Job Title: General Manager

Company: &Beyond

Location: Hluhluwe, South Africa

Job Type: Permanent

&Beyond is built, almost entirely, on the strength of remarkable people who give passionately to their roles, work tirelessly, and have the guest experience at the core of their focus daily and care of the sustainability of our communities and environment. Every single ‘&Beyonder’ makes a huge difference to our success and our contribution to the world, regardless of their role or function. For this reason we choose ‘&Beyonders’ very carefully – they are the strength and the future of this company.

KEY OUTPUTS:

• Overall responsibility for the effective management and operations of Phinda Forest Lodge, Phinda Vlei Lodge, Phinda Homestead and Phinda Bayete Camp (Phinda North Lodges).
• To ensure high levels of service excellence in accordance to &Beyond standards are not only maintained, but further developed and entrenched.  
• Drive community development projects in conjunction with the Wild Impact and provide requisite skills and support to ensure effective effort.
• Develop strategic relationships with local stakeholders including governmental organizations, wildlife organisations and communities, surrounding and involved with Phinda Private Game Reserve.
• Create and maintain a detailed skills development plan for all staff.
• Responsible for creating an environment where the &Beyond Golden Thread is continuously met and visible throughout the daily functioning of the lodges.
• Create an overall strategy and prepare annual business plans for all Phinda North Lodges for each financial year and then oversee implementation thereof within specified time frames and budgets.
• Overall Day to Day Management of the Phinda North Lodges and related infrastructure within the reserve.
• Overall Responsibility for budget creation and management, CAPEX structuring, planning and implementation.
• Ensure all group internal financial controls and systems are in place and strictly adhered to.
• Overall responsibility for all human resources in the lodge, ensuring all labour relations, leave and medical funds are managed correctly.
• Create annual and monthly training plans for all departments and structure external training and exchanges with other lodges/ regions where possible.
• Monitor all lodge operational stock orders and oversee procurement function between the BuyDesign team and the Phinda North Lodges.  
• Create individualised lodge strategies to enhance guest delight, staff development and welfare, health and safety and associated training programmes. Ensure plan is implemented and managed throughout the year.
• Work with Executive chef to ensure menu and food are aligned to lodge quality standards and requisite guest food scores and food budgets are being met and monitored.
• Work directly with the Lodge Managers, Assistant Managers, Head Ranger, camp managers and respective Departmental Managers to ensure &Beyond Lodge and service standards are maintained at all times and ensure costs and budgets are managed and not exceeded in order to meet regional goals.
• Daily meeting with the management team and Heads of Department to discuss the daily plan, including arrivals, departures, maintenance, food, special requests, bush banqueting.
• Over and above daily hosting of guests ensure you host all Agents, Media and VIP Groups.
• Oversee the maintenance and development of all Phinda North Lodge related infrastructure.
• Co-operation and collaboration with Phinda Game Reserve Conservation management teams.
• Co-operation and collaboration with Inkwazi Ranger Training Team.
• Ensure effective co-operation, collaboration and support with Phinda South Lodge teams.
• Manage collaboration efforts with Phinda Airwing, Ground-Handling and Adventures team. Oversee the management of the reserve within parameters of the game reserves operational manual.
• Ensure all health and safety compliance standards are met and/or exceeded and that all necessary functions in this regard are realised.
• Oversee safety and security of all guests, lodge staff and company assets.
• Oversee lodge conservation and sustainability efforts.
• Risk Assessment – ensure lodge is risk assessment compliant
• Safari shop – manage the safari shop manager in conjunction with the regional trainer and group safari shop management team
• Massage – Ensure that Massage business unit are well managed and that the business is operating optimally
• Lodge Marketing – management of the lodge social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, etc. Ensure regular stories to the andBeyond team are distributed and that the Phinda North lodges maintain a strong presence in internal and external communications (Bateleur Blog, etc.)

KNOWLEDGE REQUIRED (QUALIFICATIONS OR TRAINING PROGRAMS)

• 3 - 5 years minimum of &Beyond Management Experience in operation of similar size and complexity.
• Management degree and/or hospitality and service training.

SKILLS REQUIRED:

• Energetic, proactive person with well-developed concept of the importance of providing a world-class guest experience and the ability to provide that experience.
• Aware, evolved, energetic, compassionate, respectable, good communication.
• Demonstrate a strong leadership skillset and mentorship abilities. Ability to showcase strong emotional intelligence skills an advantage.
• Passionate about sustainable tourism and conservation.
• Unrelenting attention to detail and high standards.
• Diligence and ability to effectively close off projects and meet deadlines.
• Structured manager with experience of leading diverse teams.
• Practical with some experience of maintenance.
• Open minded and able to think outside of the box and to effectively problem solve.
• The ability to motivate and inspire yourself and others
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Highly Competent financial skills
• Fluent in English essential. Other European languages are beneficial as is Zulu.  
• Willingness/ability to share information and teach and inspire others.
• Competent computer skillset.

PREVIOUS WORK EXPERIENCE THAT WOULD BE BENIFICAL BUT NOT ESSENTIAL:

• Previous experience in running a luxury operation within a wildlife setting.
• Previous experience in managing a large Lodge management team.
• Previous experience in working closely with rural communities.
• Energetic, proactive person with well-developed concept of the importance of providing a world-class guest experience and ability to demonstrate this.
• Driven, energetic, compassionate and ambitious, with strong leadership and mentoring skills.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• The role will be based at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve
• GM accommodation provided
• Salary and benefits to be discussed
• Medical and travel allowance as per andBeyond policy

This is a permanent live-in position, based at &Beyond Phinda Private Game Reserve

We will consider single applications only.

We reserve the right not to make an appointment.

Posted: 09/04/2026