Front Office Manager

FRONT OFFICE MANAGER - FREEHAND CHICAGO
We need an exceptional and passionate Front Office Manager to join our team. If you are an inspiring leader and communicator, a people person through and through and have a genuine desire to be part of something big then your journey should start here. Help us to create an unforgettable experience & be a part of ground-breaking, lifestyle & hospitality brand.

WHO ARE WE

Freehand is on a journey. Appropriate, given that we're a shared accommodation brand. Freehand swung through the US coolest cities on its way to dominating the world. It burst onto the scene in the Americas with the launch of our properties in the country’s biggest markets (NYC, LA, Miami and Chicago) with the acquisition of Freehand Hotels. Created for a new generation of urban travelers, Freehand combines the social culture of a hotel with innovative design by Roman and Williams, comfort and quality food and beverage at an affordable price.

No biggie. Fast Company named us one of the top 50 most innovative global companies. We, of course, agree. And now this top 50 most innovative global company (did we mention that?) wants a pretty awesome Front Office Manager.

Our spaces are safe and seriously social, in the proudest part of the beating heart of the cities we love. Cultural action, creative pulse and an outstanding way to waste some of the finite time the universe has given you - that's what Freehand offers. Holds true for staff and visitors equally, and while chic design is always the backdrop, every Freehand in every destination reflects the unique beat of that city's heart.

ABOUT FREEHAND CHICAGO

Welcome to Freehand’s second outpost! Designed by Manhattan-based Roman and Williams, the building celebrates the city’s Midwestern heritage with a string of evocative communal spaces and rooms located in the restored 1927 Art Deco building, set among the high-rises of the downtown River North neighbourhood – home to some of the city’s best art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Featuring 217 rooms and amazing public spaces like Café Integral coffee and breakfast bar and the cozy Broken Shaker Bar, it’s a buzzing, busy space that represents the best of Freehand. Between the busy social calendar and the ever-changing makeup of guests and locals coming to play, it’s a particularly fun and fulfilling space for everyone in the Freehand Chicago team to work in.

NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE JOB

• Responsible for overseeing, leading and controlling the rooms division operations including, but not limited to, Reception, Housekeeping, and Maintenance
• Set departmental targets and objectives, work schedules, budgets, and policies and procedures
• Control payroll and all costs in your department
• Evaluate guest satisfaction levels and monitor trends with a focus on continuous improvement
• Take ownership of the guest journey to ensure that we create a truly unique Generator experience
• Strive to continuously “raise the bar” by improving standards of performance, redefining the hostel experience by achieving outstanding customer satisfaction
• Have a comprehensive knowledge of and ensure compliance with all local legislation and regulations pertaining to your department
• Monitor the appearance, standards and performance of the Front of House Team with an emphasis on training and teamwork
• Communicate effectively and appropriately in all directions so that the team understands its goals and is motivated to achieve them
• Monitor the appearance, standards and performance of the Room Division Team with an emphasis on training and teamwork
• Ensure that your team remains up to date with all local, national and international trends
• Be commercially savvy in exploring new revenue streams

Naturally this is not intended as an exhaustive list of duties. Other duties as may be reasonably required will form part of this job description.

WHAT’S IN YOUR DNA

• Passionate for hospitality and the youth travel market
• Passionate for delivering excellent customer service
• Strong leadership skills with ability to coach, mentor, train and develop crew members
• Hands-on experience
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Available to work when needed, including weekends, holidays, and nights
• You must be eligible to work in the EU to be considered for this role

YOUR ROCK STAR EXPERIENCE

• Rooms Management/Front Office Management experience in the hotel sector in a similar capacity, experience handling cash, accounting procedures, and general administrative tasks
• Minimum 3 years of customer service in a hotel setting 
• Conversant in at least one Property Management System

OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Birthday holiday in addition to your yearly holiday allocation
• Fertility Treatment Support Leave - up to three days' paid leave in any one year for an employee to undergo fertility treatment
• Employee Bounty Program providing opportunities to earn a compensation for new hire referrals with no cap on number of referrals made 
• Company contribution towards gym membership fees for all eligible employees – look good, feel good, work good
• Ideas Award - Quarterly award to double gross basic salary for 1 month to employee with most valuable suggestion/feedback
• 2 free nights’ accommodation across any of our Generator x Freehand properties globally
• Reduced room rates for staff as well as friends and family members (we operate in several locations across Europe & US so your next holiday is sorted)
• International career opportunities so you can travel the world while working with us (win-win!)
• Social events, celebrations calendar & various employee recognition schemes – we never ever need an excuse to let our hair down!
• Online learning tools to help you develop, learn and grow

LOCAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• 9 holidays
• Paid vacations (80 hours per calendar year)
• Paid sick leave (40 hours per calendar year)
• Medical + Dental + Vision (subsidised contributions)
• Life & Disability (employer paid)
• Commuter benefits
• Voluntary products: Voluntary Life, Legal Shield/ID Shield, Pet Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, critical illness, Accident Insurance and FSA

SO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE YOU?

That's cool. Send us your application in English. If you’ve got questions, get in touch!

Also, check out https://freehandhotels.com/ or our social media pages. Here you may well find the answers to life, the universe and everything, including why there are no penguins at the North Pole. We look forward to hearing from you.

Employment will be based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Join Us and help us achieve our Vision!

FRONT OFFICE MANAGER - FREEHAND CHICAGO
We need an exceptional and passionate Front Office Manager to join our team. If you are an inspiring leader and communicator, a people person through and through and have a genuine desire to be part of something big then your journey should start here. Help us to create an unforgettable experience & be a part of ground-breaking, lifestyle & hospitality brand.

WHO ARE WE

Freehand is on a journey. Appropriate, given that we're a shared accommodation brand. Freehand swung through the US coolest cities on its way to dominating the world. It burst onto the scene in the Americas with the launch of our properties in the country’s biggest markets (NYC, LA, Miami and Chicago) with the acquisition of Freehand Hotels. Created for a new generation of urban travelers, Freehand combines the social culture of a hotel with innovative design by Roman and Williams, comfort and quality food and beverage at an affordable price.

No biggie. Fast Company named us one of the top 50 most innovative global companies. We, of course, agree. And now this top 50 most innovative global company (did we mention that?) wants a pretty awesome Front Office Manager.

Our spaces are safe and seriously social, in the proudest part of the beating heart of the cities we love. Cultural action, creative pulse and an outstanding way to waste some of the finite time the universe has given you - that's what Freehand offers. Holds true for staff and visitors equally, and while chic design is always the backdrop, every Freehand in every destination reflects the unique beat of that city's heart.

ABOUT FREEHAND CHICAGO

Welcome to Freehand’s second outpost! Designed by Manhattan-based Roman and Williams, the building celebrates the city’s Midwestern heritage with a string of evocative communal spaces and rooms located in the restored 1927 Art Deco building, set among the high-rises of the downtown River North neighbourhood – home to some of the city’s best art galleries, boutiques and restaurants. Featuring 217 rooms and amazing public spaces like Café Integral coffee and breakfast bar and the cozy Broken Shaker Bar, it’s a buzzing, busy space that represents the best of Freehand. Between the busy social calendar and the ever-changing makeup of guests and locals coming to play, it’s a particularly fun and fulfilling space for everyone in the Freehand Chicago team to work in.

NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE JOB

• Responsible for overseeing, leading and controlling the rooms division operations including, but not limited to, Reception, Housekeeping, and Maintenance
• Set departmental targets and objectives, work schedules, budgets, and policies and procedures
• Control payroll and all costs in your department
• Evaluate guest satisfaction levels and monitor trends with a focus on continuous improvement
• Take ownership of the guest journey to ensure that we create a truly unique Generator experience
• Strive to continuously “raise the bar” by improving standards of performance, redefining the hostel experience by achieving outstanding customer satisfaction
• Have a comprehensive knowledge of and ensure compliance with all local legislation and regulations pertaining to your department
• Monitor the appearance, standards and performance of the Front of House Team with an emphasis on training and teamwork
• Communicate effectively and appropriately in all directions so that the team understands its goals and is motivated to achieve them
• Monitor the appearance, standards and performance of the Room Division Team with an emphasis on training and teamwork
• Ensure that your team remains up to date with all local, national and international trends
• Be commercially savvy in exploring new revenue streams

Naturally this is not intended as an exhaustive list of duties. Other duties as may be reasonably required will form part of this job description.

WHAT’S IN YOUR DNA

• Passionate for hospitality and the youth travel market
• Passionate for delivering excellent customer service
• Strong leadership skills with ability to coach, mentor, train and develop crew members
• Hands-on experience
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Available to work when needed, including weekends, holidays, and nights
• You must be eligible to work in the EU to be considered for this role

YOUR ROCK STAR EXPERIENCE

• Rooms Management/Front Office Management experience in the hotel sector in a similar capacity, experience handling cash, accounting procedures, and general administrative tasks
• Minimum 3 years of customer service in a hotel setting 
• Conversant in at least one Property Management System

OUR EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• Birthday holiday in addition to your yearly holiday allocation
• Fertility Treatment Support Leave - up to three days' paid leave in any one year for an employee to undergo fertility treatment
• Employee Bounty Program providing opportunities to earn a compensation for new hire referrals with no cap on number of referrals made 
• Company contribution towards gym membership fees for all eligible employees – look good, feel good, work good
• Ideas Award - Quarterly award to double gross basic salary for 1 month to employee with most valuable suggestion/feedback
• 2 free nights’ accommodation across any of our Generator x Freehand properties globally
• Reduced room rates for staff as well as friends and family members (we operate in several locations across Europe & US so your next holiday is sorted)
• International career opportunities so you can travel the world while working with us (win-win!)
• Social events, celebrations calendar & various employee recognition schemes – we never ever need an excuse to let our hair down!
• Online learning tools to help you develop, learn and grow

LOCAL EMPLOYEE BENEFITS

• 9 holidays
• Paid vacations (80 hours per calendar year)
• Paid sick leave (40 hours per calendar year)
• Medical + Dental + Vision (subsidised contributions)
• Life & Disability (employer paid)
• Commuter benefits
• Voluntary products: Voluntary Life, Legal Shield/ID Shield, Pet Insurance, Hospital Indemnity, critical illness, Accident Insurance and FSA

SO YOU THINK THIS MIGHT BE YOU?

That's cool. Send us your application in English. If you’ve got questions, get in touch!

Also, check out https://freehandhotels.com/ or our social media pages. Here you may well find the answers to life, the universe and everything, including why there are no penguins at the North Pole. We look forward to hearing from you.

Employment will be based upon personal capabilities and qualifications without discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, or any other protected characteristic as established by law.

Join Us and help us achieve our Vision!