General Manager with 5 Star Luxury Boutique Management Exposure is required for a private luxury Estate.

Role Summary:

1: The successful candidate will serve as the primary operator of the clients residences, personal support infrastructure and private life, combining the command of a luxury hospitality general manager with the direct executive assistance required by a high-performance principal.

2: The successful candidate will manage three premium residences, with direct control of the principal Johannesburg estate (12,000m total, 3,500m under roof), which must operate to the standard of a five-star boutique hotel. The role includes oversight of all staff, household operations, service quality, property readiness, and the principals local and international travel, calendar, and personal affairs.

3: This is a high-trust, high-accountability role, suited only to candidates with a proven track record in ultra-luxury environments where discretion, speed, and excellence are non-negotiable.

4: SERVICE PHILOSOPHY: PRESENCE WITHOUT INTRUSION: The principal residence must operate with the invisible precision of a world-class boutique hotel. Staff must be present, prepared, and proactive, but rarely seen or heard. The Chief of Residence C Lifestyle will lead and train the team to move like shadows, creating an environment of quiet control, daily comfort, and anticipatory service.

 Key Responsibilities:

1.       PRIMARY ESTATE MANAGEMENT (JOHANNESBURG RESIDENCE)

• Lead all daily operations of the 12,000m principal residence

• Supervise 10+ staff including butler, chefs, housekeepers, grounds team, security, and contractors

• Implement and maintain boutique hotel standards across presentation, scent, lighting, sound, and readiness

• Ensure invisible, anticipatory service delivery through training, rhythm, and staff discipline

• Oversee infrastructure: HVAC, spa, pool, generators, landscaping, security systems, and vehicles

• Manage dining experience: menu planning, sourcing, plating, wine pairing, and event hosting

• Maintain household inventory, pantry, wine cellar, and consumables at luxury standards

 2. SECONDARY RESIDENCE OVERSIGHT

• Conduct regular inspections of two additional residences

• Manage on-site staff, maintenance schedules, and readiness protocols

• Prepare homes ahead of arrival: cleaning, restocking, technical checks, and aesthetic presentation

• Travel with or ahead of the principal when required

 3. EXECUTIVE PERSONAL SUPPORT

• Manage the principals personal and family calendars, schedules, and time-sensitive logistics

• Oversee    confidential    communication,     relationship     coordination,    and    high-level correspondence

• Plan and manage all local and international business trips and holidays, including flights, charters, visas, accommodations, wardrobe planning, and itinerary preparation

• Coordinate wardrobe, gifting, personal shopping, medical appointments, and specialist engagements

• Organise private events, family milestones, and lifestyle moments to a flawless standard

 4. HOUSEHOLD STAFF LEADERSHIP

• Recruit, train, and performance-manage all household staff across three residences

• Enforce service protocols, grooming standards, and elite conduct

• Conduct daily walk-throughs and operational briefings

• Train staff in service flow, fine dining, turndown, fragrance layering, and professional silence

• Foster a calm, loyal, and high-performing service culture

 5. VENDOR & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT

• Manage household budgets and monthly reporting

• Oversee all vendor relationships, contracts, and quality assurance

• Vet and coordinate contractors and service providers (security, landscaping, technical systems)

• Ensure luxury service outcomes while maintaining operational cost control

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum 10 years of senior management experience with full operational responsibility for a Five-star boutique hotel or Ultra-luxury five-star game lodge (where the average daily rate is R35,000 or more per person)

• Must have held the title of General Manager, Resident Manager, Lodge Manager, or equivalent, with total command over people, property, service delivery, and daily execution

• Experience in private households or principal-facing roles is preferred, but not essential if hospitality experience is world-class

• Must have personally overseen: Multidisciplinary teams (chefs, butlers, housekeepers, groundskeepers, maintenance contractors)

• Full property presentation, service SOPs, readiness protocols, and event hosting

• Systems and processes to maintain guest/principal-ready conditions at all times

• Ultra-luxury service delivery with silence, polish, and precision

• Candidates without full operational control in ultra-luxury hospitality environments, or whose experience is limited to support, departmental, or assistant roles, will not be considered

• Degree or diploma in Hospitality Management

• Business Administration (optional)

• A degree is preferred but not essential if supported by world-class luxury experience

• Additional training in butler service, silver service, wine pairing, event management, or estate/facilities operations is advantageous

• Valid South African drivers license and own vehicle

• Based in Johannesburg South Africa

• South African citizenship or permanent residency required

• Willingness to travel, work non-standard hours, and operate in high-trust, high-intensity environments

 Skills and competencies:

• Executive presence and calm authority

• Deep hospitality instinct and anticipatory mindset

• Highly structured, operationally mature, and hands-on

• Able to manage complexity across people, property, logistics, and priorities

• Strong team leadership and training capabilities

• Outstanding verbal and written communication

• Tech-literate, detail-driven, and emotionally intelligent

• Utmost discretion, loyalty, and protection of trust

 Location: 

• Based in Johannesburg (main residence)

• Routine travel to two additional residences within South Africa

• Occasional travel with or ahead of the principal as required

 Remuneration:

• Salary depending on experience and capability

• Performance-based incentives

• Fuel and domestic travel allowances

• Tools of trade provided as required

• This is a live-out position

NOTE THIS IS A LIVE-OUT POSITION AND DOES NOT OFFER ACCOMMODATION

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