continuous improvement
Want to continue developing their leadership career
If you enjoy leading people, delivering exceptional guest experiences and driving business success, we'd love to hear from you.
About The Old Ship
The Old Ship Hotel is Brighton’s Original – a landmark on the famous seafront and the city’s oldest hotel, with a story stretching back to 1559. For more than 450 years, it has evolved alongside Brighton, welcoming generations through its doors. Today, its historic character meets the creative, inclusive spirit of the city, creating a place to stay, dine, meet and celebrate right on Brighton’s seafront.
Join us and help create exceptional experiences every day