Hazyview: Operational Partner/General Manager. posted by Career Pathfinders

Operational Partner/General Manager. World Class 5* Lodge & Spa Hazyview To lead the restructuring of its iconic Retreat estate in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, Consolidating 13 tented suites, 2 villas, spa, restaurant, and agricultural assets into a high-performance entity. To have a high level of independence in your role, with real authority to influence decisions and help change or improve how the business operates. Your work would make a meaningful, lasting difference to a well-known and respected property in South Africa — not just maintaining it, but helping it evolve or grow. Qualifications: Degree in business/hospitality/management; 5–10 years multi-departmental leadership; 10 years Hotel Management experience in 5* properties required. This on-site role reports to the owner. The position priorities hands-on leadership, HR transformation, and operational excellence—financial understanding is valuable but secondary to proven change management grit. Executive Overview The Retreat is undergoing a pivotal clean-slate transition to professionalize operations, optimize the R25m annual turnover, and restore its world-class status. The GM will drive operational consolidation, workforce restructuring (exiting union structures for a high-performance team), and cultural transformation to unify farm and lodge staff. You would have a high level of independence in your role, with real authority to influence decisions and help change or improve how the business operates. Your work would make a meaningful, lasting difference to a well-known and respected property in South Africa — not just maintaining it, but helping it evolve or grow. Core Responsibilities Leadership & HR Execute total HR restructure: recruit core team, develop personnel policies, foster trust/accountability to resolve remuneration/tip disputes. Set KPIs for heads of department, ensure legal compliance. Operations & Guest Experience Oversee day-to-day management for five-star standards across tented suites, villas, spa (SalonBridge), restaurant (Tablet POS), and farm. Conduct daily meetings with heads-of-departments. Manage inventory control for farm-to-table sourcing, health/safety protocols, and sustainability initiatives (e.g., water efficiency). Utilize Room Raccoon for property management. Financial Management Support P&L accountability through collaboration with the owner on budgets, internal payment controls, and oversight. Manage capital, maintenance, and FFE projects within budgets. Integrate Xero accounting; provide daily finance updates and reports to the owner. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) ● Occupancy growth exceeding prior years. ● Turnover and EBITDA targets aligned to R25m revenue and R3m EBITDA ● Staff turnover reduction and union exit ● Food cost reduction and 98% inventory accuracy benchmarks Candidate Profile ● Proven leadership in managing complex workforces through change; trusted yet decisive. ● Hands-on operational grit; on-site requirement. ● Tech-savvy with Xero, Room Raccoon, SalonBridge, Tablet POS. ● Solid financial understanding to support P&L oversight (accounting/finance background advantageous but not required). ● Qualifications: Degree in business/hospitality/management preferred; 5–10 years multi-departmental leadership; ● Comfortable with high-performance standards and regulatory compliance (labour laws, tourism grading, environmental farm standards) Why Join the Estate ? Autonomy with direct input to reshape the business; profit-share upside; transformative impact on an iconic South African estate. You’d have freedom and influence, the chance to earn more if the business succeeds, and the opportunity to leave a lasting legacy at a prestigious estate. You would have a high level of independence in your role, with real authority to influence decisions and help change or improve how the business operates. Your work would make a meaningful, lasting difference to a well-known and respected property in South Africa — not just maintaining it, but helping it evolve or grow. Offers a competitive base of R65 000–R85 000 per month. Additional Incentive Profit share