Thabazimbi: Head Guide posted by Craven Cottage CC

About the Role

The Head Guide position at Craven Cottage CC is a critical role that requires exceptional leadership, guiding, and conservation expertise. As the registered responsible person for the company firearms, you will assume full responsibility for obtaining and maintaining valid departmental licenses, ensuring efficient and safe weapon handling and proficiency of the entire department. You will also be responsible for overseeing the workshop function and vehicles maintenance.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee, train and monitor all Field Guide functions according to the standards, including guest introductory and safety orientations, guided game drives and interpretive bush walks, tracking, identification of spoor, delivering informative lectures on relevant ecological topics, and drinks stops and other bush events.
• Ensure efficient allocation for all game drives, back-up drives and stand-by duties.
• As the registered responsible person for the company firearms, assume full responsibility for obtaining and maintaining valid departmental licenses, and for ensuring efficient and safe weapon handling and proficiency of the entire department.
• Oversee the workshop function and vehicles maintenance.
• Chair and record departmental meetings, and attend other meetings as required.
• Assist in managing the lodge social media platforms, ensuring consistent delivery of relevant and appealing information with the broad aim of increasing knowledge of the wildlife and operating area.
• As one of the main incident coordinators, ensure effective incident management in the event of emergency or evacuation, including medical emergencies, fire, and flood.

Training, Development & Mentorship

• Mentor, train, develop, motivate, and guide the team (Trainee Field Guides) towards achieving and maintaining required/higher qualifications.
• Compile feedback and progress reports to the Field Guide College Head Trainer on the Field Guide College Placement Guides.
• Earmark and develop individuals who show potential to grow into positions within the greater Collection.
• Implement training and mentorship plans, facilitating the use of appointed internal and external trainers and identifying potential mentors within the department.
• Provide effective leadership through professional man-management and encouragement of all subordinates, including mediation.
• Take part and assist in organizing regular Head Guides forums and Mentorship Workshops.
• Drive and monitor the effective implementation and execution of Performance Management and Succession Planning processes.
• Carry out regular, meaningful performance appraisals conducted in such a manner that effective, open, two-way communication is maintained.

Conservation

• Work closely with the Reserve Conservation Team to support and promote conservation initiatives across the reserve.
• Participate in regular meetings, contributes insights from guiding operations, and stays actively engaged in all aspects that influence the guest experience—from conservation messaging and wildlife management to daily reserve activities.
• Through leadership, communication, and collaboration, the Head Guide ensures that conservation values are meaningfully integrated into guest interactions and guiding standards.

General Service & Guest Care

• Ensure all information available on guests is collected and communicated prior to arrival.
• Collect guest information while speaking to guests; inform Management to record and act on guest preferences.
• Ensure all guest complaints are reported to Management immediately.