Assistant Spa Manager for Orient Express Sailing Yachts

V.Ships Leisure is looking for Assistant Spa Manager on behalf of Orient Express Sailing Yachts.

Assistant Spa Manager acts as the operational lead for treatment delivery and 
cabin standards. This role combines the responsibilities of a senior Beauty Expert / Head Therapist with team training, protocol follow-up, reception support, and day-to-day operational coordination.
Also remains an active treatment provider while taking additional responsibility for coaching the team, maintaining Guerlain treatment standards, supporting reception operations, and assisting the Spa Manager in delivering a seamless and highly personalized guest experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Create a warm, authentic, and personalized connection with every guest, embodying Guerlain’s Promise of Beauty and the Spa Art of Wellness.
• Perform Guerlain face, body, and holistic treatments according to the Maison’s protocols and standards of excellence, remaining an active member of the treatment team.
• Ensure each guest journey is delivered flawlessly, from consultation and treatment preparation through post-treatment recommendations and retail advice.
• Act as a role model for service excellence and support the team in maintaining Forbes, LQA, Guerlain, and Orient Express standards.
• Act as the Spa’s operational reference for Guerlain treatment protocols, cabin standards, treatment setup, guest journey, and service sequence.
• Train, coach, and continuously refresh the Spa team on treatment protocols, product knowledge, consultation techniques, retail recommendations, and service standards.
• Observe treatments and operational practices when required, identify development needs, and provide constructive coaching to ensure consistency across the team.
• Support the integration and onboarding of new Beauty Experts and therapists, ensuring they are fully familiar with Guerlain protocols and onboard Spa procedures.
• Maintain training records, follow up on completed and outstanding training, and communicate any recurring gaps or development needs to the Spa Manager.
• Ensure treatment rooms, equipment, professional products, linen, amenities, and treatment materials are prepared and maintained according to established standards.
• Maintain regular communication with the Spa International team and provide frequent feedback and updates to ensure effective follow-up on team training, development, and progress.
• Assist the Spa Manager with daily Spa operations, including opening and closing standards, team briefings, treatment allocation, operational follow-up, and coordination of the treatment area.
• Support Spa reception duties as required, including welcoming guests, managing appointments, answering guest enquiries, reviewing schedules, optimizing bookings, and ensuring accurate guest notes and treatment information.
• Proactively identify operational issues, treatment-room constraints, stock or equipment needs, and service inconsistencies, and support the Spa Manager in implementing solutions.
• Contribute to retail performance, guest satisfaction, inventory awareness, cleanliness, presentation, and the overall harmony of the Spa while fostering a collaborative and supportive team culture.

Education/Experience/Qualifications:

• Certified in Beauty Therapy, Massage Therapy, Spa Therapy (BTS Esthétique, CIDESCO, CIBTAC or equivalent); strong hands-on treatment expertise is essential.
• Minimum 3-5 years of experience in a luxury Spa or luxury hospitality environment, ideally with previous experience as Senior Therapist, Head Therapist, Spa Supervisor, Trainer, or Assistant Spa Manager.
• Fluent in English; additional languages are an advantage. Previous Guerlain experience or luxury beauty brand training experience is highly desirable.

About Orient Express

For the past 140 years, Orient Express has been sublimating the Art of Travel with luxury trains, unique experiences and collections of rare objects. And soon the heritage of this legendary train will be transported to a collection of hotels and sailing yachts around the world. Introducing a new art de vivre, a different kind of journey that promises unforgettable moments along the way and the same destination since the beginning: to make dreams come true.