Resort Manager

Job Summary

The Resort Manager will direct all on-site operational departments, manage property budgets, and maintain strategic relationships with logistical providers and government bodies. Key responsibilities include creating curated nature-based guest experiences, managing security and asset health, running staff evaluation and training systems, implementing green sustainability initiatives, and ensuring strict alignment with the corporate Management Agreement.

Qualification

• Educational Profile: Minimum of a Hotel Management Diploma or equivalent certification; a Bachelor's degree in a hospitality or business discipline is highly preferred.
• Technical Software Literacy: Advanced proficiency utilizing standard corporate software applications, property management systems (PMS), and specialized hotel operating frameworks.
• Core Competency Matrix: Financial management skills, strong strategic planning, labor productivity optimization, retail merchandising awareness, and risk-mitigation capabilities.
• Professional Attributes: Creative execution, flexible problem-solving, collaborative leadership style, and strong verbal and written communication skills.

Experience

Candidates must demonstrate a history of operational leadership and financial management within upscale or boutique luxury environments:

Luxury Resort Operations & Commercial Governance

• Professional Longevity: A minimum of 5 years of experience in senior hospitality operations, or at least 3 years operating directly in an equivalent Resort Manager or Assistant General Manager position.
• Departmental Familiarity: Practical, high-level experience navigating Rooms Division operations, luxury Food & Beverage concepts, and premium resort sales/marketing tracks.
• Financial Lifecycle Management: Direct experience developing operating budgets, evaluating profit and loss (P&L) statements, running forecasting models, and designing long-range Capex frameworks.
• Revenue & Supply Integrity: Proven familiarity with revenue management systems, luxury retail merchandising, procurement guidelines, inventory asset controls, and supplier negotiations.

Stakeholder Relations, Compliance, & Sustainability

• Government & Private Diplomacy: Documented background establishing and maintaining relationships with local government entities, immigration authorities, transit hubs, and private tourism operators to ensure guest logistics.
• Owner Relations: Experience working alongside resort property owners, understanding corporate Management Agreements, and delivering the targeted management fees expected by international parent groups (e.g., Kerzner International).
• Community & CSR Architecture: Experience designing and executing Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and green sustainability programs with local communities, ensuring high PR and marketing visibility.
• EHS & Audit Compliance: Comprehensive knowledge of health, safety, fire, sanitation, and internal audit procedures, translating compliance requirements into actionable field-level timelines.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Operations & Guest Experience Engineering

• Design Nature Experiences: Develop and implement nature-based resort guest experiences that leverage the unique local environment, wildlife ecosystem, and cultural assets of Rwanda.
• Govern On-Site Assets: Ensure all physical structures, grounds, and interior spaces are maintained according to One&Only standards to preserve long-term real estate value.
• Optimize Daily Logistics: Establish relationships with external agencies, airport authorities, and transport providers to guarantee frictionless arrivals, departures, and tour excursions.
• Drive Brand Quality Audits: Lead ongoing competitor market analyses to adjust internal resort strategies, ensuring the property maintains its top-tier international luxury rating.

Financial Management & Owner Compliance

• Manage Annual Budgets: Compile and submit the annual operational budget, tracking daily performance metrics to achieve targeted financial benchmarks and optimize cost efficiencies.
• Deliver Capex Strategy: Produce and update a five-year Capital Expenditure plan that aligns with global corporate directives and internal audit expectations.
• Uphold Legal & Tax Standards: Guarantee compliance with all regional tax requirements, operating licenses, safety certificates, and local employment laws.
• Support Ownership Agreements: Manage day-to-day operations in accordance with the corporate Management Agreement, nurturing a transparent business relationship with property owners.

Team Leadership, CSR, & Risk Mitigation

• Enforce Staff KPI Metrics: Assign specific, measurable Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to all team members, running structured mid-year evaluations and coaching sessions.
• Direct Training Ecosystems: Oversee the creation and execution of quarterly technical service and leadership training plans to build long-term staff capacity.
• Lead Sustainability & CSR Tasks: Launch at least two high-impact CSR initiatives per year involving local communities, while creating ecological touchpoints centered on green practices.
• Manage Resort Security: Coordinate security protocols across the property to protect the safety of all international guests, colleagues, and physical assets.

Skills Required:

• Hotel / Tourism