General Manager

Southern Sun Ridgeway

Southern Sun Ridgeway welcomes job applications from passionate and hard-working team players who want to be part of our ever growing Southern Sun family. We value our employees and provide them with the means to grow within the company, opening many doors in the process. If this is an offer that excites you, send in your application and you could be the newest addition to our family.

This is a senior leadership position requiring a hands-on leader who can balance commercial performance, operational excellence, employee engagement and guest satisfaction.

Our successful General Managers …

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership for the hotel and ensure that all departments operate efficiently and in accordance with approved standards.
• Develop and implement the hotel’s annual business plan, operating strategy and departmental objectives.
• Translate the strategic objectives into measurable operational and financial targets.
• Provide visible leadership across the property and maintain a strong presence in guest and operational areas.
• Lead the Heads of Department and ensure effective coordination between Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Kitchen, Finance, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Engineering/Maintenance, Security and other support functions.
• Regularly review hotel performance and initiate corrective measures where targets are not being achieved.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation and sustainable growth.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of annual budgets, forecasts and business plans.
• Drive revenue growth while maintaining effective cost controls and improving profitability.
• Monitor key financial indicators, including revenue, Gross Operating Profit (GOP), EBITDA, departmental profitability, payroll costs and cash flow.
• Review monthly management accounts and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken against material budget variances.
• Ensure effective management of operating expenses, procurement, inventory and working capital.

QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

• A Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification, MBA or professional management qualification will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 8–10 years’ progressive management experience in the hospitality industry, with substantial experience at senior management level.
• At least 3–5 years’ experience as a Hotel General Manager, Deputy General Manager, Hotel Manager, Operations Manager.
• Demonstrable experience within a 4-star or 5-star hotel environment.
• Strong experience in hotel operations, financial management, revenue management, sales and business development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, analyse hotel financial statements and improve profitability.
• Sound knowledge of hotel systems, Property Management Systems (PMS), revenue management systems and other relevant hospitality technologies.
• Strong understanding of the Zambian hospitality market would be an advantage.

REQUIRED COMPETENCIES

The successful candidate must demonstrate:

• Attention to detail and commitment to quality;
• Ability to manage change and drive continuous improvement; and
• A strong understanding of contemporary hospitality trends and guest expectations.

• Provide overall strategic and operational leadership for the hotel and ensure that all departments operate efficiently and in accordance with approved standards.
• Develop and implement the hotel’s annual business plan, operating strategy and departmental objectives.
• Translate the strategic objectives into measurable operational and financial targets.
• Provide visible leadership across the property and maintain a strong presence in guest and operational areas.
• Lead the Heads of Department and ensure effective coordination between Front Office, Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Kitchen, Finance, Sales & Marketing, Human Resources, Engineering/Maintenance, Security and other support functions.
• Regularly review hotel performance and initiate corrective measures where targets are not being achieved.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation and sustainable growth.
• Lead the preparation and implementation of annual budgets, forecasts and business plans.
• Drive revenue growth while maintaining effective cost controls and improving profitability.
• Monitor key financial indicators, including revenue, Gross Operating Profit (GOP), EBITDA, departmental profitability, payroll costs and cash flow.
• Review monthly management accounts and ensure appropriate corrective action is taken against material budget variances.
• Ensure effective management of operating expenses, procurement, inventory and working capital.

• Attention to detail and commitment to quality
• Ability to manage change and drive continuous improvement
• Strong understanding of contemporary hospitality trends and guest expectations

• A Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, or a related discipline from a recognised institution.
• A relevant postgraduate qualification, MBA or professional management qualification will be an added advantage.
• A minimum of 8–10 years’ progressive management experience in the hospitality industry, with substantial experience at senior management level.
• At least 3–5 years’ experience as a Hotel General Manager, Deputy General Manager, Hotel Manager, Operations Manager.
• Demonstrable experience within a 4-star or 5-star hotel environment.
• Strong experience in hotel operations, financial management, revenue management, sales and business development.
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets, analyse hotel financial statements and improve profitability.
• Sound knowledge of hotel systems, Property Management Systems (PMS), revenue management systems and other relevant hospitality technologies.
• Strong understanding of the Zambian hospitality market would be an advantage.