This Maldives Luxury Resort Is Hiring an 'Outgoing' Bookseller
Love reading, beaches and people? A luxury resort in the Maldives could be your next employer.
Philip Blackwell, the former head of British book retailer chain Blackwells, is looking for a qualified bookseller to manage a pop-up book shop, hosted by Maldives luxury resort Soneva Fushi and set to open on Oct. 1. In addition to selling a literary collection primarily consisting of illustrated tomes focused on design and locally-inspired art, the lucky candidate's job duties will also include penning "entertaining and lively blog" posts about his or her travel experiences, as well as hosting creative writing courses. Where do the people skills come in? The position also involves rubbing shoulders with A-list celebrities and their friends.
"We want someone on the ground who is creative and inspiring and can maybe get more people to share the pleasure of reading, which is what people enjoy doing on holiday," said Blackwell, who is a descendant of the original founder of Blackwells and now operates Ultimate Library, which creates library collections for resort hotels such as JW Marriott.
This is a hands-on job: Applicants must be willing to move near Soneva Fushi, which is located within the Baa Atoll UNESCO Biosphere Reserve 30 minutes by sea plane from Malé International Airport (MLE). Villas at Soneva Fushi range in cost from $2,000 a night for a one-bed property, up to a nightly rate of nearly $26,000 for the nine-bedroom Private Reserve, which features its own swimming pool, spa, sauna and steam room. While housing is included in the job perks, chances are high that the successful candidate would be housed in far more modest lodgings. The position requires a commitment of at least three months.
This isn't your average dream gig. In fact, this position is so bougie, the job listing paywalled behind Book Brunch, a UK book industry website that not only requires registration, but also requires a $20 one-day subscription to access.
Even so, Blackwell admits that this position isn't the one that will fund your retirement savings. Instead, the benefits come from the environment itself. "The pay is derisory but the fringe benefits unparalleled," Blackwell said. "The role will evolve, and it is in part up to you to make the most of this unique opportunity. It's a dream job for many people. If I was 25 again I would do it."
Think you've got what it takes? Drop Blackwell an email touting your qualifications at pb@ultimatelibrary.co.uk.
2018 seems to be the year for dream jobs: a London bar is hiring a gin ambassador, Wyndham had an open-call for a sunset photographer intern, BBQ fanatics were offered $10,000 to eat delicious meat across the US, cat lovers were solicited to care for 55 cats on a Greek island, and WOW Air sought out two best friends to travel the world on its dime.
