Aspiring/Experienced Innkeepers for Established B&B - Harrisonburg, VA

This is an on-site residential, full-time, career-oriented training position with advancement opportunity for an individual or couple. This is a great opportunity to learn a new profession or start a second career!

Can you clean, cook, smile... and more? The Stonewall Jackson Team is looking for a well-qualified individual or couple who will be mentored and groomed to assume the innkeeping and upper-management responsibilities of the Inn, including the supervision and training of interns. As the Owner, I have been running this legacy inn in our lively downtown historic district for the past 14 years and am planning to withdraw from the GM position of the Inn at the end of 2013. I will mentor you along a career track which starts as an Aspiring or Assistant Innkeeper, and would lead to Master Innkeeper/Owner. 

WHO YOU ARE:
- Maybe you're on your second career 
- You might have a background in education or other professional field
- You wish to make a career change to Innkeeping
- You are personally mature and financial stable
- You take personal grooming and presentation seriously
- You have good social judgment, conversational skills, and enjoy playing host
- You can function calmly and with good judgment in crisis situations
- You'd call yourself (at least) fairly handy
- You might have a green thumb
- You are, above all things, detail-oriented and take pride in your work

Not sure how to picture life as an Innkeeper? I always recommending reading "So... You Want To Be An Innkeeper?," available in any bookstore and on Amazon. It is an excellent resource, and by the time you're finished, you will have a good idea of whether or not the innkeeping life may be for you.

WHAT YOU'D BE DOING:
Suffice it to say, you must be able to do many things and multi-task to boot. Search through some B&B Innkeeper job descriptions to get a good feel for the role, and read the book mentioned above. As well, doing an informational interview with the Innkeepers of several well-run B&B will give you a good idea of what is required to operate a successful inn. 

- Hosting guests from around the country (and sometimes beyond)
- Running the daily operations of the inn, including housekeeping, cooking breakfast, and handling guest questions and inquiries
- Fixing toilets, changing lightbulbs, arranging flowers, doing yard work, shoveling snow, painting, minor repairs... the list never ends at an inn!
- Exploring and following through on partner and marketing opportunities
- Ultimately handling the business operations of the Inn
- Training other staff and interns as necessary

SKILLS NEEDED:
A B&B is an entrepreneurial business enterprise, so one must have aptitude and skills in all phases of  business planning and operation. It is a challenging and exciting business that covers all aspects of the Hospitality industry! One must be ready to deliver competent service, from simple housekeeping to those of a CEO of a small business.

- Basic (at least) computer knowledge
- Knowledge of good business practices
- Some experience with budgetary planning and bookkeeping
- General marketing savvy
- Professional housekeeping and hospitality experience a real plus

THE SALARY:
The salary would be determined by the qualifications and experience of the individual or couple (note that the numbers on our website posting are for an individual). Housing is included in one of two Innkeeping apartments that are on site.