South Africa: Head Guide – Kruger National Park posted by HotelJobs

A luxury lodge situated in the Kruger National Park is seeking an experienced Head Guide. The Head Guide plays a pivotal role in the success of the lodge operation ; they engage extensively with guests throughout a significant part of each day. The safari experience is often the primary motivation for guests visiting Africa. Consequently, the guides professionalism and ability to convey knowledge in a safe yet immersive manner significantly shape the overall guest experience. Duties: Responsible for overseeing a team of field guides, ensuring the highest quality wildlife viewing experience for guests, maintaining safety standards, and often playing a key role in staff training, conservation efforts, and guest relations within the lodge or reserve; essentially leading the guiding operations and acting as the primary expert on the local ecosystem and wildlife. Meticulous in all aspects of Managing the guiding department Manage; Oversee and Discipline staff in the guiding department Staff training and development Assist the Marketing team in managing social media content and submitting the monthly newsletters Perform all administrative duties pertaining to the guiding department Allocation of Guides to daily game drives Staff scheduling and rosters Manage daily game drives and bush walks Follow up on CarTrack and monitor Guide Movements Assist around the lodge in other departments if needed Light concession work Operational Stock control Compile weekly and monthly reports Have thorough technical knowledge and understanding of vehicles, operations and equipment Perform Duty Manager shifts when necessary Hosting guests and ensuring the service shift runs smoothly Requirements: Grade 12 FGASA NQF 4 qualification or higher Full Lead Trails and at least 3 years experience with guiding on foot (VPSA, ARH) A minimum of 7 years of work experience on a Big 5 Game Reserve, with a minimum of 5 years working in a Luxury Lodge environment A level 2 FGASA qualification or higher with theory and practical completed Registered with DEAT and THETA in terms of improving his/her qualifications Firearm competency Track & Trails guide certificate Valid first aid certificate SASSETA Certificates A valid South African Drivers license and PDP Experience Self-disciplined; punctual and respectful. Mature and responsible. Strong communication and interpersonal skills for international guests with diverse cultures. Must have an outgoing hosting personality. Strong communication and interpersonal skills for staff, being respectful of their culture. A basic knowledge an African language is recommended. Must be familiar with basic vehicle maintenance in order to communicate with the maintenance team to troubleshoot problems. Must be familiar with how to drive in a variety of on- and off-road conditions. Must be familiar with radio etiquette and able to ensure that radio conversations are kept short and direct, with no unnecessary chatter. Good initiative to cope with difficult situations in a remote environment. A valid first aid training certificate to handle trauma care, with Wilderness certification. Well-spoken; well-groomed and presentable. Strong leadership skills be an effective manager of the Guiding Team. High standards of service excellence and a passion for the hospitality industry, environmental management and wildlife preservation.