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Group Operations Manager
Job Location:
Job Location:
Port Elizabeth - South Africa
Monthly Salary:
Not provided by the employer
Monthly Salary:
Posted:
16 August 2026 (19 days ago)
Posted:
Application Deadline:
13 November 2026
Application Deadline:
Vacancies:
1 Vacancy
Vacancies:
Job Summary
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.
Awesome career opportunity.
Requirements:
Property Visits and Operational Presence
- 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.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Required Experience:
Manager
About Company
Headhunters is the Eastern Cape’s premier, boutique style recruitment agency. Whether you’re an employer, looking for that perfect person for your team, or that person, looking for the perfect job to ignite your passion. South Africa and beyond
