Staff Solutions

Group Operations Manager - Staff Solutions

Gqeberha / Port Elizabeth 9 hour(s) ago Permanent
Salary - Market Related
Apply On Company Site
Our client in the Hospitality industry is seeking an operational and financial disciplined Group Operations Manager in Gqeberha/ Port Elizabeth 
 
Skills
Food & Beverage Hospitality Multi-property Operations  Management Property Management

Key responsibilities

1. 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.

2. 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.
  • Support property teams with escalated guest matters and ensure recovery is timely, professional and aligned with Company values.

3. Food & Beverage quality and standards

  • Develop and maintain exceptional Food & 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 & 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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 licences, 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.

9. 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.

Performance expectations

Success in the role will be assessed through a balanced set of operational, people, guest and financial measures, including:
  • Consistent completion and follow-through of property visits and operational action plans.
  • Improvement in service-audit results, guest satisfaction, review trends and complaint resolution.
  • Consistent Food & Beverage quality, hygiene compliance and commercial performance.
  • Improved cleanliness, maintenance completion and overall condition of the properties.
  • Delivery against budgets, forecasts, cost controls and agreed profitability targets.
  • Stronger leadership capability, employee engagement, retention and performance accountability.
  • Compliance with legal, licensing, health and safety, food safety and Company requirements.

Experience and qualifications

  • 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 driver’s licence and the ability and willingness to travel frequently between properties and work outside standard office hours when operations require it.
ATTRIBUTE
  • Visible operator
  • Guest-led
  • Commercial
  • Firm and fair leader
  • Analytical and decisive
  • Strong communicator
  • Resilient and adaptable

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