Head of Guiding & Training

Wild Dreams Hospitality; South Africa; Presencial; ZAR 599.000 - 1.198.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Wild Dreams Hospitality seeks a senior safari guide and mentor to elevate guest connection across East Africa, shaping training and coaching head guides in multiple countries. This live-in role requires hosting guests, developing standards, and embedding conservation and sustainability in training.

Regular travel across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda is expected as you set the tone for standards, guide engagement, safety and ethics while building future leaders for the group.

Formación

• Minimum 10 years' professional safari guiding experience, including senior guiding and training roles.
• Strong background in high-end or luxury safari operations with East African experience.
• Natural teacher and mentor who develops people and future leaders.
• High emotional intelligence with storytelling and guest connection.
• Proven ability to address feedback and improve standards.
• Knowledge of East African wildlife, ecosystems and conservation.
• Fluent in English; Swahili is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel regularly across East Africa.
• Recognised guiding certification (e.g. FGASA Level 2+, KPSGA Silver+ or equivalent) advantageous.

Responsabilidades

• Champion the group's guiding philosophy across all countries of operation.
• Set clear guiding standards for guest engagement, storytelling, safety and ethics.
• Develop and refine the guiding curriculum, assessment tools and training programme.
• Coach guides to read each guest and tailor communication, pace and style accordingly.
• Identify, train and mentor head guides in people management, feedback and performance.
• Assess guide competencies, both technical and interpersonal, on a regular basis.
• Work closely with country, operations and property managers to support guiding teams in the field.
• Review guest and operational feedback and use it to strengthen standards.
• Design and introduce new guest activities, with sound safety protocols in place.
• Embed conservation, community involvement and sustainability in all training.
• Spend time in the field, hosting guests and joining drives or walking safaris where needed.

Descripción del empleo

This is a senior, strategic role for an accomplished guide and mentor who can set the standard for guest connection, shape the training curriculum and coach head guides across several countries. Regular travel throughout the region is part of the job.

Core Criteria:

• Minimum 10 years' professional safari guiding experience, including senior guiding and training roles
• Strong background in high-end or luxury safari operations (must have East African experience)
• Natural teacher and mentor who enjoys developing people and future leaders
• High emotional intelligence, with strong storytelling skills and the ability to read and connect with each guest
• Proven ability to take ownership of guiding-related feedback and complaints and turn them into lasting improvements
• Sound knowledge of East African wildlife, ecosystems and conservation
• Warm, humble and exceptional with guests
• Fluent in English; Swahili is an advantage
• Willingness to travel regularly across East Africa
• Recognised guiding certification (e.g. FGASA Level 2+, KPSGA Silver+ or equivalent) is advantageous
• Experience working across more than one country, or bringing different camps and teams to one standard, is advantageous

Core Responsibilities:

• Champion the group's guiding philosophy and ensure it is lived consistently by guides in every country of operation
• Set clear guiding standards for guest engagement, storytelling, safety and ethics
• Develop and refine the guiding curriculum, assessment tools and training programme
• Coach guides to read each guest and tailor their communication, pace and style accordingly
• Identify, train and mentor head guides in people management, feedback and performance
• Assess guide competencies, both technical and interpersonal, on a regular basis
• Work closely with country, operations and property managers to support guiding teams in the field
• Review guest and operational feedback and use it to strengthen standards
• Design and introduce new guest activities, with sound safety protocols in place
• Embed conservation, community involvement and sustainability in all training
• Spend time in the field, hosting guests and joining drives or walking safaris where needed

This is a live-in position based across the lodges in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.