Hostel Manager (Maternity Cover)

YHA Hawkshead, Hawkshead, Ambleside, Cumbria, LA22 0QD

Fixed term contract - October 2026 to October 2027

Full time, 42.5 hours per week

£35,655 - £41,949 per annum

Are you looking for a fun and varied job in hospitality management? YHA Hawkshead are looking for a Hostel Manager to lead their team!

Set in a beautiful Grade II listed building in the heart of Beatrix Potter country, YHA Hawkshead is a family‑friendly destination and an ideal base for affordable breaks, school trips and activity holidays. Popular with walkers and cyclists, the hostel is close to Grizedale Forest, home to some of the country’s best mountain biking trails. The business is just as big outside as it is inside. Alongside the main hostel, YHA Hawkshead offers our largest Camping & Cabins operation, including an atmospheric glamping village of camping pods, cabins and tipis set within the grounds. This is a operation where business levels flex significantly during key seasons, making it an excellent development opportunity for a leader looking to broaden their experience. You will lead the team to maximise sales, manage sudden increases in demand, and consistently deliver an outstanding guest experience across accommodation, bar, camping and outdoor areas. With a well-defined roadmap already in place, we are looking for someone who can align with our vision, work within established business frameworks, and help drive the hostel towards continued excellence.

As a Hostel Manager you’ll be responsible for the day-to-day management of your hostel. You’ll create a great place for our teams to work and ensure our guests have a great experience in our hostels.

Why work for YHA?

Join our team and enjoy a range of exclusive staff benefits that support your well-being and career growth:

• 10 nights free hostel stays per year for you and up to 3 friends or family

• Access to YHA’s staff discount and cash back portal

• Free YHA Membership each year

• Access to support via our Employee Assistance Program

There’s lots more benefits to working for YHA so please visit our YHA Jobs website to find out more.

What will you be doing as a Hostel Manager?

We are a friendly team and will provide the training required for you to undertake the role. However, there is plenty for you to get stuck into from day one, including:

• Achievement of targets across all aspects of the hostel operation including food and beverage. You will be accountable for maximising as well as controlling expenditure.

• Managing a team of employees and volunteers.

• Contributing to the team effort in the day-to-day operation of the hostel, undertaking any tasks required, e.g. housekeeping, reception, food and beverage duties.

What Skills and Experience do you need to be a Hostel Manager?

Our Hostel Managers are responsible for the line management of the teams within their own hostels, along with the management of occasional volunteers. They are also responsible for managing the operational budget and the safeguarding of all guests.

To provide this service we are looking for candidates who have:

• Proven experience of working within the hospitality industry – hotels, cafés, hostels

• Experience of people management - recruitment, induction, development, conducting reviews and managing performance

• Excellent customer service skills – experience of handling difficult situations

• Ability to manage varying pressures, include peaks in workload demands – can prioritise, able to deal with conflicting duties

• Food safety level 2 and APLH level 2 qualifications (desirable)

• Basic IT skills (ideally Microsoft Office) – able to use Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel

• Experience of managing P&Ls (profit and loss) and budgets – cash handling, managing a budget

• Knowledge and understanding of the core purpose of YHA – what YHA does and how we do it

• Demonstration of our HEART values – they’re part of everything we do, and we look for people who bring them to life in their everyday work

For more information about the role and the skills and experience required, please refer to the job description.

At YHA, we understand the richness of life experiences, and we place just as much importance on lived experiences as we do on skills and knowledge. We provide a robust induction, ongoing training, and opportunities for personal growth. While certain roles may require specific skills, we welcome applicants from all backgrounds. For more information about how we are creating an inclusive workplace please visit our jobs website.

Who are YHA?

YHA is a social enterprise with a mission to enrich the lives of all, especially young people. YHA does this by providing brilliant hostel stays and experiences that improve physical health, mental wellbeing and life skills.

If you would like to find out more about YHA the charity, the culture, the heritage and so much more please visit our jobs website.

How do you apply?

Submit your CV and complete the application form. For more information about our recruitment process, visit the job website. If you need any assistance, please email jobs@yha.org.uk

Once the hiring manager has reviewed your application we will contact shortlisted candidates. We aim to get in touch within a reasonable amount of time after the closing date. You can also check on the progress of your application if you have signed up to Connect - our online candidate portal

If you require reasonable adjustments during the recruitment process, please get in touch by emailing jobs@yha.org.uk.

PLEASE NOTE All relevant checks are in place to ensure safeguarding and legal requirements of safer recruitment are adhered to. We do reserve the right to close this advertisement early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

YHA Job Title: Hostel Manager