Closing Date: 11 June 2026
Salary: £28,537.00 Per Annum, Plus Desirable Benefits
Full Time, Permanent position
Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?
Do you want to work in a place where you can hear calls from troops of howler monkeys, or the roars of a pride of lions?
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is currently seeking a Deputy Head of Housekeeping to join our team.
Reporting to the Head of Housekeeping, the Deputy Head of Housekeeping plays a key role in the day-to-day management and operational delivery of the department across all accommodation and public areas. You will lead and support Supervisors and Housekeeping teams to ensure consistently high standards of cleanliness, presentation and guest experience.
This is a hands-on leadership role, responsible for coordinating daily operations, planning team allocation, and ensuring accommodation is prepared efficiently for guest arrivals. You will carry out regular quality inspections, monitor performance, and support the development of your team, fostering a culture of accountability and high standards. Working closely with the Head of Housekeeping, you will also support recruitment, training and performance management, while helping to drive continuous improvement across the department. From managing staffing levels and updating systems to supporting new accommodation launches and seasonal projects, you’ll play an integral role in ensuring the smooth and effective running of housekeeping operations.
Who are we looking for:
We’re looking for a confident and capable leader who is passionate about maintaining exceptional standards and developing high-performing teams. You’ll thrive in a fast-paced hospitality environment, be highly organised, and take pride in delivering an outstanding guest experience. Ideally, you’ll have at least three years’ experience in housekeeping, including two years in a supervisory or management role, with proven experience leading and motivating teams through supervisors. You’ll be confident managing competing priorities, making decisions under pressure, and solving problems proactively while maintaining high standards.
Strong communication skills are essential, along with experience in team development, performance management or recruitment. You’ll have a solid understanding of housekeeping operations, service delivery and health and safety practices, as well as good IT skills, including Microsoft Office. A full, valid driving licence is required.
You’ll be professional, calm and resilient, with a positive, solutions-focused approach and a strong eye for detail. Experience in a resort, multi-site or high-volume environment would be advantageous, as would knowledge of Opera or similar systems. A hospitality qualification and experience supporting projects such as new openings or refurbishments would also be beneficial.
Contract details:
This is a full-time, permanent position that requires the successful candidate to 40 hours per week, five days out of seven, providing cover from Monday to Sunday, including bank holidays and school holidays. A reliable mode of transport is recommended due to our remote location. All applicants must have right to work in the UK.
The location:
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is a world-renowned wild animal park set within 600 acres of Kentish savannah. The Reserve is home to some of the world’s most rare and endangered animals and offers luxury short breaks accommodations, free roaming animal safaris, once-in-a-lifetime animal encounters and exquisite dining experiences. Most importantly, every one of our employees is part of real conservation in action and their efforts have contributed to animals such as black rhino and western lowland gorillas being returned to their natural habitats in collaboration with our partners at The Aspinall Foundation.
Why you should join us:
We’re on a mission to create memorable experiences that matter, and our Core Values ‘One Team’, Customer’ and ‘Pride’ are what drive us each day to become part of something extraordinary. As well as walking to work surrounded by the calls of Howler monkeys and the roars from our pride of Lions, you will join a supportive team who are passionate about their place of work.
Be part of the Port Lympne and Howletts family and join our pride.
You can also expect a host of other roarsome benefits including:
- 28 days annual leave inclusive of bank holidays, rising with length of service. (Pro-rata to start date and working hours)
- Comprehensive training and development opportunities, including workshops and e-learning.
- Enhanced Sickness, Maternity and Paternity Policies.
- Unlimited free entry for you and a person of your choice into both of our parks as well as friends and family tickets.
- Exceptional discounts on food, retail and accommodation at our parks.
- Numerous retail discounts and access to a 24-hour counselling line through our Healthy Extras Scheme.
- A great working environment with lots of social activities
- Company Pension
- And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
Your adventure awaits
#joinourpride
A full job description is available on request.
To Apply – Please email your C.V and covering letter to: dorotheew@portlympne.com
