General Manager - Fairmont St. Andrews

Fairmont hotels is a renowned luxury hotel brand with a global presence and a commitment to creating lasting memories for our guests. With over 30,000 employees worldwide, we are dedicated to providing exceptional service, embracing innovation, and fostering a culture of excellence.

Offering a luxurious experience on a 520-acre estate with dramatic cliff-top views of the North Sea. Guests can enjoy two world-class golf courses, the Fairmont Spa, and exquisite dining. Our 5-star golf resort boasts sumptuous accommodations, and four-bedroom Manor Homes. Ideal for golf enthusiasts and luxury seekers in Scotland's home of golf.

You will embody the essence of luxury hospitality. Your dynamic and hands-on approach is fueled by a deep passion for developing people and fostering an entrepreneurial spirit. A true brand and guest ambassador, you will challenge conventions, consistently seek solutions, and infuse innovation into every facet of the hotel experience and every function of the business.

Your seasoned leadership style will blend diplomacy with relationship-building prowess, cultivating strong connections with both internal and external stakeholders, including Owners and the Community. Your ability to engage with ownership and strategize revenue enhancements will be coupled with an innate talent for envisioning the hotel's long-term trajectory.

A refined sense of finance and business acumen will be at the core of your decision-making, grounded in an unwavering commitment to delivering a world-class product and service. By seamlessly weaving local heritage and culture into our offerings, you will not only create an authentic guest experience but also drive excellence across all dimensions of our operations.

In your role as a catalyst for exceptional service, you will uphold the highest standards, infusing every interaction with the kind of genuine care that leaves an indelible mark on our guests. Nurturing an environment of continuous growth and skill development, you will inspire our colleagues to consistently exceed expectations, turning moments into memories for every visitor.

As a visionary leader, you will play a pivotal role in shaping our strategic direction. Your involvement in goal setting and objective communication will propel business growth and solidify the hotel’s reputation as a distinguished luxury destination. Your ability to foster positive relationships with ownership will ensure a harmonious partnership that aligns with our overarching strategy while enhancing the hotel's performance and prestige.

Your leadership will be synonymous with setting industry benchmarks and redefining luxury hospitality. Your commitment to excellence, coupled with your innovative approach, will leave an enduring mark on our iconic brand and create a legacy of unparalleled guest memories.

Key Behaviours and Responsibilities:

1. Act with an open mindset:

Embrace innovative ideas, adapt to change, and encourage a culture of innovation and continuous learning.

Demonstrate explicit knowledge and awareness of company standards as an integral role model.

Build quality relationships with the management team.

Create an environment that encourages innovation, challenges traditional thinking, and fosters a "speak-up" culture.

1. Create positive impact working with others:

Foster an inclusive and collaborative work environment, empowering colleagues to contribute their best and building strong relationships based on trust and respect.

Create a collaborative and inclusive environment where all colleagues are encouraged to provide input.

Actively listen to team members' ideas, concerns, and feedback and incorporate their input into decision-making processes.

Recognize and appreciate the contributions and well-being of colleagues.

1. Strive for guest/client satisfaction

Exhibits a deep understanding of the luxury hospitality landscape and guest expectations, ensuring that the guest experience consistently exceeds industry standards.

Maintain product and service quality standards by conducting ongoing evaluations.

Handle VIP Guests and understand international protocols for government officials and royalty.

Monitor guest/client feedback, address concerns promptly, and implement improvements to optimize satisfaction.

1.  Consistently deliver excellence:

Demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of ownership group's investment objectives and formulates strategic business plans that align with those objectives; ensuring preservation and maximization of the hotel’s assets.

Set high performance standards, lead by example, and drive a culture of continuous improvement and quality across all the hotel.

Exhibits expertise in sales, marketing, and revenue management, driving the hotel's performance in the luxury hospitality market.

Maximize financial performance, control costs, and execute marketing and operational activities that produce results meeting or exceeding the hotel's business plan.

Recognize and reward outstanding performance and celebrate achievements within the organization.

1.  Enable team success:

Support the professional growth and development of colleagues through coaching, mentoring, and providing opportunities for learning.

Encourage individuals to take on challenging assignments and stretch their capabilities.

Provide regular feedback and guidance, recognizing achievements and offering constructive suggestions for improvement.

Create a safe and empowering environment where individuals feel comfortable taking risks, expressing their ideas, and learning from failures.

1.  Create clarity:

Articulates a clear and comprehensive vision for the hotel, aligning goals and objectives with ownership group's investment strategy.

Effectively communicates organizational vision, goals, and expectations, fostering a shared sense of purpose and direction among team members.

Demonstrates adeptness in overseeing renovation projects, maintaining transparency and open communication throughout the process.

Addresses ambiguity and navigates complex situations with transparency, fostering an environment of clear direction and effective problem-solving.

1.  Inspire for top performance:

Lead with passion and integrity, motivate and inspire others to achieve their best.

Market plans and ideas successfully, reducing key and complex ideas and messages to clear, memorable, and compelling statements.

Embodies an entrepreneurial spirit, inspiring innovative thinking and fostering a culture that encourages taking calculated risks.

Recognizes and rewards outstanding performance, cultivating an atmosphere of achievement and recognition.

Promotes continuous development and growth, offering resources and guidance to nurture professional skills and talents.

Champions a "speak-up" culture, creating an environment where diverse opinions are valued, and individual contributions are celebrated.

Convince others, negotiate, debate, and find win-win solutions.

• Prior experience as a General Manager in a luxury hotel environment, ideally within an iconic or flagship property. Demonstrated ability to lead complex operations with high expectations from both brand and ownership stakeholders.

• Significant experience managing a large-scale luxury resort destination, preferably with golf, spa, conference, and extensive leisure operations. Exposure to golf operations is a strong asset, with an understanding of how golf contributes to destination appeal, guest mix, and revenue streams.

• Strong track record overseeing diverse and high-volume F&B operations, including multiple restaurants, bars, lounges, and substantial banquet and event facilities. Experience revitalizing F&B concepts or elevating culinary positioning is an advantage.

• Background in managing spa, wellness, and leisure activities, with an understanding of luxury wellness trends and the expectations of global travelers.

• Demonstrated commercial acumen, with a proven ability to drive top-line growth, optimize revenue management strategies, and strengthen market share across leisure, corporate, and MICE segments. Experience repositioning hotels or enhancing brand visibility in competitive markets is valuable.

• Strong educational background, supported by professional certifications and a commitment to continuous learning, leadership development, and operational excellence.

• Fluent in English, with additional European languages considered an advantage, given the international guest profile.

• Proven track record of establishing and nurturing a strong service and quality culture, ensuring consistency in delivery across all guest touchpoints and alignment with Fairmont brand hallmarks.

• Exceptional people leadership, with a history of building engaged, motivated, and high-performing teams. Adept at talent development, succession planning, creating inclusive environments, and inspiring teams through change.

• Strong leadership presence combined with excellent organizational and interpersonal skills, enabling effective collaboration, structured decision-making, and clear communication across all levels.

• A strategic thinker with exceptional communication, presentation, and influencing skills, capable of translating long-term vision into practical, actionable plans that elevate the resort’s performance.

• Demonstrates a strong entrepreneurial spirit, with a bias for innovation, continuous improvement, and identifying new opportunities that enhance guest experience and financial performance.

• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, juggling multiple priorities while maintaining operational discipline and a sense of calm, clarity, and focus.

• Excellent prioritization and time-management skills, with the capacity to manage stakeholders, teams, and operational complexities simultaneously.

• Professional personality and strong brand orientation, acting as a true ambassador for Fairmont and upholding the values, standards, and legacy of the brand.

• Charismatic, engaging, and naturally warm, with an effortless ability to connect authentically with guests, colleagues, the local community, and industry partners.

• Experienced in managing sophisticated owner relations, demonstrating maturity, transparency, and strong communication. Adept at balancing owner priorities with brand standards and long-term strategy.

• Bottom-line oriented with a holistic view, ensuring profitable operations, strong cost discipline, and sustainable long-term value creation while preserving exceptional guest service.

• Passionate about creating memorable, emotional experiences, understanding the power of personalized service and the importance of elevating the guest journey at every stage.

• Comfortable representing the hotel in public forums, including community events, tourism boards, media engagements, and global brand showcases, strengthening the hotel’s presence and reputation.

• Experienced leading hotels through transformation, including renovations, repositioning projects, or operational restructuring, with the ability to maintain guest satisfaction and team morale throughout.

• Deep appreciation for Scottish culture and the local environment, with the ability to authentically integrate locality, heritage, and destination appeal into the overall Fairmont experience.