Cape Town: Operations Manager. posted by HotelJobs

Operations Manager. The client is looking for someone young; hungry, competent, and physically fit who wants to build something meaningful and grow into a senior leadership position (COO) over the next 35 years. Global Hospitality & Wellness Portfolio Growing hospitality and wellness portfolio with operations across Dubai, Kenya, Cape Town, Bali, and Brazil. Reports to Founder & CEO Location Remote | Travel to Dubai, Bali, Cape Town, Brazil Type Full-Time Visa Dubai work visa sponsorship available (male candidates only due to current visa quota) The company is a fast-growing portfolio of hospitality and wellness ventures operating across multiple countries. Their brands include boutique hotels in Kenya, a hotel in Cape Town, a villa in Bali, wellness and lifestyle startups and a growing real estate portfolio. We are building a global lifestyle and hospitality group from the ground up, and we need an operationally excellent leader to help us scale. THE OPPORTUNITY This is a ground-floor opportunity to join as Operations Manager in a dynamic, multi-country portfolio at startup-stage compensation with significant growth potential. You will work directly with the Founder and the CFO to drive operations across hospitality, wellness, and real estate ventures. The client is looking for someone young, hungry, competent, and physically fit who wants to build something meaningful and grow into a senior leadership position (COO) over the next 35 years. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES Oversee day-to-day operations across all portfolio companies, ensuring targets are met for revenue, profitability, and guest satisfaction. Coordinate with the CFO on budgeting, cost control, and financial reporting across ventures. Manage and optimise operations for Pravilo, Nudge, and Roomie with an immediate priority to reach breakeven and then grow toward USD 30K/year profit per venture. Support the operational setup and launch of the Cape Town hotel and Bali villa rental property. Travel regularly to Dubai (primary hub), Bali, Cape Town, and Brazil to conduct site visits, manage teams, and ensure quality standards. Recruit; train, and manage on-the-ground teams across locations, working with local managers and the shared leadership team (CFO, CMO). Develop and implement SOPs, KPIs, and reporting frameworks for each venture. Identify operational efficiencies and cost-saving opportunities across the portfolio. Support real estate asset management, including coordination with property managers for rental units. Act as a key liaison between the Founder and all operational teams, ensuring alignment on vision and execution. REQUIREMENTS Recent graduate or early-career professional with a degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Tourism, or a related field. Strong interest in and understanding of the hospitality and wellness industries internships or exposure to hotels, lodges, spas, or short-term rental management is a plus. Demonstrated leadership potential through academic projects, internships, student organisations, or early work experience. Excellent organisational, problem-solving, and communication skills. Comfortable with frequent international travel (valid passport with ability to obtain visas for UAE, Indonesia, South Africa, and Brazil). Physically fit and energetic this role involves significant travel, site visits, and hands-on operational work. Self-starter who thrives in a lean, fast-paced startup environment with minimal hand-holding. Proficient in Google Workspace, project management tools (Asana, Notion, or similar), and comfortable with financial spreadsheets and reporting. Fluency in English required; additional languages (Portuguese, Afrikaans, Bahasa Indonesian) are a strong plus. Must be eligible for Dubai work visa sponsorship under current company visa allocation (male candidates only). Advantageous experience Experience working in or with African and/or Southeast Asian markets. Background in short-term rental management (Airbnb, Apply Below). Interest or experience in wellness, fitness, or biohacking industries. Familiarity with Dubai business regulations and free zone operations. Prior internship or work experience in a hotel, lodge, or hospitality group. COMPENSATION & GROWTH PATH Base salary: USD 1;500/month. Performance bonuses tied to venture profitability milestones. Clear pathway to COO title and increased compensation as portfolio income grows the goal is to scale total portfolio income to USD 750K+ annually. Opportunity to grow into a long-term senior leadership role with potential equity participation. Dubai visa sponsorship and travel expenses covered for business trips. Work directly with the Founder high visibility, high impact, and real ownership of outcomes. Compensation USD 1,500/month + performance bonuses & growth incentives Visa Dubai work visa sponsorship available (male candidates only due to current visa quota)