Senior Duty Manager.

Senior Duty Manager.

A five-star lodge in the Welgevonden Game Reserve, is seeking an experienced Senior Duty Manager to lead daily lodge operations while on duty and take operational responsibility in the Resident Manager’s absence.

The Lodge offers an intimate safari experience built around discreet, personalised service.

This is a hands-on senior operational position for a hospitality professional.

To lead teams across departments, host discerning guests and take ownership of service delivery, lodge presentation and guest concerns.

A strong luxury hospitality background is required combined with a sound operational judgment.

The confidence to make decisions independently while holding teams accountable for five-star standards.

Experience in a luxury safari lodge or tented camp environment is essential.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS & EXPERIENCE

The applicant must have the following:

• Proven leadership experience in a senior duty management, assistant lodge management or comparable operational role in luxury hospitality.
• Experience in a luxury safari lodge is required.
• Demonstrated ability to lead personalised guest service and manage sensitive complaints with discretion, authority and follow-through.
• Management of multiple departments, including housekeeping, maintenance and food and beverage.
• Strong administrative and reporting skills, including proficiency in Opera.
• Practical experience monitoring budgets, controlling costs and overseeing purchasing, stocktakes and stock variances.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to perform the physical duties of the role and work safely around wildlife.
• Willingness to work extended and flexible hours as operationally required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

The Senior Duty Manager will be responsible for, but not limited to:

GUEST EXPERIENCE

• Lead the guest experience from arrival to departure. Coordinate honeymoon and anniversary arrangements, private dining and special requests while protecting the privacy of each suite.
• Lead service recovery, resolve sensitive complaints within delegated authority and confirm that agreed actions are completed.

STAFF MANAGEMENT

• Set operational priorities, lead duty briefings and ensure clear handovers and accountability across departments.
• Coach team members, reinforce service standards and address performance or conduct issues promptly and professionally.

HOUSEKEEPING & LODGE STANDARDS

• Verify readiness across all eight suites, including private decks, plunge pools, salas and indoor and outdoor bathrooms. Confirm that public areas meet the same presentation standards.
• Prioritise maintenance issues by guest impact and safety, escalate urgent defects and verify that corrective work is complete.

FOOD & BEVERAGE

• Lead restaurant and private deck dining service. Coordinate meal timings around morning and evening game drives and confirm dietary requirements with the kitchen.
• Maintain oversight of beverage and food stock, service quality and wastage.

ADMINISTRATION & FINANCIAL CONTROLS

• Oversee stock ordering and stocktakes, investigate variances and enforce purchasing controls.
• Monitor departmental expenditure against budget, support payroll administration and submit weekly reports that highlight operational risks and actions requiring management attention.

OVERALL LODGE OPERATIONS

• Act as the senior operational point of contact in the Resident Manager’s absence. Make decisions within delegated authority and escalate significant incidents promptly.
• Coordinate guest movements and game-drive departures with the field guides. Maintain lodge safety and emergency procedures appropriate to a cliffside property within a wildlife reserve.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

The successful candidate must be:

• Sound judgment, discretion and the confidence to take ownership of decisions.
• Composure under pressure, strong attention to detail and the ability to prioritise independently.
• A visible, hands-on leadership style that sets high standards and builds accountability across teams.

PACKAGE ON OFFER

• Package and benefits to be confirmed.

APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS

All applicants must submit:

• Updated CV detailing senior hospitality roles, departments led and scope of operational responsibility.
• Valid driver’s licence, relevant qualifications where applicable, and contactable professional references.

Please Note – While all applications are valuable, we’ll reach out directly to candidates who best meet the client’s requirements.

Apply for this position.

All applications must include the following: