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Career Guide & Opportunity: Room Division Manager at Island Life Sri Lanka
Location: Hiriketiya, Dikwella, Sri Lanka
Opening Date: September 2026
Company: York Hotel Management Services Limited (YHMSL)
About Us
Island Life Sri Lanka is a premium hospitality brand operating under York Hotel Management Services Limited (YHMSL), the esteemed hospitality management division of The Colombo Fort Land & Building Company PLC (CFLB), a conglomerate with a rich heritage dating back to 1895.
Our portfolio is a curated collection of bespoke heritage properties, including the Thotalagala Tea Plantation Bungalow, The Warden’s House in Yala, and the Galle Fort Hotel. We specialize in offering intimate, culturally immersive, and memorable stays that highlight Sri Lanka’s wildlife, history, and local charm. In September 2026, we are proudly expanding our footprint to the southern coast with a brand-new luxury boutique hotel in Hiriketiya, designed to redefine coastal luxury. York Hotel Management Services Limited (YHMSL) Website
Role Summary
We are currently sourcing a dynamic and highly experienced Room Division Manager to lead the pre-opening phase and subsequent daily operations of our upcoming luxury property in Hiriketiya.
In this leadership role, you will act as the operational anchor for both the Front Office and Housekeeping departments. You will be responsible for orchestrating a flawless guest journey—from arrival to departure—while optimizing room revenue, maintaining immaculate property standards, and cultivating a high-performing team. This position requires a strategic thinker who thrives in a pre-opening environment and understands the nuanced demands of luxury boutique hospitality.
Role Comparison: Room Division Manager vs. Front Office Manager
To clarify the scope of this position, here is a quick look at how the Room Division Manager sits within our organizational structure compared to a standard Front Office role.
| Responsibility Area | Room Division Manager (This Role) | Front Office Manager |
| Departmental Scope | Oversees Front Office, Housekeeping, and Guest Relations. | Manages Front Desk and Guest Services exclusively. |
| Financial Focus | Drives revenue optimization, overall room profitability, and multi-department budgets. | Focuses primarily on front desk upselling and daily shift cashiering. |
| Property Standards | Accountable for the cleanliness, aesthetics, and maintenance of all rooms and public spaces. | Monitors lobby presentation and front desk appearance. |
| Strategic Input | Plays a key role in pre-opening strategies, brand standard creation, and long-term planning. | Executes established daily operational procedures. |
Why Join Us?
Stepping into a pre-opening role for a luxury property is one of the most rewarding challenges in hospitality. By joining Island Life Sri Lanka, you are aligning with a century-old corporate legacy while shaping the identity of a brand-new resort. We offer an environment where your operational strategies will directly impact the property’s success, providing exceptional visibility to executive leadership and a clear pathway for career advancement within the YHMSL portfolio.
Benefits of this Role
- Pre-Opening Experience: Build a property’s operational framework from the ground up—a highly sought-after credential in hotel management.
- Cross-Departmental Leadership: Gain extensive experience managing both revenue-generating (Front Office) and cost-center (Housekeeping) teams.
- Professional Development: Access to continuous training and career mobility within the wider Colombo Fort Land & Building Company PLC network.
- Empowered Decision Making: Autonomy to implement guest satisfaction initiatives and operational efficiencies.
Location Insight: Hiriketiya, Dikwella
Hiriketiya is rapidly emerging as one of Sri Lanka’s most desirable coastal destinations, renowned for its pristine horseshoe bay, vibrant surf culture, and upscale bohemian lifestyle. Working here offers a unique blend of high-end professional hospitality and relaxed coastal living. It is the perfect environment for professionals looking to escape the conventional city hotel landscape while remaining at the forefront of luxury tourism.
Salary Insight
While specific compensation figures are discussed during the final interview stages, this role offers a highly competitive base salary commensurate with senior management standards in the Sri Lankan luxury boutique sector. The remuneration package typically includes a monthly service charge share (which is exceptionally high in premium coastal properties), duty meals, management-tier accommodation or allowances, and standard corporate health benefits.
Career Guide Tips for Hospitality Leaders
To succeed as a Room Division Manager in a luxury boutique setting:
- Prioritize the Micro-Details: In boutique hospitality, standard service isn’t enough. Personalization is key. Learn to anticipate guest needs before they vocalize them.
- Master the Financials: Move beyond just managing people. Understand your Property Management System (PMS) deeply, analyze occupancy trends, and drive Yield Management.
- Bridge the Gap: Housekeeping and Front Office can often work in silos. Your success depends on your ability to unify these teams to turn rooms around efficiently without compromising luxury standards.
How to Prepare a CV for this Position
When submitting your application, ensure your CV aligns with the specific needs of a pre-opening luxury property:
- Highlight Pre-Opening Experience: If you have been part of a hotel launch, put this front and center. Detail your involvement in setting up SOPs, procurement, or hiring.
- Quantify Your Achievements: Don’t just list responsibilities. Mention how you increased guest satisfaction scores, reduced housekeeping operational costs, or boosted room revenue by a specific percentage.
- Showcase Systems Proficiency: Clearly list the PMS software you are proficient in (e.g., Opera, Fidelio, or modern cloud-based systems).
- Demonstrate Boutique Experience: Highlight any past roles in small-scale, high-end properties where personalized service was paramount.
How to Prepare for the Interview
- Research the Parent Brand: Familiarize yourself with YHMSL and CFLB. Understanding our heritage properties (like Galle Fort Hotel) will show you grasp our brand identity.
- Bring Examples: Be ready to discuss specific instances where you turned a negative guest experience into a positive one, or how you managed a conflict between Front Office and Housekeeping.
- Think Like a General Manager: Because this role oversees a massive portion of the hotel’s operations, interviewers want to see business acumen, not just task management.
3 Key Interview Questions to Anticipate
- “A pre-opening phase often involves unexpected delays and budget constraints. Can you walk us through a time you had to adapt your operational setup strategy at the last minute?”
- “In a boutique property, the line between Front Office and Housekeeping must be seamless. How do you foster communication between these two traditionally distinct departments?”
- “Describe your strategy for maintaining immaculate brand and cleanliness standards during a fully booked, high-turnover peak season.”
How to Apply and Contact
If you meet the criteria and are ready to take on this career-defining role, we invite you to submit your updated CV and a tailored cover letter.
Please forward your application to the Human Resources Department via our official YHMSL careers portal or direct email (insert company HR email here). Ensure the subject line reads: Application for Room Division Manager – Hiriketiya Project.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for the initial screening phase. More Jobs
Disclaimer: York Hotel Management Services Limited is an equal opportunity employer. All hiring decisions are based on business needs, job requirements, and individual qualifications without regard to race, color, religion, gender, or age. The details of the job profile and requirements are subject to business demands and may be updated prior to the official contract signing.