General Manager

SUMMARY:
An Exquisite Lodge is looking for a GENERAL MANAGER

POSITION INFO:
The General Manager is responsible for ensuring seamless daily operations, exceptional guest experiences, and strong financial and strategic management. It combines hospitality excellence with conservation and community engagement, requiring a leader who can balance luxury service standards with sustainability initiatives, staff development, and stakeholder collaboration.It’s about driving both operational success and meaningful impact in a world-class wildlife and lodge environment.

Core Criteria:

• 3–5 years minimum management experience in operations of similar size/complexity.
• Management degree and/or hospitality/service training.
• Energetic, proactive, and guest-experience focused.
• Strong leadership, mentorship, and emotional intelligence.
• Passion for sustainable tourism and conservation.
• Attention to detail and high standards.
• Ability to close projects and meet deadlines.
• Experience leading diverse teams.
• Practical maintenance knowledge.
• Problem-solving and creative thinking.
• Motivational and inspirational leadership.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong financial competency.
• Fluent in English; other European languages and Zulu beneficial.
• Willingness to share knowledge and inspire others.
• Competent computer skills.
• Running a luxury operation in a wildlife setting.
• Managing large lodge teams.
• Working closely with rural communities.
• Demonstrating world-class guest experience delivery.
• Strong leadership and mentoring background.

Candidate Responsibilities:

• Overall management and operations of all 4 lodges
• Ensure service excellence standards are maintained, developed, and entrenched.
• Drive community development projects and provide skills/support for effective implementation.
• Build strategic relationships with local stakeholders (government, wildlife organizations, communities).
• Create and maintain staff skills development plans.
• Develop annual business plans and oversee implementation within budgets and timelines.
• Manage budgets, CAPEX planning, and financial controls.
• Oversee all human resources functions, including labour relations, leave, and medical funds.
• Create training plans and facilitate external training/exchanges.
• Monitor procurement and stock orders.
• Develop lodge strategies for guest delight, staff welfare, health and safety, and training.
• Collaborate with Executive Chef to ensure food quality, guest satisfaction, and budget compliance.
• Lead and mentor lodge managers, rangers, and departmental heads to maintain standards and manage costs.
• Host guests, agents, media, and VIP groups.
• Oversee lodge infrastructure maintenance and development.
• Collaborate with conservation management, ranger training, and other lodge teams.
• Manage collaboration with Airwing, Ground-Handling, and Adventures teams.
• Ensure health and safety compliance, guest/staff security, and risk assessment adherence.
• Oversee conservation and sustainability initiatives.
• Manage safari shop operations and massage business unit.
• Oversee lodge marketing and social media presence.

Package:

• GM accommodation provided.
• Salary and benefits to be discussed.
• Medical and travel allowance included.

 

---