Country General Manager

Wild Dreams Hospitality; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,107,000 - 2,091,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Market related salary

Live-out position

Immediate start

Job summary

Wild Dreams Hospitality seeks a senior leader to run multi-site luxury operations across a remote East Africa environment, with oversight of camps, lodges, a DMC, logistics, fleet and procurement. The role demands strategic delivery and guest experience excellence across Tanzania and beyond.

The successful candidate will drive operating plans, manage budgets, mentor senior teams and build local leadership capacity, while ensuring governance and sustainability commitments.

Qualifications

• Minimum 10 years' leadership experience in hospitality or tourism.
• At least 8 years in a senior role managing multi-site operations.
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Tourism, Finance or a related field.
• Extensive experience within the luxury safari or lodge sector.
• Experience overseeing an inbound DMC or integrated tourism business highly desirable.
• Strong commercial, financial and operational management expertise.
• Proven ability to lead geographically dispersed teams.
• Track record of driving organisational change and operational excellence.
• Experience working in East Africa highly advantageous.
• MBA or postgraduate qualification an advantage.
• Preference given to candidates based in or from East Africa

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational execution of the Tanzania business in line with Group strategy.
• Provide executive oversight of all operational functions including camps, lodges, DMC, logistics, fleet and procurement.
• Develop and implement annual operating plans and budgets for approval.
• Own and manage the annual operating budget, protecting margins.
• Oversee CAPEX planning and implementation across properties.
• Ensure sound procurement and stock management procedures.
• Mentor and develop senior management teams with Group HR.
• Build local leadership capacity and support succession planning.
• Safeguard guest experience, service standards and property presentation across all sites.
• Represent the company with local communities, authorities and industry stakeholders.
• Oversee CSR, conservation and sustainability initiatives.
• Prepare monthly and quarterly performance reports for Head of Operations and Exec Committee.
• Ensure compliance with local laws, regulations and governance frameworks.

Skills

Leadership

Multi-site operations

Financial management

Team coaching & development

Stakeholder engagement

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration / Hospitality Management

MBA or postgraduate qualification (advantage)

Job description

This is a senior leadership role for someone with deep experience running multi-site luxury hospitality operations across a remote and complex environment. The successful candidate will oversee camps, lodges, a destination management company, logistics, fleet and procurement as one integrated business, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and operational excellence throughout.

Core Criteria:

• Minimum 10 years' leadership experience in hospitality or tourism
• At least 8 years in a senior role managing multi-site operations
• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Hospitality Management, Tourism, Finance or a related field
• Extensive experience within the luxury safari or lodge sector
• Experience overseeing an inbound DMC or integrated tourism business highly desirable
• Strong commercial, financial and operational management expertise
• Proven ability to lead geographically dispersed teams
• Track record of driving organisational change and operational excellence
• Experience working in East Africa highly advantageous
• MBA or postgraduate qualification an advantage
• Preference given to candidates based in or from East Africa

Core Responsibilities:

• Lead the operational execution of the Tanzania business in line with Group strategy
• Provide executive oversight of all operational functions, including camps, lodges, DMC, logistics, fleet and procurement
• Develop and implement annual operating plans and budgets for approval
• Own and manage the annual operating budget, working with departmental heads to protect margins
• Oversee CAPEX planning and implementation across properties
• Ensure sound procurement and stock management procedures across the business
• Mentor and develop senior management teams in collaboration with Group HR
• Build local leadership capacity and support succession planning
• Safeguard consistent guest experience, service standards and property presentation across all sites
• Represent the company with local communities, authorities and industry stakeholders
• Oversee CSR, conservation and sustainability initiatives
• Prepare monthly and quarterly performance reports for the Head of Operations and Executive Committee
• Ensure compliance with local laws, regulations and company governance frameworks

On Offer:

• Market related salary, negotiable depending on experience
• Live-out position: no accommodation provided
• Based in Arusha, Tanzania
• Immediate start
• Preference given to East African residents/candidates