Closing date: 8 July 2026
Salary: Depending on Experience, Plus Desirable Benefits
This is a Permanent, Full-Time Position
Are you wild about creating memorable experiences?
Do you want to work in a place where you can hear the roar of a pride of lions?
Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve is fast on its way to becoming Europe’s first animal-focused holiday destination, and we are currently seeking a Guest Relations Manager to lead our Guest Relations team, supporting our unique accommodation offering across the Reserve.
Reporting to the Front of House Manager, this is a key leadership role responsible for delivering exceptional guest experiences while maintaining the highest standards of service, presentation, and operational excellence throughout all front-of-house areas. This is a highly visible, hands-on management position where you will lead and develop a large customer-facing team, overseeing recruitment, training, performance, rotas, and service delivery to ensure every guest journey is seamless from start to finish.
Working closely with teams across the business, you will drive continuous improvement, resolve guest concerns effectively, and support the smooth running of the wider Front of House department, deputising for senior management when required.
Who are we looking for:
We are seeking an experienced and inspiring hospitality manager with a minimum of 2 years’ management or supervisory experience in a highly customer-focused service delivery environment. You will have a proven track record of leading by example, managing performance, and successfully recruiting, training, and developing a customer-facing team of at least 15 colleagues.
A natural problem solver, you take pride in resolving guest concerns quickly and effectively while continuously identifying opportunities to improve service delivery and operational standards. You bring exceptional communication skills, strong attention to detail, and the ability to remain calm, confident, and professional under pressure.
You will be adaptable, resilient, and comfortable managing change, with a strong “can do” attitude and a passion for delivering outstanding guest experiences. A high standard of personal presentation, strong IT skills, operational awareness, and a full UK driving licence are essential.
Contract details:
This is a permanent full-time position, working 40 hours per week, five days out of seven as per the rota. The role is based at Port Lympne Hotel & Reserve near Folkestone and reports directly into the Front of House Manager. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK. A reliable mode of transport is recommended due to our remote location.
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.
- Company Pension
- And many more length or service-related rewards and Benefits.
Your adventure awaits
#joinourpride
To apply: If you want to work in an exciting and unique environment where no two days are the same, email your C.V. and covering letter to laurag@hportlympne.com
