Assistant Manager

Wild Dreams Hospitality; Hazyview; On-site; ZAR 167,400 - 279,000; Full time

Job summary

Wild Dreams Hospitality in Hazyview is seeking a versatile hospitality professional for an essential role in managing lodge operations. Responsibilities include overseeing food & beverage services, administration, and ensuring exceptional guest experiences across departments.

The ideal candidate will possess management experience within hospitality, strong food & beverage knowledge, and excellent leadership skills. This live-in position offers a unique opportunity to work in one of South Africa's premier safari destinations.

Qualifications

• Previous management experience within a similar hospitality environment preferred.
• Strong Food & Beverage knowledge, including service standards and stock control.
• Strong administrative skills, experience in guest correspondence preferred.

Responsibilities

• Assist in managing overall lodge operations to ensure exceptional guest experiences.
• Oversee the Food & Beverage operation and maintain service standards.
• Manage administrative functions, including reservations and guest correspondence.

Skills

Management experience in hospitality

Food & Beverage knowledge

Leadership and communication skills

Strong administrative skills

Job description

This privately owned safari lodge offers guests an authentic bush experience built around warm hospitality, personalised service, and memorable wildlife encounters in one of South Africa's premier safari destinations. They are looking for a versatile hospitality professional who is equally comfortable leading daily lodge operations, overseeing food and beverage standards, managing administration and reservations, and stepping into a senior management role when required to ensure a seamless guest experience across all departments.

Candidate Responsibilities

• Assist in managing overall lodge operations, maintaining exceptional guest experiences and ensuring all departments operate efficiently and in line with company standards.
• Oversee the day-to-day Food & Beverage operation, ensuring high service standards, effective stock control, and minimal wastage across all dining areas.
• Assume full responsibility for lodge management duties when the Lodge Manager is on leave or off‑cycle, ensuring seamless continuity of operations.
• Manage administrative functions including reservations, guest correspondence, reporting and general office administration.
• Oversee front‑of‑house activities, ensuring smooth guest arrivals, departures, and the effective handling of guest requests and concerns.

Core Criteria

• Previous management experience within a similar hospitality environment preferred.
• Strong Food & Beverage knowledge, including service standards, stock control, ordering, and cost management.
• Strong administrative skills. Experience in reservations, reporting, guest correspondence and general lodge administration preferable.
• Ability to oversee multiple departments and confidently take full responsibility for lodge operations in the absence of senior management.
• Excellent leadership, communication and guest relations skills, with a hands‑on approach to problem‑solving and team management.

This is a live‑in position.