Lodge Reception & Assistant Manager

Zeebra Junction; Dundee; On-site; ZAR 100,000 - 134,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

En-suite accommodation

All meals

Laundry

Job summary

Zeebra Junction Specialist Recruitment is sourcing a lodge Reception & Assistant Manager for a live-in role in KwaZulu-Natal. The successful candidate will oversee reception, guest relations, and provide operational support to the Lodge Manager across departments.

The role emphasizes hands-on hospitality, ownership, and the delivery of a consistently memorable guest experience in a private lodge setting. Immediate start preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience in lodge/hospitality settings.
• Strong guest-facing and front-office skills.
• Ability to supervise staff and coordinate activities.

Responsibilities

• Manage front desk and reception operations.
• Greet guests and ensure a warm arrival experience.
• Provide guest relations and personalised service.

Skills

Lodge experience

Hospitality management

Front desk experience

Guest relations

Staff supervision

Reservations experience

English fluency

Tools

SEMPER

Job description

LODGE RECEPTION & ASSISTANT MANAGER

Live-In Hospitality Management Opportunity | KwaZulu-Natal | South Africa

Location: KwaZulu-Natal, near Rorke’s Drift
Position: Lodge Reception & Assistant Manager
Employment Type: Full-Time | Live-In
Availability: Immediate
Salary: R9,000 – R12,000 per month, negotiable depending on experience
Benefits: En-suite accommodation | All meals | Laundry

THE OPPORTUNITY

An exceptional opportunity is available for an ambitious, highly presentable and hospitality-focused individual to join a distinctive private lodge and guest-house operation in rural KwaZulu-Natal.

The property is renowned for delivering a highly personalised guest experience, with strong emphasis on genuine interaction between the hospitality team and guests. The successful candidate will therefore play a highly visible and influential role in the day-to-day guest experience.

This is far more than a front-desk position.

The successful individual will work primarily in Reception and Guest Relations, while also providing direct operational support to the Lodge Manager and stepping into other departments when required. The position is ideally suited to someone with broad lodge or hospitality experience who enjoys being hands‑on, taking responsibility and working across different areas of an operation.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The successful candidate will be expected to contribute across a broad range of lodge operations, including:

• Managing the front desk and reception function


• Welcoming guests and ensuring a warm, professional arrival experience


• Providing exceptional guest relations and personalised service


• Managing guest requests, queries and day-to-day requirements


• Supporting the Lodge Manager with general operational and administrative responsibilities


• Assisting with staff supervision and coordination


• Providing relief and operational support across departments when required


• Assisting with kitchen management and coordination


• Managing or supporting reservations and booking administration


• Working with reservation systems; SEMPER knowledge would be advantageous


• Supporting stock control, ordering and inventory management


• Assisting with housekeeping standards and coordination


• Maintaining high standards of presentation, service and operational discipline


• Playing an active role in ensuring that guests receive a consistently memorable experience

The original role specifically calls for broad lodge experience covering general management, staff management, guest relations/front desk, kitchen management, reservations, stock control and housekeeping.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

We are seeking an individual who combines professionalism, maturity, initiative and genuine hospitality.

The ideal candidate will have:

• Previous experience within a lodge, hotel, guest house, safari lodge or similar hospitality environment


• Exposure to general lodge/hospitality management


• Strong guest-facing and front-office experience


• Experience supervising or coordinating staff


• An understanding of kitchen and food-service operations


• Experience with reservations and booking administration


• Knowledge of stock control and inventory management


• An understanding of housekeeping operations and standards


• Excellent organisational and administrative ability


• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills


• Excellent spoken and written English


• A professional, polished and highly presentable appearance


• A valid driver's licence – essential


• The ability to work independently while also functioning as a strong team player


• A practical, hands‑on approach to hospitality


• A good sense of humour and the ability to maintain composure in a demanding operational environment

Knowledge of SEMPER reservations software would be an advantage.

THE PERSONALITY FIT

This position will suit someone who genuinely enjoys people, hospitality and the rhythm of lodge life.

You should be someone who:

Takes ownership.
You don't wait to be told what needs doing.

Understands hospitality.
You appreciate that excellent service is about far more than simply completing tasks.

Is comfortable being hands‑on.
In a lodge environment, everyone contributes wherever necessary.

Has strong emotional intelligence.
You can interact professionally with international guests, local colleagues and management.

Is adaptable.
No two days are necessarily the same, and operational priorities can change quickly.

Can lead without ego.
You are comfortable assisting, supervising, coordinating and working alongside the wider team.

Has a sense of humour.
A positive, resilient attitude is important in a live‑in hospitality environment.

The source brief specifically identifies a team player with a sense of humour as an important personality characteristic.

LIVE-IN PACKAGE

This is a live-in position and includes:

• En-suite accommodation


• All meals


• Laundry


• Salary of R9,000 – R12,000 per month, negotiable according to relevant experience

Because the lodge is situated in a rural area where public transport is extremely limited, own transport would be advantageous, particularly when travelling on leave. A driver's licence is essential.

WHY THIS ROLE?

This is an opportunity for a hospitality professional to become an integral part of a personalised, guest-centric lodge operation, while gaining or further developing broad operational exposure across reception, guest relations and lodge management.

If you are looking for a conventional 9-to-5 desk position, this is unlikely to be the right opportunity.

If, however, you are energetic, ambitious, guest-focused, operationally capable and enjoy the unique environment of lodge hospitality, this could be an excellent next career move.

Position available immediately.