General Manager – Luxury Lodge – Okavango

Kendrick Recruitment is now seeking a General Manager for a luxury Lodge based in the heart of the Okavango, Botswana. We are looking for someone with a pure passion for hospitality and exceeding guests expectations and leaving them with fantastic memories and experiences. The ideal person requires a vast amount of experience in running a 5 star property in a remote area independently, with a good general understanding of lodge operations, finance, and staff management. The individual should be passionate about hospitality, and have a keen interest in sustainability, conservation and community development.

Responsibilities:

• Overall Day to Day Management of the Lodge and Back of House
• Daily meeting with Assistant Lodge Manager and Heads of Department to discuss the daily plan, including arrivals, departures, maintenance, food, special requests, bush banqueting etc.
• Create strategy for guest delight, staff welfare, health and safety and training. Ensure plan is implemented and managed throughout the year
• Relationship building – with – staff, guests, governmental departments, the community, the industry (agents and other lodges),
• Business efficiencies – cost control, local produce, quality of product
• HR structure – maintaining and enhancing – understanding and adherence
• Product development on guest experience – lodge, food, game experience, all guest touch points
• Regular assessment of the functionality, efficiency and strength of all operational equipment, vehicles, generators and buildings
• Financial Management – Providing an oversight role of the lodge finance.
• Forecasting – Budget forecasting and ensuring the finance aspect of the lodge keep up with the ever changing business environment
• Training Development – Providing the needed to the team to ensure they are up to speed with the desired service standards
• New concepts and Creative Ideas – Keep abreast with the latest trends of service delivery
• Work with Human Resources staff to recruit, interview, select, hire, and employ an appropriate, right number and quality of employees
• Coach, mentor and develop staff, including overseeing new employee onboarding and providing career development planning and opportunities
• Empower employees to take responsibility for their jobs and goals. Delegate responsibility and expect accountability and regular feedback
• Communicate regularly with other managers, with the regional manager, the director and other designated contacts within the organization

Requirements:

• Energetic, proactive person with well-developed concept of the importance of providing a world-class guest experience and the ability to provide that experience
• Aware, evolved, energetic, compassionate, respectable, good communication and a strong leader
• Lateral thinking ability
• Must be able to cope under pressure to meet guests needs
• Good interpersonal skills and communication with staff and guests
• Attention to detail
• Diligence and self-motivation to meet deadlines
• Knowledge and experience in business, supervision, and management
• Better than average written and spoken communication skills
• Outstanding interpersonal relationship building and employee coaching and development skills
• Management experience in a team-oriented workplace preferred
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a department and lodge staff members
• Demonstrated knowledge of basic economics, budgeting, and accounting principles and practices
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a knowledgeable resource to the organization’s management team that provides leadership and direction
• A minimum of three years of responsible leadership experiences in management or supervisory positions

Personal Traits:

• An outgoing, warm, friendly personality
• Confident and comfortable around affluent people
• Well presented, Honest, Diligent and self-motivator
• High energy levels
• Good interpersonal skills
• Passionate about guest delight
• Attention to detail

This is a permanent live-in position, based at the lodge. Package will include a competitive salary, accommodation, meals, uniform and additional company benefits. To apply please send your CV through today… Good Luck!