Hostel Manager

About Us

We are one of Madeira's highest-rated boutique hostels, offering a unique blend of stylish hostel accommodation and private rooms. We pride ourselves on exceptional cleanliness, outstanding guest experiences, and creating a welcoming community atmosphere that guests remember long after they leave.

We're looking for an enthusiastic, hands-on Hostel Manager to take responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the hostel and help us maintain the standards that have earned our excellent reputation.

The Role

As Hostel Manager, you will oversee the daily running of the hostel, ensuring every guest enjoys an exceptional experience from arrival to departure. This is a hands-on position where you'll lead by example, motivate the team, and take pride in maintaining consistently high standards.

You'll be responsible for managing our volunteer team, ensuring rooms and communal areas are presented to an exceptional standard, responding promptly to guest enquiries, and fostering the friendly, social atmosphere that makes our hostel special.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee the day-to-day operation of the hostel.
• Recruit, train, supervise and motivate a team of three volunteers.
• Ensure consistently high standards of cleanliness throughout the property.
• Inspect guest rooms and common areas daily.
• Welcome guests and provide outstanding customer service.
• Respond promptly and professionally to guest messages and enquiries.
• Manage our keyless access system and resolve access issues when required.
• Monitor guest satisfaction and proactively resolve any issues.
• Help with housekeeping whenever required—no task is beneath the manager.
• Ensure all operating procedures are followed consistently.
• Create and maintain a warm, welcoming community atmosphere where guests feel at home.
• Continually look for ways to improve the guest experience.

Performance Bonus

A performance bonus is available for achieving agreed guest satisfaction targets, including maintaining exceptional online review scores.

Success in this role isn't measured solely by occupancy—it is measured by how guests feel. We want every guest to leave believing they've stayed in one of the best hostels they've ever experienced.

We're looking for someone who genuinely enjoys hospitality and understands that small details make a big difference.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience managing a hostel, hotel, guesthouse or similar hospitality business.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills.
• Outstanding customer service and communication abilities.
• A positive, proactive and hands-on attitude.
• High attention to detail and strong organisational skills.
• Confidence using online booking systems and basic computer software.
• Ability to solve problems calmly and independently.
• Fluent English (additional languages are an advantage).
• Flexibility to work weekends and public holidays when required.
• The legal right to work in Portugal.

Personal Qualities

• Warm, friendly and approachable.
• Calm under pressure.
• Takes pride in exceptionally high standards.
• Leads by example.
• Enjoys meeting people from around the world.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently.
• Naturally creates a positive, social atmosphere for guests.
• Comfortable rolling up their sleeves and helping with cleaning or any other task when needed.

We are open to applications from couples