Overview

Sadeh is a farm and environmental community centre based on Jewish values. Our work is focused on regenerative land practices; cross communal and inclusive Jewish engagement and environmental education. We are based in Orpington, Kent, where we run a guest house and volunteer programmes.

Background

Sadeh opened the ‘Sadeh farmhouse’, a 6 bedroom, kosher and vegetarian guesthouse in May 2021 built in 1609 on 7 acres of land. The guesthouse is a family friendly venue with delicious, vegetarian food showcasing the farm’s fruit and vegetables wherever possible. There are regular activities on the farm led by Sadeh’s staff and volunteers promoting outdoor Jewish education, environmental issues and nature based activities to the Jewish and local community.

Sadeh is recruiting for a guesthouse manager, reporting and working alongside the CEO, to join a small and close knit team to take control of the day-to-day operations.

Responsibilities

Guests:

  • Booking in new guests via phone and email
  • Ensuring smooth guest check-in and check-out
  • Ensuring rooms are prepared to the highest standard for each arrival
  • Maintaining an excellent level of hospitality to guests
  • Managing the physical guest house environment to a standard so that guests feel comfortably at home
  • Dealing with customer complaints and concerns and referring them upwards if needed

Managing staff:

  • Managing the cleaning and maintenance staff including their rota hours and responsibilities
  • Working with our Kitchen Team to ensure meals are consistently delivered on time, are of high quality and meet the requirements of guests
  • Monitoring staff performance and having awareness of staff morale
  • Having occasional check-ins with staff at your discretion
  • Listening to and communicating staff feedback upwards
  • Monitoring all staff availability – logging leave and unavailability dates. Ensuring all leave is entered for payroll each week. Arranging cover for staff leave
  • Training new kitchen assistants on presentation, pre and post-meal cleaning tasks and ensure they are aware of all allergens, dietary and other food safety requirements
  • Committed to creating a pleasant, welcoming and positive working atmosphere

Managing the guesthouse environment:

  • Managing the upkeep and organisation of all storage areas and delegating tasks to team members ongoing on a rota basis
  • Responsible for ordering all cleaning and housekeeping supplies, checking deliveries, rotating stock and ensuring it is always stored safely
  • Maintain Health and Safety and up-to-date risk assessments (COSHH and other relevant training can be provided)
  • Educating the team about efficient environmentally-friendly work processes and minimising waste

Communication:

  • Creating daily and weekly briefs as necessary
  • Providing handovers for days when you are not working
  • Fostering excellent communication between all house staff
  • Hold staff meetings as necessary

Other:

  • Co-manage the guest activities timetable with the Sadeh team
  • Work with residential volunteers to support the maintenance of the house and grounds

What we are looking for:

Essential:

  • An enthusiastic team leader willing to take ownership of the effective day-to-day running of the Sadeh guesthouse
  • Strong communication, team management and organisational skills
  • Excellent customer service and people skills
  • The ability to direct and delegate tasks- always keeping one step ahead of everyone
  • Intuitive, quick to think on their feet and able to keep a level head during busy and challenging times
  • Committed to working within a small team with a shared goal of offering exceptional service
  • A keen eye for detail
  • Experience in working in cafes/restaurants/hotels or other hospitality experience
  • Ability to work flexible hours including some weekends and holidays
  • Interest in learning Jewish customs and values

Desirable

  • Experience or interest in working with children of all ages. We will ask you to get a DBS check for this role
  • Experience working with volunteers

Hours of work

– Full time 35 – 40 hours per week (incl some weekends)

We offer

  • Discounted Employee and Friends & Family rates on rooms
  • Ability to stay at Sadeh for free subject to availability
  • Free veg and farm produce
  • Free meals at work
  • 25 days holiday + bank holidays (or days off in lieu)
  • Extra training
  • 30,000 per annum

Apply to: talia.chain@sadehfarm.co.uk