About the job

About Us

Zanziblue Waves is a new upscale resort in the picturesque island of Zanzibar, scheduled to open in June – Sep 2024. The resort has been designed to deliver an authentic, sustainable, hospitality experience, in perfect harmony with the beautiful nature all around. It consists of 40 individual villas, where we can accommodate up to 100 guests. Two restaurants, a Spa, a large fitness facility, an expansive pool and lush gardens complete the resort.

The owners have international corporate backgrounds and created (among other ventures) a first Zanziblue resort (www.zanziblue.com) which is rated 9.5 across more than 500 reviews on Booking.com.

We are seeking a dynamic and hands on General Manager to lead the new resort during the critical (pre)opening period.

Key Responsibilities

1. Operations:

• Provide leadership in building the team, processes and systems to ensure the smooth start of operations and ramp up of the resort.
• Oversee smooth operations in all business areas of the resort including Rooms, F&B, Spa, Activities and excursions, Taxi transfers, Shop, Security, Facilities & Infrastructure (desalination, generators), Reporting, etc.

2. Guest Experience

• Foster a guest-centric culture to ensure exceptional service and guest satisfaction.
• Strive to create and deliver unique experiences, tailored to our clientele.
• Monitor and respond to guest feedback, implementing improvements to enhance the overall guest experience.

3. Team Development

• Invest in team development through development of systematic recruiting practices, on-going training and development of competitive rewards and recognition programmes.
• Promote a positive and inclusive work environment that encourages professionalism and professional growth.

4. Financial Management

• Develop and manage the resort business plan, ensuring financial sustainability and profitability.
• Implement internal control measures and optimize spending, while maintaining high-quality service standards.

5. Community Engagement

• Build positive relationships with the local community and stakeholders.
• Participate in community events and initiatives, contributing to the resort's positive impact on the local area.

6. Sustainable Practices

• Spearhead and implement smart eco-friendly and sustainable practices in line with our commitment to environmental responsibility.
• Explore and implement innovative initiatives for energy conservation, waste reduction, and responsible sourcing.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as a General Manager of a full service resort. Opening experience is a plus.
• Excellent organizational skills, ability to create organizational capacity, driving high standards through personal example, attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver financial performance.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Familiarity with Zanzibar, or other similar “frontier” markets.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management from a recognized school, Business Administration, or a related field. Higher degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in hotel management.
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French, or German would be a plus.