DMC General Manager

Ambitions Travel Recruitment; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus structure

Educational trips

Job summary

Ambitions Travel Recruitment in Cape Town seeks a DMC General Manager to lead the team across sales, product and operations, while remaining hands-on.

You will shape supplier partnerships, design complex itineraries, manage budgets and performance, and travel within Southern and East Africa as needed.

This role offers hybrid working, a competitive salary with bonus, and the chance to grow a leading inbound DMC in Southern Africa.

Qualifications

• At least 7 years’ experience in African inbound travel, preferably within a DMC.
• Strong first-hand knowledge of South Africa; East Africa knowledge desirable.

Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the Cape Town DMC, leading the team while remaining hands-on across sales, product, contracting and operations.
• Monitor performance against commercial objectives and drive profitability and service quality.
• Develop and maintain a competitive product portfolio across Southern and East Africa; negotiate rates and terms with suppliers.
• Lead, support and develop the Cape Town team; contribute to recruitment and future structure as the business grows.
• Improve systems, processes and ways of working to support scale.

Skills

Leadership experience

DMC/inbound travel

Sales management

Product development

Operations management

Contracting

Supplier relationships

Job description

DMC General Manager job in Cape Town within the African travel industry, offering a competitive salary and bonus structure. This is a hands‑on leadership role covering sales, product, operations and team management for an established inbound DMC.

Have the experience to lead an African inbound DMC, oversee its sales manager and consultants, and take responsibility for the quality and commercial performance of the business? Do you enjoy developing a team, improving how an operation runs and ensuring that every booking is delivered to a high standard?

Are you also a product specialist who enjoys building supplier relationships, discovering new experiences and negotiating the rates and terms that make a DMC competitive? This General Manager role offers the chance to take ownership of product while helping shape a growing Cape Town business alongside its UK Directors.

Our client is an established destination management company (DMC) based in Cape Town, specialising in inbound travel across Southern and East Africa. They design and deliver tailor‑made experiences for their clients.

They are now looking for a DMC General Manager to take overall responsibility for the day‑to‑day running of the business — leading the Cape Town team while remaining hands‑on across sales, product, contracting and operations, and helping to shape the company’s future growth.

The Role

In this role, you will take overall responsibility for the Cape Town DMC, leading the team while remaining hands‑on across sales, product, contracting and operations.

• Take day‑to‑day responsibility for the DMC’s performance and commercial objectives
• Monitor sales, margins, profitability and operational performance
• Manage the sales and reservations team while designing and costing complex, tailor‑made itineraries
• Develop and maintain a competitive product portfolio across Southern and East Africa
• Manage key supplier relationships and negotiate rates and commercial terms
• Oversee the full booking lifecycle and ensure consistently high service delivery
• Manage operational issues, supplier disputes and in‑travel escalations
• Lead, support and develop the Cape Town team
• Contribute to recruitment and future team structure as the business grows
• Improve systems, processes and ways of working to support scale
• At least 7 years’ experience in African inbound travel, preferably within a DMC
• Strong first‑hand knowledge of South Africa; East Africa knowledge also desirable
• Proven experience designing and costing complex, tailor‑made and high‑value FIT itineraries
• Experience managing supplier relationships, negotiating rates and developing product
• Previous experience managing a travel or reservations team
• Willingness and ability to travel within Southern and East Africa when required
• Competitive salary with a bonus structure
• Opportunities for educational trips and destination visits
• A supportive team environment

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the salary for this DMC General Manager role?

A competitive salary with a bonus structure. Ambitions Travel Recruitment will share the full package details with shortlisted candidates

What does hybrid working look like in this role?

The role is based at the Cape Town office with hybrid working. Ambitions Travel Recruitment can confirm the exact structure with shortlisted candidates.

Is African travel / DMC experience required?

Yes — at least 7 years’ experience in African inbound travel is required, ideally within a DMC, along with strong first‑hand knowledge of South Africa.

What does a General Manager role at a DMC involve?

Overall responsibility for a destination management company’s day‑time performance — leading the local team while staying hands‑on across sales, product, contracting and operations.