Team Leader, Activities

As a Hotel Activities Assistant, you will be critical in the organisation, supervision, and delivery of the hotel's activities and amenities operation. A key focus will be maintaining and delivering exemplary standards across the pool operation, which includes ensuring exceptional cleaning standards, guest safety, compliance, and upselling swimming pool accessories and refreshments to deliver a first-rate guest experience.

If you are looking for a hotel with something different and some history to work in, then The Odney Hotel, our Place by the River could be for you. This is a beautiful and unique John Lewis Partnership owned hotel, set in 130 acres by the River Thames in Cookham, Berkshire. It offers both character and charm to our guests.

The guests can stay in one of 5 beautiful houses on the site, each maintaining the period look of its time with access to the picturesque grounds including a private stretch of river, water gardens, a pool and sports facilities. The main building Lullebrook Manor and its grounds are thought to have been the inspiration for the classic novel The Wind in The Willows bringing history along with relaxation where you can enjoy afternoon tea on the terrace, a drink in the bar or a meal overlooking the river.

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.

Hours of work - 37.5 hours per week, earliest start time 06:00 and latest finish time 22:00 and will include regular weekend working. 

Key responsibilities

• Implement and supervise standards of the activities department.

• Create a high-performing and professional team. Plan and manage shifts, rotas, holiday planning, sickness cover, training and administration. Work closely with the

• Kitchen, Reception, Front of House and Event operations teams.

• Supervise the activity assistants and allocation of resources.

• Oversee payment procedures, including opening and closing processes.

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

• maintaining standards, including stepping in to deliver the pool tasks, where necessary

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

• Respond to business demand and ensure resources are available to meet expected/planned demand.

Essential skills/experience you’ll need

• Relevant and proven experience in supervision of a small team running an operation

• Self-motivated/ Industrious.

• Competent in IT systems and able to use standard software.

• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal and meticulous attention to detail.

Desirable skills/experience you may have

• Archery Instruction Certificate

• Activity instruction e.g. Swimming instruction

• Certificate in Food and Beverage Service, Level 2 Food Hygiene

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 occasionally close vacancies early in the event we receive a high volume of applications, and therefore, we recommend you apply early. If you require a reasonable adjustment due to a disability which means you may need longer to complete your application please contact us as soon as possible.

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. 

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