Hotel Manager

Village n Life; Knysna; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Career growth opportunities

Job summary

Village n Life's Pezula Nature Retreat in Knysna is seeking an experienced Hotel Manager to lead day-to-day operations across all departments. You will champion our Pure Hosting approach, turning guest interaction into measurable performance and acting as the on-site ambassador for the retreat and the Village n Life portfolio.

You will oversee recruitment, rostering, budget management, safety compliance and service standards with Heads of Department, ensuring a seamless guest journey from

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Hospitality Management or related field.
• Minimum 2 years’ experience in a Hotel Manager or similar senior role in a 4- or 5-star environment.
• Strong financial awareness including budgets, cost control and reporting.
• Proven leadership in a fast-paced hospitality environment.

Responsibilities

• Lead daily hotel operations across all departments with Heads of Department.
• Maintain guest journey from arrival to departure with Pure Hosting.
• Monitor budgets, labour costs, stock, purchasing, and operational expenditure.
• Ensure health & safety, compliance, and audits across the property.
• Recruitment, onboarding, performance management, and coaching.

Skills

Leadership

Guest service

Financial acumen

Communication

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Education

Hospitality Management degree

Job description

# Hotel ManagerThis role forms part of the senior operations team at Pezula Nature Retreat, located in Knysna, Western Cape.**The Role**Pure Hosting means we lead with connection, not just operations. At Pezula Nature Retreat, the Hotel Manager is responsible for turning guest interaction into measurable performance through consistent, intentional hosting.You carry full responsibility for the day-to-day running of the property, leading through your Heads of Department and ensuring every guest touchpoint reflects care, awareness and consistency. You are the on-site ambassador for both Pezula Nature Retreat and Village n Life, ensuring standards are upheld, teams are aligned and the guest journey is seamless from arrival to departure.This role requires confident leadership, operational sharpness and a visible, hands-on presence across the hotel.**Key Responsibilities**– Lead the property through a Pure Hosting approach focused on guest connection, personalisation and return guest value – Take full ownership of daily hotel operations across all departments, ensuring smooth coordination and operational consistency – Lead, support and hold Heads of Department accountable for service standards, productivity and team performance – Maintain a visible, hands-on presence across the property during key guest and operational moments – Ensure consistently high standards across accommodation, food and beverage, public areas and guest touchpoints – Oversee staffing structures, rostering, duty management and operational coverage across a seven-day environment – Ensure SOPs, presentation standards, cleanliness and operational readiness are maintained at all times – Manage guest feedback, complaints and online reputation platforms proactively and professionally – Drive service improvement through guest feedback, operational insight and team engagement – Monitor budgets, labour costs, stock control, purchasing processes and overall operational expenditure – Work closely with Finance to review income statements, explain variances and maintain financial discipline – Ensure compliance with health and safety, legislative requirements and operational audits across the property – Oversee recruitment, onboarding, performance management, coaching and disciplinary processes in line with company standards – Maintain effective communication and alignment across all departments and operational teams – Support group operational requirements and provide senior operational cover, including duty and night management where required**What We’re Looking For**– Relevant tertiary qualification in Hospitality Management or related field – Minimum 2 years’ experience in a Hotel Manager or similar senior role within a 4- or 5-star environment – Strong operational understanding across rooms, food and beverage and guest service delivery – Proven leadership experience in a fast-paced hospitality environment – Strong financial awareness including budgets, cost control and reporting – Confident communicator with strong leadership presence – High attention to detail and strong problem-solving ability – Guest-focused mindset with a strong understanding of service consistency and personalisation – Ability to lead teams through accountability, presence and consistency – Strong understanding of hospitality compliance, health & safety and operational standards – Flexible and available to operate within a seven-day hotel environment**What We Offer**– Competitive remuneration aligned with experience – A senior leadership role within a high-performing hospitality group – Structured operational and group support – Career growth opportunities within the Village n Life portfolio – The opportunity to lead within a property driven by guest connection and performance**Job Locations:** Knysna**Job Categories:** Hotel Management**Job Types:** Full-time**Experience Levels:** Senior level**Job Properties:** Pezula Nature Retreat