General Manager – Premium Experiential & Social Venue

Dixie Recruitment; Durban; On-site; ZAR 1,100,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Dixie Recruitment invites applications for a General Manager to lead a brand-new premium sports & leisure venue opening in the Outer West (Hillcrest). The role is hands-on, driving pre-opening setup and then full operation, including team building, systems, and revenue growth.

The successful candidate will manage P&L, budgets, labour, stock, and customer experience, with a focus on delivering strong sales and high service standards during opening and beyond.

Qualifications

• 5+ years' management experience in a busy, customer-facing operation.
• Proven ability to drive sales and generate revenue.
• Experience with a pre-opening, new business or operational setup.
• Background in hospitality, restaurants, bars, QSR, entertainment, leisure, sports or a similar environment.
• Strong understanding of P&L, budgets, forecasting, labour and stock control.
• Comfortable working with POS systems, reporting and operational data.
• Strong people management, recruitment, training and rostering skills.
• Hands-on, accountable and able to work without constant direction.
• Good communication skills and the ability to work with a range of stakeholders.
• Based within a reasonable commuting distance of Hillcrest / Outer West, or willing to relocate.

Responsibilities

• Take the lead on the pre-opening, including recruitment, training, SOPs, procurement, suppliers, POS and operational systems.
• Build and manage the team and seven-day operating structure.
• Oversee the day-to-day operation, service standards, stock, labour and costs.
• Take responsibility for the P&L and overall financial performance of the business.
• Drive sales through events, corporate business, group bookings, promotions and repeat business.
• Find practical ways to build traffic and generate business during quieter periods.
• Use sales and operational information to improve performance and profitability.
• Work closely with contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders to get the venue ready for opening.
• Provide clear and regular feedback on performance, challenges and priorities.

Skills

Management

Sales generation

Pre-opening / startup

Hospitality industry

P&L budgeting

POS systems

People management

Operations

Communication

Relocation willingness

Tools

POS systems

Job description

201General Manager – Premium Sports & Leisure Venue

Location: Hillcrest / Outer West, KZN
Salary: Highly Competitive + Performance-Based KPIs
Start: October / November 2026 | Opening December 2026

We are looking for an experienced General Manager to take the lead on a brand-new premium sports and leisure venue opening in the Outer West this November.

This is a hands-on role for someone who can take the business from pre-opening through to a successful launch, and then take full responsibility for running and growing it.

We are looking for someone who is practical, commercially minded and confident working independently. Someone who can build a team, put the right systems in place, solve problems and, importantly, find ways to bring more business through the door.

Minimum Requirements

• 5+ years' management experience in a busy, customer-facing operation.

• Proven ability to drive sales and generate revenue.

• Experience with a pre-opening, new business or operational setup.

• Background in hospitality, restaurants, bars, QSR, entertainment, leisure, sports or a similar environment.

• Strong understanding of P&L, budgets, forecasting, labour and stock control.

• Comfortable working with POS systems, reporting and operational data.

• Strong people management, recruitment, training and rostering skills.

• Hands-on, accountable and able to work without constant direction.

• Good communication skills and the ability to work with a range of stakeholders.

• Based within a reasonable commuting distance of Hillcrest / Outer West, or willing to relocate.

Sports, golf or simulator venue experience would be an advantage, but is not essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Take the lead on the pre-opening, including recruitment, training, SOPs, procurement, suppliers, POS and operational systems.

• Build and manage the team and seven-day operating structure.

• Oversee the day-to-day operation, service standards, stock, labour and costs.

• Take responsibility for the P&L and overall financial performance of the business.

• Drive sales through events, corporate business, group bookings, promotions and repeat business.

• Find practical ways to build traffic and generate business during quieter periods.

• Use sales and operational information to improve performance and profitability.

• Work closely with contractors, suppliers and other stakeholders to get the venue ready for opening.

• Provide clear and regular feedback on performance, challenges and priorities.