Franschhoek: Operations Manager – Franschhoek posted by Phoenix Recruitment

Hospitality farm and soulful wellness sanctuary close to Franschhoek is looking for an Operations Manager. This is not just a typical or traditional hotel. It aims to be known as a global example of regenerative living and to make a difference in the world and in the world of hospitality. We are seeking a worldly, experienced and detail-oriented Manager to oversee the daily operations and to hold the connection between teams. This role sits at the heart of the sanctuary – responsible for the seamless functioning of the hospitality side of the farm and accountable for aligning values, rhythms and guest journeys. You will report directly to the CEO and Founders and act as the central operational lead , ensuring structure, clarity and consistency among the team and overall operations while holding space for the personalised, intuitive nature of the guest experience. Your leadership must balance operational precision with an ability to navigate a living system – flexible, seasonal and relational by nature. You will be responsible for guiding the team , refining systems and cultivating an environment where structure supports softness and efficiency and uphold excellence. You should be a leader who sees systems as tools to serve people and who understands how to guide with presence, empathy and purpose. Duties: Lead and oversee daily operations across all departments: housekeeping, guest services, food & beverage, wellness and programming Be the main point of coordination – managing team flow, prioritising tasks and ensuring seamless guest journeys from start to finish Implement, refine, and maintain operational systems, SOPs, checklists, and protocols for consistency, accountability and ease Oversee staff scheduling, departmental communications, budgets, inventory and quality control Guide HOD’s in building operational excellence Anticipate and solve operational challenges with clarity and calm Translate vision from the CEO and Founders into daily, practical execution Act as a bridge between teams and management, ensuring clarity and flow across these teams with different paces, energies and functions Protect the energetic and spatial integrity, ensuring operations serve the environment Requirements: Grade 12 A formal hospitality qualification A strong operational leader with at least 5 years’ experience in luxury hospitality, wellness concepts, retreats or purpose-driven environments An intuitive, sensitive and sensible person who loves working with people. Confident in building and refining systems, structures, and operational frameworks that enable smooth execution across departments An excellent communicator – able to connect and coordinate across departments with clarity and emotional intelligence Hands-on and humble – willing to step in wherever needed to support the guest journey or team flow Skilled at managing cross-functional, multicultural teams, with an ability to lead, motivate and hold people accountable in a respectful and empowering way Experienced in handling guest journey management – from pre-arrival communication through to post-departure follow-up Calm and grounded under pressure – able to handle unexpected situations, lastminute changes and guest requests with confidence and composure Tech-savvy and comfortable with digital tools for scheduling, team management, budgeting and reporting Aligned with values of sustainability, conscious living, regeneration and intentional hospitality