Director Of Butlers

Head of Operations - Smyth & Co Luxury Hospitality ConsultingDirector of Butlers for beautiful Caribbean resort - relocation opportunituyPosition Title: Director of ButlersSalary: Highly competitive, plus accommodation and travelDepartment: Rooms Division / Guest ExperienceReports to: Resort Manager / General ManagerTeam Size: 35 Butlers (large European-style operation)Environment: True luxury resort setting over 100 acres, servicing villas, suites, and residencesRole OverviewWe are seeking a top-tier Director of Butlers to lead and elevate a large-scale, European-style butler operation within a true luxury resort environment.This is a hands-on, highly visible leadership role requiring deep luxury service DNA, outstanding emotional intelligence, and the authority to reset, standardise, and elevate service at scale.The successful candidate will set uncompromising standards for anticipatory service, presence, grooming, posture, language, and consistency, ensuring the butler experience aligns with Forbes / LQA / Michelin-level expectations.Key ResponsibilitiesLead the butler operation end-to-end across villas, suites and residences, ensuring flawless consistency and delivery.Elevate and enforce standards: grooming, posture, language, etiquette, arrival/departure rituals, in-room service sequences, and anticipatory service.Drive a culture reset where required—setting expectations, addressing underperformance, and restoring pride in the function.Maintain high guest visibility: present in the operation, leading by example, not desk-bound.Coach and develop the team through daily floor presence, observation, feedback and structured training.Establish clear SOPs and service playbooks in line with ultra-luxury benchmarks (Forbes, LQA and equivalent).Partner closely with Resort Leadership and Heads of Department to ensure seamless cross-functional delivery.Manage performance, scheduling, succession planning, and talent development across a large, mixed-tenure team.Ensure exceptional guest handling for UHNW and American luxury guests, with calm authority and discretion.Maintain service recovery excellence and proactive guest experience management without drifting into "guest relations only."Key Requirements (Non-Negotiable)Proven Director / Head of Butlers experience in ultra-luxury resorts or palaces (Aman, Cheval Blanc, Raffles, Rosewood, Peninsula, Dorchester Collection, One&Only or equivalent).Demonstrated leadership of high-performance teams across villas, suites, and residences.Strong grounding in International and European luxury service standards, with confidence managing UHNW and American luxury guests.Personally experienced in high-level butler service (not purely guest relations).Track record in culture reset and standards enforcement: grooming, language, posture, anticipation.Comfortable managing long-tenured teams and underperformance without disruption.High guest visibility; not desk-bound.What We Will Not ConsiderGuest Relations–only profiles or current Guest Manager profilesCruise-ship butler backgroundsCandidates without International and European luxury trainingCorporate or policy-heavy operators lacking floor presence and luxury service instinctRole Mandate (Success Measures)Elevated service standards and consistency across the entire butler teamA clear operating rhythm: daily floor leadership, coaching, and accountabilityAlignment with Forbes / LQA / Michelin-level expectationsStrong partnership with Resort Management as a trusted senior leaderCandidate Profile & Search NotesOpen to International and European or international candidates with the right pedigree.Only discreet, currently employed, top-tier candidates should be presented.Seniority LevelDirectorEmployment TypeFull-timeJob FunctionManagementIndustriesHospitality#J-*****-Ljbffr