Hospitality Director
SKILLS
FULL DESCRIPTION
Hospitality Director
[Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] seeks a highly experienced Hospitality Director to shape and lead hospitality within one of Oxford's most historic colleges.
- Location: Oxford, UK (on-site)
- Salary: £63,606 - £80,525 p.a. + OW Allowance
- Type: Permanent, Full-time
- Closing Date: 05/06/2026
About the College
Founded in 1379, [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is among the oldest and largest colleges of the University of Oxford. The colleges are independent, self-governing institutions that serve as academic, social, and residential communities for students. [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal] is home to approximately 440 undergraduate and 350 graduate students.
Role Overview
The Hospitality Director is a senior leadership role responsible for all hospitality provision including formal dining, conference and events services, catering, and front-of-house delivery. The postholder will maintain exceptional service standards upholding the [Employer hidden — sign up to reveal]'s heritage while driving innovation and commercial sustainability.
Main Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership to a diverse, highly skilled team
- Foster a culture of excellence and continuous development
- Full financial accountability including budgetary management
- Identify and optimise income-generating opportunities
- Ethical and responsible procurement
Full job description available: Hospitality Director.
Interviews expected between 8th and 19th June 2026.
Person Specification
Essential
- Professional qualification to degree level in relevant hospitality subject or equivalent experience
- Significant senior management experience in hospitality, hotels, or institutional catering
- Proven track record of delivering high-end events and dining experiences
- Strong financial and commercial acumen
- Excellent leadership and people management skills
- Outstanding communication and interpersonal abilities
Desirable
- Membership of relevant professional association (CMI, MIH, CGC) etc
- Experience within a collegiate university, heritage venue, or similar environment
- Knowledge of Oxford college dining traditions and formal service
- Relevant professional qualifications (e.g., hospitality management, catering, or business)
Key Attributes
- Strategic thinker combined with strong operational focus
- Meticulous attention to detail and commitment to service quality
- Ability to balance tradition with forward-looking innovation
- Calm under pressure with well-developed problem-solving skills
Benefits
- 30 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
- Generous salary-based occupational pension scheme
- Complimentary lunch on working days when meals are served
- Annual travel pass support scheme (bus or train)
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme