Director of Residences - Four Seasons Kyoto | FourSeasons Job

About Four Seasons:

Four Seasons is powered by our people. We are a collective of individuals who crave to become better, to push ourselves to new heights and to treat each other as we wish to be treated in return. Our team members around the world create amazing experiences for our guests, residents, and partners through a commitment to luxury with genuine heart. We know that the best way to enable our people to deliver these exceptional guest experiences is through a world-class employee experience and company culture.         

At Four Seasons, we believe in recognizing a familiar face, welcoming a new one and treating everyone we meet the way we would want to be treated ourselves. Whether you work with us, stay with us, live with us or discover with us, we believe our purpose is to create impressions that will stay with you for a lifetime. It comes from our belief that life is richer when we truly connect to the people and the world around us.

About the location:

The 123-room Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto is the company’s second destination in Japan, in the city’s historic Higashiyama-ku district, close to the Kyoto National Museum and myriad heritage sites such as the Toyokuni Shrine and Kiyomizu Temple. Local artists are featured throughout the traditionally-inspired modern décor characterised by an understated Japanese aesthetic. The Hotel has a spa and fitness centre with a pool, and four food and beverage concepts. There are also be 57 Four Seasons Private Residences.

About the role
We are seeking a strategic, service-driven, and highly experienced Director of Residences to join the team at Four Seasons Hotel Kyoto. Reporting directly to the General Manager, you will be responsible for leading the full residential operation and ensuring that all residence owners, residents, and guests receive the highest levels of personalized service, care, and operational excellence.

In this role, you will oversee all aspects of the residences experience, including owner relations, residential services, property management coordination, service standards, financial oversight, and team leadership. You will play a key role in creating a seamless connection between the resort and residences while ensuring that Four Seasons standards are consistently delivered.

As a senior leader, you will also promote the Four Seasons Golden Rule by creating a respectful, supportive, and service-focused environment for residents, guests, and employees.

What You Will Do

• Lead and oversee all Residences operations, ensuring exceptional service delivery and consistent adherence to Four Seasons standards.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with residence owners, residents, and key stakeholders, ensuring their needs and expectations are understood and met.
• Oversee residential services, including owner requests, arrivals and departures, housekeeping coordination, maintenance follow-up, concierge support, and lifestyle services.
• Work closely with Rooms, Housekeeping, Engineering, Security, Finance, Food & Beverage, and People & Culture to ensure seamless support for the residences.
• Implement, and monitor operating procedures, service standards, and quality controls for all residential services.
• Ensure that all residence areas are maintained to the highest standards of cleanliness, safety, comfort, and presentation.
• Manage owner and resident feedback, concerns, and service recovery with professionalism, discretion, and urgency.
• Support the preparation and management of residential budgets, service charges, forecasts, and operational expenses.
• Monitor performance indicators, service trends, owner satisfaction, and operational effectiveness, implementing improvements where required.
• Ensure compliance with local regulations, property policies, brand standards, and management agreements related to the residences.
• Lead, coach, train, and develop the Residences team, fostering a culture of accountability, service excellence, and genuine care.
• Support operation activities, residential readiness, handover processes, system implementation, and owner communication plans.
• Represent the residences professionally in meetings, inspections, owner interactions, and operational planning sessions.
• Promote the Four Seasons Golden Rule by creating a trusted, respectful, and highly personalized residential experience.

What you bring

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Real Estate Management, or a related field preferred.
• Proven experience as a Director of Residences, Residences Manager, Director of Rooms, or senior operations leader within a luxury hotel, branded residences, or high-end residential environment.
• Strong understanding of luxury residential operations, owner relations, property management, and personalized service standards.
• Excellent leadership and people management skills, with the ability to build, coach, and develop a high-performing team.
• Strong financial acumen, including experience with budgets, service charges, cost control, and operational planning.
• High level of discretion, professionalism, integrity, and emotional intelligence when dealing with owners and residents.
• Strong communication, problem-solving, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work closely with resort operations while maintaining the privacy and expectations of residence owners and residents.
• Fluency in English is essential.

What we offer: 
•    Competitive Salary, wages, and a comprehensive benefits package
•    Excellent Training and Development opportunities
•   Employee Discount for stays at any Four Seasons worldwide
•    Complimentary Dry Cleaning for Employee Uniforms
•    Complimentary Employee Meals