General Manager Couple | Single Status GM

Zeebra Junction Specialist Recruitment; South Africa; On-site; ZAR 1,640,000 - 2,952,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Fully furnished accommodation

Meals provided on duty

Medical insurance

Annual leave

Flights home

Visa sponsorship

Laundry service

In-country social security

Job summary

Zeebra Junction Specialist Recruitment has been retained to fill a General Manager Couple role at a luxurious boutique lodge in Southwestern Uganda. This is a hands-on leadership position requiring a strong hospitality and culinary focus, exceptional guest experience, and community partnership.

The successful couple will lead operations, mentor local staff, drive financial performance, and elevate the dining program while living on site in a remote wilderness location.

Qualifications

• Experience in luxury boutique lodge management.
• Strong leadership and team development skills.
• Culinary creativity and dining program experience preferable.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all lodge operations ensuring exceptional guest experience across F&B, accommodation, and services.
• Lead and mentor local staff, fostering a collaborative culture and high performance.
• Drive financial performance and cost control while maintaining service standards.
• Coordinate with kitchen team to elevate the culinary offering and seasonal menus.

Skills

General Management

Luxury hospitality

Culinary knowledge

Financial management

Team development

Job description

General Manager Couple

Luxury Boutique Gorilla Lodge | Southwestern Uganda

An Extraordinary Opportunity for an Exceptional Hospitality Couple

Our client is seeking an accomplished General Manager Couple to lead one of Africa's most exclusive luxury boutique lodges, located in the breathtaking mountains of southwestern Uganda - the gateway to one of the world's most remarkable wildlife experiences.

This intimate, award-winning property offers discerning international travellers an unforgettable mountain gorilla trekking experience, complemented by refined accommodation, exceptional cuisine and highly personalised service.

This is not a traditional safari lodge management opportunity.

Instead, we are looking for an experienced luxury hospitality couple with a genuine boutique hotel mindset - professionals who understand sophisticated guest experiences, culinary excellence, personalised service and the unique rewards of living and working in a remote destination.

If your passion lies in creating unforgettable guest experiences through outstanding hospitality, exceptional food and inspiring leadership, we would love to hear from you.

The Role

As General Managers, you will assume overall responsibility for every aspect of the lodge's operation, ensuring consistently exceptional standards across guest experience, food and beverage, accommodation, staff leadership and financial performance.

Supported by a highly experienced and well-established local team, your focus will be on inspiring excellence, mentoring staff, elevating the culinary offering and continually enhancing the overall guest journey.

One member of the couple should possess a genuine passion for food and strong culinary ability, bringing creativity, innovation and fresh ideas to the dining experience while working closely with the kitchen team.

An appreciation for fresh, seasonal produce and enthusiasm for developing the lodge's productive kitchen garden will be highly valued.

Community Partnership

A unique aspect of this appointment is the opportunity to work alongside the local community, who are proud owners and long-term partners of the lodge.

Success in this role requires more than exceptional hospitality skills - it calls for emotional intelligence, diplomacy and cultural sensitivity. The successful couple will appreciate the importance of building respectful relationships with community stakeholders while supporting responsible tourism and sustainable development.

Previous experience working within community-based tourism initiatives or culturally diverse environments will be highly advantageous.

The Ideal Couple Will Bring

• Previous General Management experience within a luxury boutique lodge, boutique hotel, luxury country house hotel or exclusive resort.
• A genuine passion for luxury hospitality and personalised guest experiences.
• Strong food and beverage knowledge.
• Culinary creativity and a passion for exceptional dining experiences (one partner).
• Proven leadership and team development skills.
• Financial and commercial management experience.
• Excellent organisational and operational abilities.
• Outstanding communication and guest engagement skills.
• High levels of professionalism, emotional intelligence and integrity.
• The resilience and adaptability to thrive in a remote wilderness location.
• Cultural awareness and the diplomacy to build positive relationships with local communities and stakeholders.

Preferred Background

We are particularly interested in couples from:

• Luxury Boutique Hotels
• Luxury Country House Hotels
• High-End Boutique Lodges
• Luxury Island Resorts
• Exclusive Private Lodges
• Five-Star Hospitality Operations

Please note: Candidates whose experience is primarily centred on traditional safari lodge operations, without a strong boutique hospitality and culinary background, are unlikely to be shortlisted.

Why This Opportunity?

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of Africa's most distinctive luxury hospitality experiences while living and working in one of the continent's most spectacular mountain environments.

You'll have the chance to:

• Deliver unforgettable guest experiences centred around one of the world's most iconic wildlife encounters.
• Inspire and mentor an experienced and passionate local team.
• Shape an innovative culinary programme using fresh, locally grown produce.
• Develop and enhance the lodge's productive kitchen garden.
• Become part of a meaningful community-owned tourism success story.
• Live and work in one of Africa's most extraordinary and rewarding destinations.

If you are a dynamic, guest-focused hospitality couple seeking a unique leadership opportunity that combines luxury boutique hospitality, culinary creativity, community partnership and responsible tourism, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Remuneration & Benefits

An attractive expatriate remuneration package is offered, including:

• Very competitive net salary for the management couple, paid in US Dollars (USD).
• Fully furnished private accommodation.
• All meals provided whilst on duty.
• Uniforms supplied and full laundry service provided.
• Comprehensive in-country medical care and medical insurance.
• Annual leave in accordance with the company's leave policy.
• Annual return economy-class flights to your point of origin, aligned with your leave cycle.
• All work permits and visa costs fully sponsored by the company.
• Employer-funded Social Security insurance contributions.
• The opportunity to live and work in one of Africa's most spectacular and rewarding wilderness destinations while leading a world-class luxury hospitality operation.