Area General Manager - Ethiopia

Overview

The First Group Hospitality is a Dubai-headquartered, full-service hospitality management company specialising in hotel operations, asset management, and F&B strategy. With a team of industry veterans and a proven track record, the company delivers tailored solutions that enhance efficiency, optimise revenue, and maximise asset value for investors and hotel owners.

 

As a trusted third-party hotel management provider, The First Group Hospitality partners with leading global brands to drive operational excellence and long-term profitability, thanks to expertise spanning property performance optimisation, cost management, and guest experience enhancement.

 

Beyond management, The First Group Hospitality develops and operates a dynamic portfolio of upscale hotels, residences, and award-winning restaurants, creating high-value hospitality assets that stand out in the market.

For more information, visit tfghospitality.com

Job Description

The Area General Manager - Ethiopia is responsible for leading all TFG Hospitality-managed hotels and Food & Beverage operations in Ethiopia, ensuring strong guest satisfaction, financial performance, brand governance, and compliance with Hotel Management Agreements (HMAs).

 

Country & Portfolio Leadership

• Provide overall leadership for TFG Hospitality’s Ethiopia operations, acting as the senior in-country representative
• Lead and support Hotel Managers at the property level, ensuring alignment with TFG Hospitality standards, KPIs, and operating philosophy
• Act as the primary custodian of TFG Hospitality culture in Ethiopia, embedding a guest-first, people-centric, and performance-driven mindset across all hotels
• Establish a strong leadership, coaching, and training culture with a clear focus on developing and promoting local management and operational talent
• Establish scalable country-level operating structures to support portfolio growth

 

Hotel Operations & Performance Management

• Drive consistent operational excellence across all properties, with clear accountability for guest satisfaction (NPS), financial performance (GOP, flow-through), and service quality
• Conduct regular performance reviews with Property GMs focused on revenue, cost control, guest experience, and talent development
• Ensure compliance with HMAs, operating budgets, and approved business plans

 

Food & Beverage Leadership & Portfolio Management

• Provide strategic leadership and accountability for Food & Beverage operations in Ethiopia as a core pillar alongside hotel operations
• Ensure clear accountability for Food & Beverage performance across the portfolio, with Hotel General Managers fully responsible for the operational and financial results of in-hotel F&B outlets
• Hold direct responsibility for the operational and financial performance of all standalone Food & Beverage outlets, including full ownership of P&Ls, profitability, and commercial outcomes
• Lead the development and scaling of standalone Food & Beverage outlets, from concept definition through opening and stabilization
• Collaborate closely with TFG Hospitality’s F&B specialists to deliver strong concepts, consistent guest experiences, operational excellence, and sustainable financial performance

 

Hotel Openings & Pre-Opening Execution

• Oversee pre-opening budgets, staffing plans, training, OS&E procurement, and operational readiness
• Ensure new hotels are opened in line with TFG Hospitality standards and owner expectations

 

Owner & Stakeholder Management

• Provide transparent reporting, performance updates, and issue resolution
• Balance owner priorities with long-term asset value creation and operational sustainability

 

Commercial, Entrepreneurial & Revenue Leadership

• Work closely with TFG Hospitality’s central Commercial, Sales, Revenue, and Marketing teams to optimize performance across the Ethiopian portfolio
• Ensure effective pricing, segmentation, and channel strategies suited to local and international demand
• Demonstrate a strong entrepreneurial mindset, identifying and executing commercial opportunities appropriate to each market and asset
• Take a leading role in the initial set-up, development, and scaling of Food & Beverage operations, applying a restaurateur-led and commercially focused approach
• Support market positioning for both unbranded and future branded hotels

 

People Leadership, Training & Localization

• Lead talent development and succession planning across all properties
• Design and implement structured training and development programs aligned with TFG Hospitality culture, covering service excellence, leadership capability, and operational standards
• Build a strong local talent pipeline with clear development paths, mentoring, and performance management
• Ensure compliance with Ethiopian labor law, employment practices, and regulatory requirements
• Drive localization of leadership roles where possible, building long-term organizational capability

 

Governance, Risk & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with local laws, safety regulations, licensing, and reporting requirements
• Act as a country-level escalation point for operational, legal, and reputational risks
• Ensure accurate financial controls and reporting in line with USALI standards

 

Growth, Development & Strategic Expansion

• Contribute operational insight to development, branding, and investment decisions
• Work closely with TFG Hospitality’s Design and Construction teams on all new Hotel and Food & Beverage projects to ensure compliance with Brand standards and TFG Hospitality requirements
• Provide operational input during concept, design, and construction phases to ensure efficient operations, guest experience alignment, and long-term asset performance
• Prepare the organization for future expansion, including the introduction of branded hotels and Food & Beverage operations in Addis Ababa

Desired Skill & Expertise

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or related field
• Senior hotel operations leadership experience across multiple properties
• Senior hospitality leadership experience with material exposure to Food & Beverage operations across hotels and/or standalone concepts
• Proven track record in managing hotel openings and early-stage ramp-ups
• Proven experience in launching and scaling Food & Beverage outlets, including concept development and early-stage stabilization
• Strong understanding of third-party hotel management and HMA environments
• Solid financial acumen with demonstrated GOP and cost-control focus 
• Ethiopian national strongly preferred, with a deep understanding of the local market, culture, and regulatory environment
• Demonstrated financial leadership in F&B, with accountability for budgets, P&L performance, and commercial outcomes
• Experience working within a centralized specialist model to deliver consistent F&B concepts and standards
• Strong executive presence with the ability to represent TFG Hospitality at senior owner and government levels
• Hands-on, execution-focused leadership style suited to emerging and growth markets
• Commercially minded with strong analytical and decision-making capability
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills
• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in complex, evolving environments
• Strong commercial and financial acumen across both hotel and Food & Beverage operations
• Clear ability to define and manage accountability between Country leadership, Hotel General Managers, and specialist teams
• Strategic yet hands-on mindset, with the ability to develop, evaluate, and scale F&B concepts in growth markets
• Strong cross-functional leadership and collaboration skills across operations, commercial, and development teams