Soho River House Director

Job description

**The Role…** As Director of Soho River House, you will be the most senior leader on site, responsible for the successful opening and ongoing operation of one of Soho House’s most significant UK Houses. Set within the Windsor countryside, the House will bring together the best of Soho House across dining, bedrooms, wellness, events, outdoor activities and member spaces. As Director, you will lead the House from pre-opening through to full operation, setting the vision, building the team and establishing the culture, standards and operating rhythm that will make Soho River House a successful and commercially sustainable house. You will be the face of Soho River House, creating a strong relationship with members, guests, the local community and key stakeholders, while working closely with Soho House & Co. senior leadership and global teams to ensure the House delivers against our brand, people and commercial ambitions. This is a hands-on, high-profile leadership role for an experienced hospitality operator who understands how to bring together multiple disciplines and create a seamless experience across a complex, high-volume destination. --- **What's in it for you?** - Weekly Pay - Team meal whilst on shift prepared by our chefs - Clothing Allowance - Every House Membership - 50% off Food & Drink, 7 days a week - Staff Room Rate; Any Bedroom, Any House, $100 a night - Private Health and Dental Care - Life Assurance - Day off on your birthday - Up to 50% Staff Discount on Cowshed & Soho Home - In conjunction with Soho Impact, take 2 days paid a year to support a charity of your choice. - Free Counselling Sessions - Cookhouse & House Tonic: Our Cookhouse & House Tonic programmes offer unique food and drink trainings, events and opportunities to inspire and educate. - Continuous training to develop yourself personally and professionally - Team Events: From fitness sessions to cinema screenings and art classes, each month we hold a series of fun events which you can sign up to Soho House offers competitive compensation packages that feature global benefits and perks. Whether you’re seeking entry-level employment or a new opportunity to expand your profession, we offer training to develop the technical and managerial skills necessary to enhance your career --- **Key duties…** - Lead the full pre-opening and launch of Soho River House, from construction handover through to opening and beyond. - Partner closely with Development, Design, Finance, People, Membership, Marketing, Culinary and other Soho House teams to ensure the House is fully operationally ready. - Develop and deliver the pre-opening operational plan, including budgets, timelines, critical path, systems, SOPs, licensing, compliance and service standards. - Build and lead the senior leadership team, ensuring the right people, structure and culture are in place ahead of opening. - Own recruitment, onboarding and training across the House, creating a team that understands Soho House values and delivers exceptional, genuine hospitality. - Lead all day-to-day operations across membership, bedrooms, F&B, wellness, events, housekeeping, engineering, security and back-of-house functions. - Create a consistent and connected member and guest journey across the House, ensuring every area feels part of one Soho House experience. - Establish a strong service culture that is warm, personal and intuitive, balancing exceptional hospitality with the informal spirit of Soho House. - Own the financial performance of the House, including budgeting, forecasting, P&L management, labour, cost control and commercial performance across all departments. - Use data, member feedback and operational insight to identify opportunities, improve performance and continuously raise standards. - Work closely with Membership and Marketing to build the local membership community and establish Soho River House as a destination House within the wider Soho House network. - Oversee the planning and delivery of events, activations and key brand moments, ensuring they are commercially successful and operationally excellent. - Ensure the House operates in full compliance with all relevant UK legislation, licensing, health and safety and company policies. - Build strong relationships with local suppliers, partners, authorities and the wider Windsor community, representing Soho House positively in the region. - Work with the General Manager to lead, coach and develop the leadership team, creating a high-performing culture with clear accountability, succession planning and opportunities for internal progression. - Be visible and present across the House, setting the tone for the team and acting as the ultimate ambassador for the Soho House brand, culture and values. --- **What we are looking for...** - 10+ years' senior leadership experience within luxury, lifestyle or high-end hospitality. - Proven experience leading a large, complex operation with multiple F&B and service disciplines. - Strong pre-opening experience, ideally taking a property from construction/handover through to successful launch. - Experience managing significant budgets, P&Ls and commercial performance. - A strong understanding of exceptional hospitality, service culture and member or guest-led businesses. - Proven ability to recruit, develop and lead large, high-performing teams. - Commercially astute, with the ability to balance member experience, people and profitability. - Highly visible and engaging leader who is comfortable being the face of the House. - Excellent communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to work effectively across multiple departments and levels of the organisation. - Entrepreneurial, creative and solutions-focused, with the ability to thrive in a fast-moving pre-opening environment. - Passionate about creating memorable experiences and building a strong sense of community.