Job Description

Job Title: Assistant Manager




Managed by: Hotel Manager







Department(s): Five Arrows Hotel Location: Five Arrows Hotel, Waddesdon







Salary: 29,448.25 per annum plus a share of the Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time


discretionary service charge







Hours: A minimum of 42.5 hours per week, on a five-day rota to include weekends, evenings, and


split shifts. Hours of work to suit the needs of the business (exclusive of breaks). If an additional day is


worked to your standard rota, this will be paid as overtime as your normal hourly rate.





The Role:




We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Assistant Manager to help lead our team in The Five


Arrows Hotel. This is an exciting opportunity for a hospitality professional with a passion for fine


dining, a keen eye for detail, and able to deliver an exceptional gust experience.





The Hotel, with 15 permanent members of staff, is managed by the trading company Waddesdon


Rothschild Ltd, and all profits are returned to the Rothschild Foundation, a UK registered charity, for


the upkeep of Waddesdon. The charity supports arts and heritage, the environment, education and


social welfare by awarding grants, fostering dialogue and debate, and through the support of


Waddesdon Manor.





What you will do:




The main objective of the Assistant Manager is to be responsible for ensuring that all aspects of the


hotel operation run smoothly on a day-to-day basis, from the restaurant and bar, to reception desk.


The Assistant manager will need to work closely with the General Manager, Hotel Manager, the Head


Chef and the Head Housekeeper, to enable the hotel to run smoothly.




You will provide an excellent customer experience throughout the operation and ensure that our staff


are well trained, engaged and proactive and overall hotel operation in the absence of the hotel


manager.













Key responsibilities include but not limited to:




Food Service





Ensure the serving of the food produced in the kitchens is consistent with the highest possible
standard. This will need close liaison with the Head Chef and agreement as to how he wishes


each dish to be served.
It will involve checking that tables, chairs, utensils, etc, are clean, that food arrives promptly and
with the necessary accoutrements, and that each table is happy with their food.
A similar requirement is necessary for the bar area, where the Bar Person is the direct
responsibility of the Supervisor.



Bar Service





Prepare alcohol or non-alcohol beverages for bar and restaurant guests Interact with customers, take orders for drinks and food service Plan and present bar menu Stay guest focused and nurture an excellent guest experience Comply with all food and beverage regulations


Reception





To monitor and respond to emails on the reservations@thefivearrows.co.uk inbox To check in and out hotel guests To be available for any guest queries or complaints with regards to rooms To be able to take bookings or amend/cancel existing reservations To ensure that all guest accounts are settled accurately and on time To be able to give guests accurate information on availability and rates


Staff





Work closely with the Hotel Manager and General Manager to achieve optimum staffing levels
throughout the year.
Lead the training of front of house staff in all skills necessary for the successful completion of
their duties; providing both induction training and encouraging the continued occupational


development of staff members.
Support with the motivation and line management of front of house staff to ensure an efficient
and happy working environment, fostering individual commitment, enthusiasm and confidence.
Produce rotas to cover daily requirements as well as covering special events as appropriate. The close monitoring of staff checking in and out daily and the collation of hours for the Hotel
Manager to process.


Ensure that all staff under your control read and understand the Waddesdon's statement of policy for Health & Safety at Work and that they observe all Health & Safety at Work


Regulations in accordance with its statutory obligations.


Ensure the honesty and integrity of all front of house staff, and the early reporting of any
possible problems to the Hotel Manager.
Ensure the highest standards of punctuality, appearance, service, behaviour and politeness.





Finance





Ensure that every effort is made to achieve budgeted sales and operational expenses. Complying with financial procedures and the completion of returns as requested from time to
time by the General Manager and the Accounts Department.


Supervision of takings and the reconciliation of tills with daily takings. Discrepancies are the responsibility of the assistant manager and must be reported to Hotel Manager within twenty-

four hours.


Checking and balancing of staff and petty cash floats and the ordering of extra floats when
needed from the Accounts Department.



Legal





Ensure that all front of house staff follow health & safety and hygiene legislation and the Five
Arrows Hotel Standards of Procedures.



Equipment


Ensure that all restaurant and bar fixtures and fittings are respected and cared for by all staff.
Supplies


Ensuring the safety of Restaurant stocks and ordering stock where necessary.

Events


To assist in planning of hotel events and liaise closely with necessary departments to ensure
smooth on the day running



Personal


You are expected to be punctual, dressed appropriately and adhere to the standards of
appearance.
You are also expected to attend all training sessions and have read all necessary policy
documents, viz Health & Safety, Fire, Hygiene, etc. A knowledge of the Five Arrows Hotel,


Private Events and Waddesdon Manor and Grounds is expected, and all company policy as


laid out in the Manual, viz Service Standards, Equipment Knowledge, Cleanliness of the


Restaurant, Bar and Wash-Up, Disciplinary Procedures, etc.



This list is not exhaustive and additional duties may be required by the management team.







You will be a great fit if:




You are passionate about delivering exceptional dining experiences, thrive in a leadership role and are


dedicated to fostering a collaborative, inclusive and high-performing team environment. You love food


and drink and are passionate about delivering exceptional service to internal and external customers.




This role offers a unique opportunity to work within the charity and heritage sector, with all profits


going to the upkeep and preservation of the House and Grounds.









Your areas of knowledge and expertise that matter for this role:




Essential





A proven track record of delivering high standards of service and presentation Hands on bar and waiting experience in a busy hospitality environment with a minimum of
one years' experience


Excellent interpersonal skills Highly presentable with a proactive approach to maintaining excellent customer service Previous experience of managing and training staff in a team leader or supervisor capacity Previous cash handling and cash reconciliation experience Ability to work flexible hours as required Able to follow and influence others to meet guidelines and present food to specified standards




Desirable





Ideally with a minimum of two years' experience in a similar role; preferably in a hotel or
banqueting environment.



Additional requirements:


The safety and wellbeing of children, young people and vulnerable adults are of the utmost


importance for any role at the Rothschild Foundation, Waddesdon Manor. Consequently this position


may require a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check to uphold the safety and security of all our


guests, staff and volunteers.




Rewards for working with us:


We are proud of where we work and want to share Waddesdon Manor with family and friends
by offering a number of complimentary tickets to the house and grounds.
Waddesdon Discounts - 50% discount in the food-to-go outlets at the Manor. 20% in the
Manor gift shop and restaurant, Stables Cafe, Five Arrows Hotel, and The Bow Pub. 20%


discount on special event tickets made available to staff.
Staff Card - A National Trust staff card entitles two adults and children under 18 years of age
free admission to all National Trust properties and 20% discount in NT retail and catering


outlets.
Annual Leave - On starting with us , you will receive 25 days annual leave per year plus 8 public
holidays pro-rata. Stay with us for 3 years and this rises to 28 days, 30 days after five years and


32 days after 10 years.
Sick pay - if you become ill, one week of sick pay during your first 3 months. This rises to a
maximum of 3 months full pay within a rolling 12-month period. After four years you also


receive a further 3 months at half pay in the rolling 12-month period.
Pension - We will top up your pension by matching any contribution you make, up to 10% of
your basic salary.
Income Protection - on completing one year of continuous service, income protection may be
available at 50% of basic salary for a maximum of 5 years.
Life Assurance - a lump sum of 4 times basically annual salary is payable upon death in service. Flexible & Hybrid Working - we encourage departments to manage their own way of working
to suit the workload and nature of the work. We recommend a minimum of 3 days a week on-





site.


Long Service Awards - every 5 years of service, you are invited to a celebration to recognise your contribution to the organisation. A cash sum is awarded as a thank you.


Mental Health and Wellbeing Support - access to a wellbeing platform and fully funded 1:1 counselling service.


Enhanced Maternity Pay - after 12 months of continuous service, you can choose 13 weeks of maternity leave at full pay followed by 26 weeks statutory pay.


Enhanced Paternity Pay - after 12 months of continuous service, you may take 3 months of paternity leave at full pay.


Eye Care - eye care vouchers for employees who are DSE users. Flu Jabs - free flu jabs in October. Travel - Cycle to Work Scheme, Season Ticket Loan for train or bus, Octopus Electric Vehicle Scheme.


Deposit Loan Scheme - financial support to go towards a private rental deposit. Access to Perk at Work - access to exclusive discounts from hundreds of retailers, and up to 55% off cinema tickets.


Memberships - 20% discount on new Nuffield gym memberships. 15% off Hartwell Spa Memberships and treatments, and 15% off food in the restaurant.




Workplace adjustments:


We work closely with employees to help them work at their best, including making adjustments such


as flexible working, compressed hours, providing equipment or changes to the workplace, where


possible.




EDI


At the Rothschild Foundation, we place Equality, Inclusion and Diversity at the core of our values. We


strive to be an organisation that actively addresses inequality and prejudice while fostering a truly anti-

racist culture. Our approach is centered on meaningful and equitable support and development for you


and others throughout your time with us. We are committed to providing an environment free from


discrimination, where every team member feels valued, respected and has a true sense of belonging.




Recruitment Process


The vacancy advert may be taken down from job boards earlier than the stated deadline if a
high standard of applications is received.
We welcome applications from everyone and particularly encourage applications from people
from an ethnic minority background, and people with a disability to help us achieve a balanced


representation in our workforce.
To reduce bias in our shortlisting process, we operate an anonymized process. All candidates invited to interview have the opportunity to request adjustments to the
recruitment process when scheduling your interview, for example accessible parking,


communication support or breaks. To support all candidates to perform their best at interview,


we send questions 24 hours in advance.





To apply, please send a current a CV and covering letter explaining how your experience and skills match


those outlined above to application@waddesdon.org.uk







Closing Date: Midnight, 2 June 2025. The vacancy advert may be taken down from job boards when we


see fit if a high standard of applications is received.




If your application is successful, here is what you can expect:


You will be invited for a 45-minute in-person interview with the General Manager of the Five Arrows


Hotel and The Bow. This will be followed by a one-hour trial in the Hotel where you will have the


opportunity to demonstrate your teamwork and customer service skills in action.