Are you passionate about hospitality and community, and drawn to life within a faith-based setting? Do you feel called to serve in a place of prayer, reflection, and compassionate action?
We invite applications for a unique and mission-driven leadership role at Our Lady’s Home of Compassion in Island Bay. Inspired by the life and legacy of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert, this is a rare opportunity to oversee a sacred and vibrant space of welcome, community, and spiritual nourishment.
About the Role
As Retreat Centre & Hospitality Manager, you will lead the daily operations of our retreat and conference centre, Cloister Café, and heritage shop, which includes overseeing the facilities of the Suzanne Aubert Heritage Centre and reinvigorating our commercial kitchen to reintroduce catering services. You’ll ensure a warm and personalised welcome to all guests and pilgrims, manage a dedicated team, and care for the beautiful six-hectare site at Island Bay.
This role is central to our mission of manaakitanga – offering hospitality in the spirit of Christ – and will suit someone with strong leadership, hospitality experience, and a heart for service.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead the guest and visitor experience across accommodation, conferencing, catering, and café services, ensuring genuine manaakitanga is experienced by all who come.
- Manage staff and volunteers with care, clarity, and purpose.
- Oversee site operations, health and safety, safeguarding, conference facility technical services and disaster preparedness.
- Develop community engagement and vocational training through social enterprise.
- Collaborate on events and programming that reflect our mission and story.
- Engage with cultural awareness and sensitivity, working alongside our Kaihautū Māori Lead to embed principles of Tikanga Māori in our operations.
We’re Looking For Someone Who:
- Is deeply committed and has an affinity to the Catholic/Christian mission, values and ministries of the Sisters of Compassion Group and the legacy of Meri Hōhepa Suzanne Aubert, as a faith-based organisation seeking to welcome and serve those in need in our community and to inspire and motivate others to do the same.
- Has proven experience in hospitality, facilities management, and team leadership in a faith-based setting.
- Brings empathy, warmth, and a pastoral heart to guest and staff interactions.
- Understands the principles of and is committed to Te Tiriti o Waitangi, valuing partnership with mana whenua and iwi groups.
- Is excited to help shape Our Lady’s Home of Compassion as an ‘urban monastery’ – a place of prayer, belonging, and gospel-centred action.
Why Join Us?
This is more than a job – it’s a vocation. You’ll be part of a faith-based organisation with a rich history and a living mission. You’ll help create a space where people encounter peace, community, and the spirit of Compassion.
To apply or learn more, please contact Geoff.Roberts@compassion.org.nz. Applications close Wednesday 20 August.
This is an active vacancy, and we will be reviewing applications as they are received. We encourage early applications, as we may proceed with interviews before the advertised closing date.
Applicants must have the legal right to work in New Zealand at the time of application. Please note that we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
