Reporting: This position reports to the General Manager.
Benefits: Housing, water, electricity offered, Medical Aid contribution, Provident Fund contribution.

Our Client is a family owned country hotel located in the heart of Zululand, KwaZulu Natal. Surrounded by diverse landscapes, wildlife reserves and rich cultural heritage, the hotel offers guests an authentic and immersive experience combining safari, nature, culture, wellness and warm hospitality.

The property is committed to sustainability, conservation and meaningful community engagement while delivering memorable guest experiences rooted in the spirit of Zululand.

Position Overview:

Pick Me Recruitment is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to support the General Manager in the leadership and day-to-day operation of the hotel.

This is a hands-on management role responsible for driving service excellence, operational standards and guest satisfaction across all areas of the property. The successful candidate will work closely with departmental managers to ensure a seamless guest experience while supporting the ongoing development of the hotel’s people, systems and operational performance.

The role also includes oversight of the hotel’s safari and experiences offering, sustainability initiatives and community engagement programmes.

This position offers an excellent opportunity for an ambitious hospitality professional seeking to develop towards a General Manager role within an independent hospitality business.

This position reports to the General Manager.

Key Responsibilities

Hotel Operations & Guest Experience

• Support the General Manager in the day-to-day operation of the hotel
• Assist in overseeing Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Safaris, Maintenance, Spa and Guest Services
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between departments
• Drive operational standards and service consistency throughout the property
• Monitor guest satisfaction and implement continuous improvement initiatives
• Act as Manager on Duty as required

Guest Experience

• Champion exceptional guest experiences across all touchpoints
• Ensure guest feedback is monitored and acted upon
• Lead service recovery where required
• Identify opportunities to enhance the guest journey and strengthen the property’s reputation
• Promote a culture of hospitality, accountability and attention to detail

Leadership & Team Development

• Support and mentor departmental managers and supervisors
• Assist with staff development, training and performance management
• Foster a positive and collaborative working environment
• Lead by example and uphold the values of our Client

Safaris, Sustainability & Community

• Oversee the hotel’s safari and experiences offering
• Support the management of safari vehicles, boats and related assets
• Build relationships with local reserves, conservation organisations and tourism partners
• Assist with Fair Trade Tourism initiatives and sustainability programmes
• Support community projects undertaken through the Ndumu Charitable Foundation

Experience, Qualification & Skill

Essential

• Previous management experience within a quality 4 or 5-star hotel, lodge or hospitality operation
• Strong operational and people leadership skills
• Strong understanding of guest experience, service standards and hotel operations
• Excellent organisational and communication abilities
• Demonstrated experience leading multiple operational departments within a hospitality business
• Valid driver’s licence

Personal Attributes

• Warm and guest focused personality
• Calm and professional under pressure
• Hands-on and operationally minded
• Strong relationship building and stakeholder management skills
• Passionate about hospitality, responsible tourism and community engagement
• Strong attention to detail
• Self-motivated, proactive and solutions driven
• Commercially aware while maintaining a guest first mindset

Start date:

Priority Position

Remuneration Guide:

Base Salary:

• Target range: R25,000 – R30,000 per month
• Exceptional candidates may be considered above this range

Benefits:

• Housing, lights and water
• 7% company contribution to Momentum Provident Fund which is compulsory. Effective after completion of probationary period
• 50% company contribution to Momentum medical aid should you wish you join. Effective after completion of probationary period

Consideration

Candidates, who are already residing in KZN will have preference. We can only consider South African Citizens or applicants who hold a valid South African Permanent Residence! No Work Permit applications will be accepted! Applicants, who live in other provinces of South Africa still need to attend personal interviews and if requested to do any cook-offs, will do so completely at their own expense. We handle high volumes of applications daily and will only be able to reply, via e-mail, to candidates who have met our clients’ requirements.

Due to the high volume of CV’s received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

All applications submitted must contain:

• Updated CV with contactable references
• Certified Tertiary Educational documents
• Certified Written Reference Letters
• Recent presentable profile photo

How to apply

Email us at info@pmrecruitment.co.za

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