Restaurant Manager

Bright Search Recruitment (Pty) Ltd; Bela-Bela; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Bright Search Recruitment (Pty) Ltd seeks a polished, energetic Luxury Safari Lodge Restaurant Manager. The ideal candidate will lead five-star dining operations, supervise staff, and ensure exceptional guest experiences across multiple venues.

Flexibility to work long hours, including evenings and holidays, is essential to maintain flawless service in a luxurious setting. We require extensive luxury hospitality experience, strong leadership, and a passion for wine and gastronomy.

Qualifications

• Matric/Grade 12 with hospitality-related degree or diploma.
• 35 years' restaurant management or senior F&B experience in luxury settings.
• Strong knowledge of restaurant operations and five-star service standards.
• Proven staff management and leadership experience.
• F&B knowledge, stock control and cost management.
• HACCP, food safety & health & safety knowledge.
• Excellent written and verbal English.
• Driver's licence advantageous.

Responsibilities

Skills

Staff leadership

Guest service

F&B operations

Stock control

Food safety

English proficiency

Wine knowledge

Dietary requirements

Multiple dining venues

Education

Diploma/Degree in Hospitality Management

Tools

MS Office

POS systems (Micros)

Job description

Minimum Qualifications & Experience

• Grade 12 / Matric. Diploma or Degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Food & Beverage Management or a related qualification. 35 years' Restaurant Management or senior F&B experience , preferably in a luxury lodge, five-star hotel or fine-dining environment. Strong knowledge of restaurant operations and five-star service standards. Proven staff management and leadership experience. Excellent food and beverage knowledge. Experience with stock control and cost management. Computer literate with good knowledge of MS Office and POS systems. Knowledge of HACCP, food safety and health & safety requirements. Excellent written and verbal English. Valid driver's licence is advantageous and commonly requested for lodge positions.
• Previous Big Five/luxury safari lodge experience . Fine-dining experience. Wine/Sommelier qualification such as WSET or relevant wine training. Knowledge of South African wines. Experience with multiple dining venues. Experience with international guests and dietary requirements. Additional South African languages. Experience with systems such as Micros/POS and hospitality stock-control systems.

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate should be polished, energetic, hands-on and highly guest-focused , with a genuine passion for luxury hospitality. They must be comfortable working long and flexible hours, including evenings, weekends and public holidays, while maintaining composure and attention to detail.

Key competencies

• Exceptional guest-service orientation
• Strong leadership and people-management skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
• High attention to detail
• Strong organisational and administration skills
• Excellent problem-solving ability
• Financial and cost-control awareness
• Food, wine and beverage expertise
• Ability to work under pressure
• Professional grooming and presentation
• Ability to lead by example
• Passion for luxury safari hospitality