General Manager - AETHOS Ericeira

About Aethos Ericeira Perched on a clifftop within a protected nature reserve on Portugal's Silver Coast, Aethos Ericeira is a 50-room lifestyle and wellness retreat overlooking some of the world's most celebrated surf breaks. Part of Aethos — Europe's fastest-growing lifestyle hospitality brand — the property reflects a deep respect for its natural setting: a heated saltwater pool, hammam-style spa, panoramic sauna and ice bath, a fully equipped gym, yoga, and Onda, our seafood-driven restaurant celebrating the Silver Coast's culinary heritage. Aethos isn't about traditional five-star formality — it's barefoot luxury with substance. We're entering an exciting next chapter for the property and are looking for a General Manager who wants to help shape it. Portugal is a key pillar of Aethos's expansion, with a new property opening in Lisbon in 2027 and further Portuguese locations in the pipeline — offering real growth potential for leaders who help build the brand's presence in the country. We're seeking a General Manager to lead Aethos Ericeira into its next phase — someone energized by building culture and community, comfortable wearing multiple hats in a boutique environment, and genuinely excited by the intersection of hospitality, wellness, design, and sustainability. This is a visible, on-the-floor leadership role. Portuguese fluency is essential — the GM will be the face of the property locally.
Key Responsibilities Guest Experience & Brand Spirit Champion the Aethos ethos of relaxed, unpretentious luxury Personally connect with guests across the wellness, surf, and design-conscious traveler mix that defines Aethos's community Uphold the property's sustainability commitments as a lived practice Protect the design integrity of the property in partnership with ownership and the original design team Team Leadership Lead and maintain an inclusive work environment for the team, fostering an open and respectful culture Guide, motivate, and align the team around a clear, shared vision for the property's future Lead visibly and informally on the floor; be a coach and mentor, not a distant executive Identify and develop internal talent who can grow with the property Foster bilingual (Portuguese/English) team communication and a strong local hiring pipeline Financial & Operational Management Own the P&L, budgeting, forecasting, and revenue strategy (RevPAR, ADR, occupancy) Oversee F&B, spa, wellness programming, Experiences and the full operations together with the HODs Manage supplier relationships in line with the property's sustainability standards Report to stakeholders and ownership on financial performance and property direction Community & Local Relationships Represent the hotel within the Ericeira community — stakeholders, suppliers and partners Liaise with Portuguese regulatory bodies and local government as needed Build relationships across the broader Aethos portfolio to share best practices Sales, Marketing & Reputation Support the Aethos brand's positioning as a design-led, wellness-focused lifestyle leader Maintain strong relationships with trade partners (Smith Hotels, Michelin Guide, luxury travel advisors) Monitor guest sentiment thoughtfully across platforms while staying true to brand tone Requirements Experience & Education Degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or related field 3-5+ years progressive hospitality experience, ideally as Assistant GM, Hotel Manager or Operational-, Duty manager role in boutique, lifestyle, or wellness-focused properties Experience in a design-led or wellness/lifestyle brand strongly preferred Experience with small-key-count properties (under 75 rooms) preferred Language & Communication Fluent Portuguese required (native or professional fluency) Fluent English required Additional languages (Spanish, French) a plus Skills & Competencies Entrepreneurial mindset — comfortable in a fast-scaling, less bureaucratic brand environment Strategic and growth-oriented, with a genuine drive to elevate a property's experience and market position over time, not just maintain the status quo Creative eye for guest experience — naturally generates ideas for how a stay could feel more special, memorable, or worth paying more for Strong financial acumen paired with commercial instinct — understands how experience quality connects to rate and revenue performance Comfortable building a case for change and personally driving it through, rather than waiting for direction Calm, solutions-oriented approach to problem-solving PMS systems proficiency (Opera, Mews, or similar) Solid, practical understanding of Rooms, F&B and wellness, with a genuine commitment to embedding them into daily operations rather than treating them as marketing points Commercially minded and revenue-focused, able to balance profitability with guest experience and team wellbeing Local sensitivity paired with global sensibility — deeply connected to the Ericeira community while comfortable engaging a diverse, international clientele Personal Attributes High energy, hands-on, and ambitious - sees this as a property with real room to grow, and is motivated by that opportunity Restless in a good way: always looking for the next improvement, partnership, or idea rather than settling into routine Genuinely curious about wellness, gastronomy, local culture, sustainability, and design, and how these translate into guest value Open to candidates of any gender; we welcome applications from all qualified candidates Comfortable living locally or in the Ericeira area Flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays Strong alignment with Aethos's conscious-travel, community-minded philosophy Genuine care for the wellbeing of the team, not just guests — creating an environment where staff feel supported and inspired to deliver their best Committed to preserving the local environment and natural setting as part of day-to-day decision-making, not as a separate initiative What We Offer Competitive salary + performance-based bonus Health Insurance benefits, paid leave Career growth within a fast-scaling international lifestyle hospitality group, including future opportunities as Aethos expands its Portuguese portfolio (Lisbon 2027 and beyond) The chance to genuinely shape the next chapter of one of Portugal's most distinctive design-led properties
If you believe in leading through empathy, operational excellence, and authentic connection, we welcome your application at [email removed - click apply for more details].