Group Operations Manager

Our client a prominent brand in the Hospitality sector is seeking an experienced Group Operations Manager to join their team based in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth).

Awesome career opportunity.

Requirements:

• At least 5 years senior operations or general management experience in hospitality; multi-property or group-level exposure is strongly preferred.
• Proven hands-on responsibility for hotel lodge resort restaurant or comparable guest-facing operations.
• A relevant degree or diploma in Hospitality Management Business Administration or a related field is preferred; strong relevant experience may be considered.
• Demonstrated financial competence including budgeting forecasting profit-and-loss analysis and cost control.
• Strong working knowledge of Property Management Systems and operational reporting tools with proficiency in Microsoft Office.
• Sound knowledge of local labour legislation occupational health and safety food safety and hospitality-related licensing requirements.
• A valid drivers licence and the ability and willingness to travel frequently between properties and work outside standard office hours when operations require it.
• Support property teams with escalated guest matters and ensure recovery is timely professional and aligned with company values.

Responsibilities but not limited to:

Property Visits and Operational Presence

• Maintain a structured programme of regular property visits including planned reviews and appropriate unannounced checks.
• Be visible in guest and back-of-house areas and engage directly with managers supervisors and frontline employees.
• Observe live service delivery across relevant operating periods including breakfasts restaurant service check-ins functions and peak trading periods where applicable.
• Identify operational gaps agree practical corrective actions with property leadership assign ownership and deadlines and follow through to closure.
• Provide concise visit reports to company leadership highlighting standards risks actions responsible persons and due dates.

Service Standards and Guest Experience

• Set communicate and maintain consistent service standards across the Group while respecting the character and needs of each property.
• Assess the full guest journey including reservations arrival public areas rooms dining departure and post-stay communication.
• Review guest feedback online reviews complaints and service-recovery outcomes; identify recurring issues and ensure root causes are addressed.
• Interact appropriately with guests during site visits to gain direct insight into their experience and expectations.

Food and Beverage Quality and Standards

• Develop and maintain exceptional food and beverage standards across restaurants bars lounges banqueting and room service operations.
• Conduct practical quality checks covering food taste presentation temperature freshness portion consistency menu execution and speed of service.
• Monitor beverage standards bar controls stock handling waste gross profit and responsible liquor service.
• Work with chefs and food and beverage leaders to improve menu performance kitchen discipline service flow hygiene and profitability.
• Ensure food safety systems cleaning practices storage traceability and allergen controls are consistently applied.

Property Condition Cleanliness and Upkeep

• Inspect guest rooms public spaces grounds kitchens stores staff areas and back-of-house facilities for cleanliness presentation safety and general upkeep.
• Ensure preventative maintenance plans defect logs and capital priorities are current and actively managed.
• Follow up on repairs and recurring defects balancing guest impact operational risk cost and asset preservation.
• Maintain consistent presentation standards for signage lighting furniture equipment landscaping and staff facilities.

Operational Oversight

• Oversee daily operations across all properties and departments to improve consistency efficiency and accountability.
• Support General Managers with operating plans staffing models standard operating procedures and cross-property coordination.
• Review operating data and property reports identify exceptions and intervene early where performance or standards are slipping.
• Lead implementation of operational best practices and ensure improvements are embedded not treated as once-off initiatives.

Financial Performance

• Develop and manage operating budgets and forecasts in collaboration with Property and Company leadership.
• Review property profit-and-loss performance revenue payroll cost of sales utilities procurement stock waste and other controllable expenses.
• Drive commercially sound actions that improve profitability without compromising safety quality or the guest experience.
• Strengthen operational controls purchasing discipline stock management and accountability for variances.

People Leadership and Employee Engagement

• Lead mentor and evaluate General Managers and Senior Property Leaders; provide clear expectations feedback and support.
• Build constructive relationships with employees at all levels and create safe opportunities for them to raise concerns and improvement ideas.
• Assess staffing capability conduct morale training and succession needs during property visits.
• Promote a culture of hospitality ownership respect discipline and continuous improvement.
• Support fair and consistent performance management in line with company policy and labour legislation.

Compliance Risk and Governance

• Ensure compliance with food safety occupational health and safety labour liquor licensing and all other applicable business and operating requirements.
• Confirm that required licenses inspections registers training records and supporting documentation remain valid and audit-ready.
• Monitor incident reporting emergency readiness security cash handling and other operational risks; escalate material issues promptly.
• Coordinate corrective action arising from internal reviews external inspections or regulatory findings.

Strategy and Business Improvement

• Collaborate with Company Leadership to translate business objectives into practical property-level plans.
• Contribute operational insight to refurbishments new concepts openings acquisitions and growth initiatives where required.
• Identify opportunities for revenue growth better resource use shared services procurement benefits and improved systems.
• Lead selected Group-wide projects and report clearly on progress benefits risks and required decisions.

Please note: If you do not receive a response within 2 weeks of submitting your application please consider your application unsuccessful.

Required Experience:

Manager

Employment Type : Full-Time
Experience: years
Vacancy: 1