HOSPITALITY MALDIVES APRIL/MAY 200710SPABy Leslie Lyon As I think back to my days as a Resort Spa Director and onward to my current position as a Spa Educator and Consultant - I marvel at how this position has evolved. Ive always believed and continue to see proof that the Spa Directors Job Description is one of the most demanding positions out there. But I also happen to believe it is one of the most rewarding, exciting, mind-expanding, life- enhancing journeys possible! Where else do you have the chance to explore every corner of your creative, leadership and business talents to make such a difference in the lives of the people you touch, while at the same time living the good life inside the thriving health and beauty phenomenon? This flourishing industry of ours continues to shower us with potions and procedures that bring incredible hope and amazing results and as a Spa Director, its all in the palm of your hands.With this demanding position, we sometimes find ourselves in the predicament of needing more support, more guidance and more training in order to perform to set standards. Like any Management position, a successful Spa Director develops with education and experience that addresses both their life and business skills. The Director needs to be “equipped” with the best industry-specific practices and guidelines in order to do the job effectively. Many of you reading this story will be both the Spa Owner and the Director. But no matter what position you are in, you will need to explore many industry resources to fulfill the demands that the job will put on you. This may mean the support from a Mentor; your existing Spa Management team; industry websites; publications; associations; trade events; outside professionals; and training courses. I suggest all of the above. Throughout your career as Spa Director, you will benefit from the ongoing boosts of confidence, self-affirmation and camaraderie that these resources will provide you with.Spa Director Job Descriptions come in all shapes and sizes. At some Spas, the Director is expected to be responsible for financial budgets and outcomes, for growing new business opportunities, developing the market, overseeing the human resource department and so on. Other locations require their Director to simply assist in managing the day-to-day operations with no set targets or real accountability for the bottom line. So depending on the set of expectations that you assign to the position, the Director should of course be paid accordingly. When considering payment for the Director, you may also want to consider the size of the facility. It goes without saying that you will need to evaluate the individuals proven and perceived skills and value; their experience in the industry; your companys philosophy and stability; industry standards and the current cost of living.In the Spa Industry, there are many available options by which we can pay our staff, but we commonly see Spa Directors paid a combination of fixed and variable pay systems. This may be in the form of an annual salary (paid bi-monthly) and perhaps supplemented with some form of incentive pay, such as a bonus or profit sharing (perhaps paid quarterly). An experienced Director will want to see strong management support, to know pay scales, understand incentives, the jobs current description and future potential.In the Spas2b 4 follow purchasing standards; ensure compliance. I believe that when we create a Job Description, a Job Evaluation follows right behind it. We lay out our set of expectations, and we base pay increases on tangible results. Just a word of caution, as you attach these expectations to the Job Description, you must hold up your end of the deal with the aforementioned support, guidance, training and compensation. Lets not burn out our Spa Directors, rather lets set forth to deliberately develop these VIPs into the business and human experts we really need them to be.To find out more about how you can educate yourself and your Spa Director to meet this ever expanding job title and run the business the best way possible, visit www.spas2b.com