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Our client, a leading name in luxury safari experiences, is seeking an exceptional Concession General Manager to steward one of their flagship concessions. Reporting to the GM of Lodges, this role carries full responsibility for the seamless operation, performance, and guest experience across the concession and its camps.
You’ll ensure each camp is expertly staffed, well‑managed, and consistently delivering service levels that reflect the group’s high standards and strategic vision. A key part of the role includes overseeing and controlling camp‑related expenditure, with clear monthly and annual accountability.
This is a town‑based position with a strong field component — expect to spend around 70% of your time in the bush, actively engaging with teams, operations, and the guest experience.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Ensure all operational requirements are managed in ccordance with the company’s standards
- Management and care of all company assets and property
- Managing staff and management numbers to allow for optimal performance within the camp(s).
- Actively drive staff welfare, performance, development & mentorship within the set the company’s HR processes and procedures.
- Overall responsibility for the Guest Experience in camps and constantly striving for increased service levels within the camp and in line with Group Standards.
- Implement, maintain & improve the company's environmental and health policies within camps.
- Adequately budget and control camp and concession expenditure, accounting for this monthly.
- Forecast, plan & execute necessary short and long-term maintenance projects within camps
- Field any guest or agent feedback, ensuring adequate responses are returned
- Manage any relevant company business relationships, including relevant concession and community partnerships.
Operational Management
- Assist with relief management in the camps as required
- Ensure that all administrative requirements are implemented and adhered to:
- Month-end procedures
- Ordering of weekly goods, receiving, accepting on system and invoicing
- Ensure a system is in place to receive all goods sent to camp so that they do not go missing
- Control of lodge stock – food, fuel, etc...
- Provide reports as requested and as necessary
- Management and care of all company Assets and property
- Manage all preventative maintenance projects and assist with all capital projects as required
- Implement necessary systems for asset management
- Ensure accountability within the relevant departments
- Ensure preventative maintenance of assets occurs
Management of Staff and numbers to allow for optimal performance within the camp
- Set Camp Organograms to ensure optimal productivity within Camp Management
- Work closely with HR on recruitment and selection of Lodge Managers and other staff requirements
- Drive Staff number optimisation through relevant Camp General Managers.
- Oversee and authorise Staff hiring through HR and Staff Welfare departments.
- Manage staff according to the company HR policies and procedures\ and the company’s standards
- Ensure all HR records are sent to HR/Payroll timeously – unpaid leave, compassionate leave, advance forms etc.
- Work closely with Training Manager to ensure staff have the right skills and
- competencies to fulfil their tasks
Actively drive staff welfare, performance, development & mentorship within the set company HR processes and procedures.
- Provide support to Lodge Managers as required
- Assist, if necessary, in counselling and disciplinary processes as and when required.
- Ensure compliance with all the company Policies and Procedures
Consistently strive to improve service levels within the camp.
- Regularly visit camps to monitor and assess standards and service levels.
- Counsel and train management and individuals to constantly improve their standards.
- Ensure standards are in place for each camp and brand as defined by the Group
Implement, Maintain & Improve The company Environmental and Health policies within the camps
- Assist and guide were necessary with the implementation of this in camps.
- Overall responsibility for the financial performance of the camps under your management
- Assess camp expenditure, meeting with relevant General Managers to ensure accountability.
- Approve any relevant company purchases personally
- Forecast areas of potential expenditure, including this in any projected budgets.
- Attend financial meetings as prescribed by the company Finance department, to account for each camp’s financials in its entirety.
Forecast, plan, and execute necessary short and long-term maintenance projects within camps
- Engage, task and oversee the relevant Technical Service Manager on set-out projects.
- Be actively involved in the EMS of the camp by assisting in the formulation of
- improvement timelines, allocating appropriate budget, assigning responsible personnel and ensuring the provided timelines are met.
Field any guest or agent feedback, ensuring adequate responses are returned
- Be the point of contact in conjunction with the Guest Operations Manager, for any feedback given by guests and agents.
- Engage with the relevant camp management to receive feedback if required.
- Respond with well-researched information, on time.
Manage any relevant WS business relationships, including relevant concession and community partnerships.
- Maintain any business relationships as prescribed by The company.
- Meet with interested communities, creating relationships as needed.
- Ensure that all camps operate in compliance with the social policies of the company
- Ensure that the social strategy is implemented in each camp as defined
- Manage the liaison and relationship between the company and the respective communities
- Work closely with the Community Engagement team to ensure that all aspects related to the community is adhered to
Host & Educate Key Agents & Journalists.
- Host agents, journalists and guests as required and communicated to you by GM
- Lodges, Guest Operations, Marketing or any other senior management
- Ensure the company’s Safari Key marketing areas are relayed to the relevant agents or Journalists.
- Act as a brand ambassador at all times, ensuring that any trips happen as seamlessly as possible.
Concession-Wide Impact Leadership and Communication
The Concession General Manager is responsible for providing strategic leadership in the company's Impact efforts across their concession, ensuring a deep understanding and effective communication of the company's conservation and community goals to all staff and
guests, and overseeing the adherence of Camp General Managers to their Impact Communication responsibilities.
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualifications
- Degree or Diploma in hospitality management, business Administration or related field
- Broad technical knowledge required.
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in a management role within the hospitality industry
- Camp/Lodge Management background and knowledge of the safari lodge business is essential.
- A guiding background at any level is advantageous
- Senior operations experience in the Hospitality sector.
- Ability to work collaboratively with a diverse team of employees and stakeholders
- Flexibility to travel for extended periods to various Camp locations as needed
Competencies
- Outstanding people skills and ability to communicate.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills
- Know how to manage and work in a team.
- Strong verbal skills, both written and spoken.
- Keen eye for detail.
- Ability to manage financial budgets and meet set targets.
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