Sauna Manager

£15.00 per hour + benefits
Full time (35 hours a week)
Hackney Wick, East London

Application deadline: 17th August 2022

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The Hackney Wick Sauna Baths have brought the first authentic wood-fired sauna to London. Having begun in January 2022, we have quickly become popular with a loyal community, and are now seeking out a full-time manager to run day-to-day operations.

Our mission

Strongly influenced by traditions of communal bathing found throughout Scandinavia, the Baltic states and Central Europe, we provide sauna that is authentic, woodfired, outdoor and communal. We’re also inclusive, affordable and local.

We have created a supportive and safe environment that educates the uninitiated user, and provides a quality experience to those that are. Correct use of the baths is essential to the experience and we put the welfare and care of the user at its core.

Working for the Community Sauna Baths makes you a pioneer in the new wave of UK sauna bathing. Our pilot project in East London is forging its own way by making sauna a communal experience. We plan to expand into other areas of London and beyond.

The role

You will help sustain the warm, welcoming and friendly vibe we have created whilst making sure that the rules of the space are adhered to. You will work primarily with our Operations Director primarily and be responsible for all day-to-day operations of the sauna. Our space is an ever-changing one! Each week there are changes being made and improvements being tested. An ability to adapt and think on your feet is crucial in this role.

Our mission is ambitious, so we need an entrepreneurial individual that can help us work toward our long-term goals. We’re looking for someone who will strive to grow the company in new and exciting ways, working with our Directors to attract new bathers, improve business processes and - above all - ensuring all our customers have the best experience possible.

Our hours of operation are currently:

  • Wednesday 17.00 - 23.00

  • Thursday 17.00 - 23.00

  • Friday 08.00 - 23.00

  • Saturday 10.00 - 22.00

  • Sunday 10.00 - 22.00

Responsibilities

  • Managing the sauna experience and creating an excellent environment and experience for customers 

  • Managing safety and making sure policy is carried out 

  • Managing and training sauna attendants

  • Putting together weekly staff rota

  • Working with Directors to put together staff bank and hire staff

  • Monitoring sauna consumables (e.g. wood, cleaning products) and managing orders from suppliers

  • Identifying areas to improve the sauna site 

  • Helping increase membership and improving customer experience

  • Managing info@ inbox, responding to customer questions & updating bookings

  • Keeping the schedule in the bookings portal up to date and reflective of any operational changes (currently using Acuity Scheduling)

  • Answer telephone enquiries from customers & managing phone bookings

  • Processing left/lost property & dealing with inbound questions on lost items

  • Sharing day-to-day moments of delight on Instagram stories

Experience and Skills

Essential

  • A good understanding of and personal interest in health and wellbeing

  • Knowledge and experience of authentic Sauna practices or a desire to learn

  • Management experience

  • Excellent organisational skills

  • Excellent customer service

  • A calm, caring and reassuring manner with customers

  • A right to work in the UK

Desirable 

  • Valid First Aid at Work cert

  • Bathing Ritual practice or qualifications (e.g. Parenie, Pirts, Aufguss)

  • Spa/health club/gym experience

  • Child and Vulnerable Adult safeguarding training

  • MST licence 

Application process

Applications are made via this form. You’ll need to provide:

  • A covering letter explaining why you’re the right fit for this role

  • An up-to-date CV detailing all relevant experience

  • Your availability to start the role (notice period length/can start immediately etc.)

We will respond to your application within one month. The next phase, if chosen, will be an informal video conference interview with two (or more) of our Directors. There will be a trial shift (30 minutes of training and 2 hours shift) on one of our operating days at the sauna followed by a two-week handover period if you are successful in your application.

Training for the successful candidate will start mid-September, with the full role commencing end of September.

If you have accessibility requirements for any part of the recruitment process, please let us know in your covering letter.

Benefits

In addition to your pay, employees are also entitled to free sauna for themselves and an accompanying friend.

We will also cover all sauna-related training to ensure the candidate is successful in their role and customers are receiving a quality authentic sauna experience.

Our commitment to diversity and equal opportunities

As a community interest company in one of the most diverse regions in the country (Hackney, London), it is a requirement of our operation that we reflect that diversity in our staff and customers. In order to serve our community, we need to ensure that we have a mirrored mix of cultures, languages, beliefs and backgrounds.

As an equal opportunities employer, we’re committed to an open and fair recruitment process that does not discriminate on the basis of: race or nationality; ethnic or national origins; sex or gender reassignment; sexual orientation; marital or civil partner status; pregnancy or maternity; disability; neurodevelopmental divergence; religion or belief; age; or any other ground on which it becomes unlawful to discriminate under the laws of England and Wales. 

We endeavour always to recruit the best person who fits the skills and experience that we’re looking for to ensure an excellent customer experience and to grow and develop the company.