Live-In Assistant General Manager

About the role

This is a senior, hands-on leadership position supporting the General Manager across guest experience, daily operations, people leadership, and commercial performance. As a live-in role, you will provide a strong leadership presence on site and help ensure the hotel runs smoothly, consistently, and safely at all times. As Live-In Assistant General Manager, you will be one of the key faces of Carnmore Hagley Park—setting the tone for service, supporting the team, and making sure every guest interaction reflects the warmth, professionalism, and care Carnmore is known for. You will work with a whole-of-hotel mindset, collaborating closely with Housekeeping, Maintenance, Reservations, Finance, and Sales. When the General Manager is absent, you will step confidently into the role of Manager on Duty, ensuring continuity of leadership, prompt decision-making, and smooth day-to-day operations.

Key responsibilities

• Keep reception and daily guest operations running smoothly, professionally, and efficiently in a 25-room environment
• Personally welcome guests, returning visitors, and special bookings, ensuring each stay feels warm, easy, and well cared for
• Respond to guest requests and resolve issues quickly, calmly, and practically, escalating only when needed
• Maintain accurate room status, guest messages, accounts, arrivals, departures, and clear handovers between shifts
• Check daily reports, bookings, housekeeping updates, and guest feedback so any issues are picked up early
• Work confidently with the motel's core systems, including the PMS, guest communications, Wi-Fi, security, and basic troubleshooting
• Support, guide, and train a small team across front office, guest services, and day-to-day operations
• Take ownership of daily room revenue performance, including occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, and pace
• Manage cash handling, credit limits, high-balance guests, and billing integrity
• Lead and promote best-practice Health & Safety standards and act as Hotel Head Warden

About you

• Proven experience in a senior Front Office or Rooms Division leadership role
• Confident, calm, and professional leadership style with a hands-on approach
• Strong commercial acumen and solid understanding of revenue management and yielding
• Excellent communicator who builds trust with guests, teams, and stakeholders
• Passionate about hospitality, people development, and delivering standout guest experiences
• Comfortable stepping into broader hotel leadership responsibilities

About us

Carnmore Hotel Collection is a locally owned and growing New Zealand hotel group, proud of our strong community connections and our commitment to delivering warm, genuine, and consistent guest experiences. Carnmore Hagley Park has been part of the Carnmore family for almost six years and is proud to be both an exceptional place for guests to visit and a supportive, professional environment for our loyal team to work. Located beside one of Christchurch's most iconic green spaces, the hotel offers a personal, guest-focused experience with the standards and support of a wider hotel group.