An institution that is truly unique.

The American Academy in Berlin is one of the most prestigious transatlantic institutions. Twice a year, selected American academics, artists, authors, and prominent figures from politics, business, and media live and work at the Academy as Fellows for up to four months. In addition, over 100 high-caliber lectures, receptions, dinners, and cultural events are held annually.

Their workplace is the listed Hans Arnhold Center – an impressive villa directly on the Wannsee lake, just a five-minute walk from the Wannsee S-Bahn station. The building comprises 14 stylish guest apartments, two cottages, a restaurant with sophisticated international cuisine, and prestigious event spaces – a working environment that is unique in Berlin's hospitality landscape.

Our aim: a high-quality, personal, and transatlantic guest experience with a Berlin character – excellent, but with American ease. We are a place where hospitality, atmosphere, and substance converge, not a standardized luxury hotel.

Your role

You will manage the entire hospitality operation independently and profitably – with approximately ten permanent employees and selected service providers ranging from housekeeping and kitchen staff to service personnel, supplemented by external staff during peak periods. Looking ahead, you will build a support structure with two dedicated managers for accommodation and food service, and leverage your experience to develop a sustainable organizational model for the hotel.

You will balance operational excellence in day-to-day business with the strategic development of the entire hospitality division.

You will report directly to the COO and thus collaborate with the management team and all departments within the hotel. The hotel's schedule follows the academic calendar: peak season runs from September to early summer, primarily Monday to Friday – the semester breaks provide you with time for performance analysis, strategic planning, and process optimization.

Your tasks

• Overall responsibility:  You are responsible for accommodation, catering and events as a cohesive guest experience – in terms of quality, organization and economy.
• Leadership & Development:  You lead, develop and empower your team, ensure stable, forward-looking personnel planning and are also present yourself when it matters.
• Guest experience & quality:  They ensure excellent, service-oriented care for our Fellows and guests – from accommodation and catering to receptions and dinners.
• Efficiency:  You are responsible for budget planning, cost control and controlling for your area and manage it cost-consciously and efficiently in a donation-funded environment.
• Interface management:  You mediate and negotiate confidently between the various areas of the company – from management to specialist departments – and check additional event requests for feasibility, lead time, costs and responsibilities.
• Structure & Future:  Through a structured handover, you secure the knowledge that has grown over the years within the company and visibly develop the structure, processes and standards of your area.

Your profile

• Experience:  At least 10 years in upscale hotels or restaurants – or in comparable sectors with the highest standards of hospitality and service quality. Ideal for experienced hotel directors, general managers, directors of operations, hospitality managers, hotel managers, operations managers, rooms division managers, front office managers, F&B managers, or food and beverage managers.
• Leadership:  Several years of leadership experience with demonstrable strengths in guidance, motivation, conflict resolution and clear, goal-oriented communication.
• Commercial foundation:  Practical experience with budgeting, cost control and measurable performance indicators – you manage your area independently like a separate unit.
• Hospitality skills:  Broad and deep operational expertise across accommodation, catering and events – and the willingness to lend a hand when needed.
• Languages:  Excellent German and English (C2 level) – both are essential in the transatlantic daily operations of our company. Additional languages ​​are a plus.
• Intercultural competence:  A keen sense for international, demanding guests and structures, especially in the US context.
• Personality:  Assertive yet calm, discreet, reliable, empathetic – with a positive aura, hands-on mentality and a love of genuine hospitality.
• Education:  Completed training in the catering or commercial sector; additional studies (e.g., Hotel or Hospitality Management) are an advantage.
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