Jobs

General Manager at Habitat Algarve I Portugal starting March 20, 2025
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Habitat Algarve is an eco-retreat in Portugal's pristine nature. As the general manager, you live right on the retreat grounds in a tiny house. WiFi is reliable in the community area and in employee areas, but not nationwide. Telephone reception is limited. The location is 25 minutes from the nearest beach and 15 minutes from Aljezur. In addition to around 14 guests, animals such as chickens and donkeys live on the site. Some of the fruit and vegetables come from our own garden. Chemicals and plastics are avoided, and there is a self-sufficient, sustainable water system.

As General Manager, you are responsible for the complete management and organization of the retreat. Your main task is to make all processes — from catering to organization to the quality of surfing and yoga courses — seamless and to check the quality of the complete offer. You are the central interface between founders, partners, local teams and external service providers and ensure that the Surf Spirit philosophy is lived out every week. In doing so, you will check the guest feedback and implement optimization measures in all areas, with the aim of constantly improving the guest experience and retreat processes.

Your area of responsibility also includes personnel responsibility: You are actively involved in recruiting new employees, onboarding them and developing them further. You are also responsible for all administrative tasks to prepare for the arrival of new guests and follow up on departing guests. This includes controlling, schedule planning, adjustment of the weekly schedule and billing of guests and subcontractors. Your commitment to our values and vision is crucial; you ensure that they are lived and implemented within the team. In crisis situations, you are flexible and keep calm. You actively strengthen Surf Spirit's reputation in the region and support business development to drive the long-term vision forward together with partners. The position can also be filled in tandem: In this case, one person would take on the role of General Manager while the other would work as Team Lead/Guest Relations Manager.

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What you should bring:

You...

• Are 27 years of age or older
• Is fluent in English
• Can firmly promise at least one season (mid-March to the end of October); long-term planning is an advantage
• Have already gained leadership experience and know how to motivate and lead a team
• Set a good example and are a real team player
• loves to be hosts and always keep an eye on the well-being of the guests
• Ideally have previous experience in the gastronomy/hotel industry
• brings experience in yoga and surfing and shares our passion for a holistic approach and a healthy lifestyle
• Have a deeper understanding of hygiene and order
• are organized and have experience in similar areas (e.g. management of camps, event organization)
• enjoy onboarding, training and developing new employees
• Ideally, you have already been able to gain experience in controlling and organizing teams
• Stay calm even in stressful situations and find a solution quickly
• creates a positive atmosphere in the team and motivates others
• are solution-oriented and enjoy tackling challenges independently
• You like to get involved yourself and ideally have manual skills
• Can handle feedback well and provide constructive feedback when necessary
• Have a positive attitude and a friendly nature
• likes to work and live in nature
• Have a class B driving license and are safe at the wheel, even with larger vehicles (van)

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We are regularly looking for interns to support us in our German back office. This is a remote internship that is not location-based and therefore allows you to work from anywhere! We offer you the opportunity to gain a wide range of experience and get a far-reaching insight behind the scenes. We are a small team with flat hierarchies and a range of varied tasks. These relate primarily, but not exclusively, to the following areas:

• Organization & administration
• Customer service & communication
• Online marketing
• Media Creation & Management
• Social media management

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Depending on your interests and degree program, we can adjust the focus of the internship. It is not possible to complete an internship in our retreat locations.

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What we expect from you:

You...

• are you enrolled at a German university
• have to complete a mandatory internship during your studies
• have your own laptop/PC to work with
• are at least 4 months available
• can communicate well and securely in German and English
• work independently and responsibly
• can arrange your working hours independently
• have a basic understanding of surfing and yoga
• have already been able to gain experience in marketing and/or customer service (advantage, but not a must)

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Being the photographer at Surf Spirit, you will be responsible for creating content for our marketing department, shooting videos of all guests for the surf coaching video analyses and creating photo packages for each guest to purchase at the end of the week. You will also take care of our Instagram Stories 1-2 days a week with creative and high quality content. You will be in regular contact with our Social Media Manager. It is therefore very important that you deliver the agreed content reliably and on time in order to contribute to a relaxed workflow on site and in our German office.

Working in a Surf Spirit location also means providing an overall experience for the guests, enjoying all meals together with them and spending time within the retreat.

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What we expect from you:

You...

• work with your own equipment (camera, laptop etc. incl. lens for surf photography), water housing for in-water photography desirable
• already have professional experience with surf and water photography
• speak fluent English
• can stay for at least 5 months
• can be employed on a freelance basis
• are familiar with surf videography and able to provide good results for our weekly video analysis
• are very well structured and organised to manage your content and surf packages for each guest
• work independently and with good time management to deliver on time
• are creative, developing your own ideas which you can implement independently to create content for our social media platforms
• have a high level of stress tolerance and can deal with problems and hectic situations calmly, objectively and professionally
• can demonstrate that you have strong social skills and that being with other people energises you rather than draining your energy
• are a team player, punctual and support the team in the smooth running of the camp
• are aware that socialising is a big part of the surf spirit philosophy and enjoy spending most of your time on the retreat (including meals)
• have an (international) class B driving licence (Sri Lanka)
• are familiar with the traffic in Sri Lanka (or comparable countries) and have no problem driving a scooter there (Sri Lanka)
• enjoy living and working in nature (Portugal)

As Guest Relation Manager of the Surf Spirit Retreat, you are the face of Surf Spirit on site and take on a central role in our team. As a point of contact for all guests and team members, you are always available - in close cooperation with the general manager - to answer questions, clarify concerns and ensure that the needs of our guests are met. You are the interface between our guests and the entire team. A central aspect of your position is responsibility for hygiene and cleanliness in all public areas of the retreat. You ensure that our guests always find a clean and pleasant environment in which they can feel comfortable. Other tasks may include organizing guest transfers and trips. It is important that you ensure a smooth process so that our guests can enjoy unforgettable experiences. You will also be responsible for checking in and checking out guests and ensuring a warm welcome and a personal farewell, always with a smile on your face. In close communication with the surf and yoga coaches, you ensure that all guests are satisfied and that their expectations are met. Should guests express concerns or requests, you are - in consultation with the General Manager - the person who forwards this information to the appropriate team members in order to implement necessary changes or improvements. In this role as Guest Relation Manager at Surf Spirit Retreat, you have a  responsibility in ensuring an unforgettable stay for our guests. You are responsible for ensuring that our guests always feel welcome and in good hands with us.

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What we expect from you:
You...

• are 25 years of age or older
• are fluent in English
• can stay at least 3 months (Portugal) or at least 5 months (Sri Lanka)
• set a good example & you are a good team player
• love being a host and the well-being of the guests is your top priority
• have a basic understanding of gastronomy, yoga and surfing (experience in hospitality sector is an advantage)
• have a basic understanding of hygiene and cleanliness
• you are an organizational talent with experience in a similar area (worked in similar positions before, organized events, etc.)
• can train and onboard new employees
• have strong social skills and being with people energises you more than it drags you down
• have a high degree of stress tolerance and can deal calmly, objectively and professionally with problems and hectic situations
• are solution-oriented and can solve problems independently
• can handle criticism and suggestions for improvement well
• have a positive and contagious appearance
• like to live and work in nature (Portugal)
• are familiar with traffic in Sri Lanka (or comparable countries) and have no problem driving scooters there (Sri Lanka)
• have a class B (international) driving license
• Portugal: starting April 1, 2025

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Being the surf coach at Surf Spirit you are responsible that every guest feels well-informed, safe and comfortable in your lessons. You are aware that Surf Spirit aims to offer the best service including fun and professional surf lessons, which is why we hire professional, experienced coaches only. We understand that you are energetic and fully motivated to fulfil your position in order to create a great experience for every single guest. You are responsible for making sure that each guest, based on his or her personal surf level, improves and really gets something out of your lessons.

Working at Surf Spirit is not just teaching your lessons but providing an overall experience for the guests including joined meals, socializing and spending most of your time within the retreat.

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What we expect from you:

You…

• are fully certified (ISA or similar) incl. lifeguard training
• have at least 3 years of coaching experience
• are a good surfer on different boards performing maneuvers yourself
• speak English fluently
• can stay minimum 5 months
• can coach all levels from absolute beginner to intermediate surfer
• can run professional theory lessons according to the surf spirit Surf coach guidelines
• are a great communicator and like to teach in front of people
• have the ability to provide professional, fun and challenging surf lessons for all level according to the Surf Spirit Surf coach guidelines
• know how to organize and host video surf analysis once a week
• can build a relationship with your local assistant coach to maintain a great environment for guests
• feel responsible for the equipment, clean and maintain it to ensure the quality of surfboards
• have basic knowledge how to fix small things (e.g. change fins)
• have strong social skills and being with people energises you more than it drags you down
• have a high level of stress tolerance and can handle problems and hectic situations calmly, objectively and professionally
• are a team-player and always on time
• are aware that socializing is a big part of the surf spirit philosophy and are happy to spend most time within the retreat (incl. meals)
• have a class B (international) driving license
• are familiar with traffic in Sri Lanka (or comparable countries) and have no problem driving scooters there

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Being the yoga teacher at Surf Spirit retreat you are responsible that every guest feels well, safe and comfortable in your lessons. You are aware that Surf Spirit aims to offer the best service including fun and professional yoga classes, which is why we hire professional, experienced coaches only. At Surf Spirit yoga is equally important to surfing, which is why our guests (from beginner to advanced yogis) expect challenging but fun classes with a highly professional teacher that is able to meet them on their personal level. We understand that you are energetic and fully motivated to fulfil your position in order to create a great experience for every single guest. You are responsible for making sure that each guest, based on his or her personal yoga level enjoys your classes, is not over or under challenged and can really take something for themselves. An intrinsic motivation to please the guests is relevant.

Working at Surf Spirit is not just teaching your lessons but providing an overall experience for the guests including joined meals, socializing and spending most of your time within the retreat.

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What we expect from you:

You…

• are fully certified in an active yoga style (Vinyasa / Hatha or other) and Yin Yoga
• have at least 3 years of coaching experience
• can teach classes up to 20 people
• speak and teach in English fluently
• can stay minimum 5 months
• can coach all levels from absolute beginner to advanced yogis and meet expectations of all guests
• are able to guide meditations and implement them in your lessons
• know how to organize and structure your lessons depending on each level and wishes of guests
• feel responsible for the equipment, maintain it and clean the yoga shala before and after each usage
• have strong social skills and being with people energises you more than it drags you down
• have a high level of stress tolerance and can handle problems and hectic situations calmly, objectively and professionally
• are a team-player and always on time
• have an open ear to guest wishes and really try to offer a great experience for them on and off the yoga mat
• are aware that socializing is a big part of the surf spirit philosophy and are happy to spend most time within the retreat (incl. meals)
• have a class B (international) driving license
• are familiar with traffic in Sri Lanka (or comparable countries) and have no problem driving scooters there (Sri Lanka)
• like to live and work in nature (Portugal)

As a host at Surf Spirit Retreat, you are an essential part of our local team and play a central role in caring for our guests. Together with other hosts and the Guest Relation Manager you form the team that ensures the well-being of our guests and ensures that their expectations are met. Your main job is to connect with guests and give each of them the best possible experience. You create an inviting and positive atmosphere in which guests can relax and feel good. It is important to listen carefully and to respond to the needs of the guests. You personally greet and say goodbye to each guest and are available to them as their first point of contact on site. During your shift, you occasionally help prepare meals and take responsibility for serving food and drinks. You are also responsible for ensuring that the common area and sanitary facilities are always in perfect condition. In consultation with the Guest Relation Manager and General Manager, you will also organize evening activities such as beach yoga, sunset meditations and much more to provide unforgettable experiences for our guests. You will also help care for the plants in our garden and feed our chickens.

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What we expect from you:
You...

• are available for at leat 3 month between April and October 2025
• are 23 years of age or older
• are fluent in English
• can stay at least 3-4 months (whole season from mid-March to mid-October is an advantage)
• are a team player
• love being host and the well-being of the guests is your top priority
• have a basic understanding of gastronomy, yoga and surfing (experience in hospitality sector is an advantage, but not a must)
• have a basic understanding of hygiene and order
• can prove that you have strong social skills and that being with other people gives you more energy than it robs you of strength
• have a high degree of stress tolerance and can deal calmly, objectively and professionally with problems and hectic situations
• can handle criticism and suggestions for improvement well
• have a positive and open appearance
• like to live and work in nature
• have a class B driving license

As a chef at Surf Spirit Retreat, the responsibility for the physical well-being of our guests is in your hands, and we attach great importance to a balanced and healthy diet. Your tasks include organizing and carrying out breakfast, lunch and dinner in shifts, in alternation with another chef. In addition, you will support the team with snack or cake service in the afternoon.You are one of the contacts for our guests in all matters relating to food and ensure that their needs are met. You are also responsible for carrying out daily tasks in the kitchen area properly and cleaning and maintaining the retreat kitchen. Additionally, you are in charge of maintaining order in the kitchen storage.

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What we expect from you:
You...

• are available for at leat half a season between April and October (full season preferred)
• are 25 years of age or older
• are fluent in English
• are available at least half a season (full season from mid-March to mid-October is an advantage)
• have the knowledge and ability to create wholesome dishes from vegan and vegetarian products
• enjoy being creative in the kitchen and striving to prepare a varied, seasonal and healthy meal for guests
• can create desserts and bake cakes
• can control the purchasing
• are able to monitor the food budget in collaboration with the General Manager

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