General Manager - Lodge and Conference Venue

Job Title: General Manager
Industry: Hospitality
Location: Naivasha
Reports to: Board
Direct reports: Heads of Department and senior operational team
Gross Salary: Competitive
Position Summary: Our client, a Lodge and conference/event venue, is seeking an experienced, commercially driven and guest-focused General Manager to lead the overall operations and strategic growth of the lodge.
The General Manager will be responsible for ensuring exceptional guest experiences, strong operational standards, financial performance, team engagement and sustainable business growth.
The role requires a hands-on hospitality leader with a strong understanding of lodge operations, sales and marketing, revenue management, people leadership and stakeholder engagement.
Key Responsibilities
1. Overall Leadership & Operations

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• Provide strategic and operational leadership across all areas of the lodge.
  
• Ensure smooth, efficient and consistent day-to-day operations.
  
• Maintain high standards across rooms, food and beverage, housekeeping, guest services, maintenance and other operational departments.
  
• Develop and implement operating procedures, service standards and performance controls.
  
• Ensure compliance with all applicable statutory, health, safety, environmental and hospitality requirements.
  
• Drive a culture of accountability, professionalism, teamwork and continuous improvement.
  

2. Guest Experience

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• Champion an exceptional and personalised guest experience.
  
• Monitor guest satisfaction, online reviews, feedback and complaints and ensure timely resolution.
  
• Develop initiatives that strengthen the lodge’s guest proposition and encourage repeat business and referrals.
  
• Ensure the property consistently reflects its brand positioning and service standards.
  

3. Commercial & Revenue Management

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• Develop and execute the lodge’s annual commercial and business plan.
  
• Drive occupancy, average daily rate, RevPAR, total revenue and profitability.
  
• Identify new revenue opportunities across accommodation, food and beverage, events, activities and other ancillary services.
  
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with tour operators, travel agents, corporates, destination management companies, online travel platforms and other key partners.
  
• Work closely with Sales and Marketing to strengthen the lodge’s market positioning and visibility.
  
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and pricing to ensure the lodge remains commercially competitive.
  
• Develop strategies to improve low- and shoulder-season performance.
  

4. Financial Management

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• Take full accountability for the lodge’s financial performance and profitability.
  
• Prepare and manage annual budgets, forecasts and operational plans.
  
• Monitor departmental revenue, costs, margins, payroll and cash flow.
  
• Implement effective cost-control measures without compromising guest experience or service quality.
  
• Review financial and operational reports regularly and take corrective action where required.
  
• Ensure appropriate controls over procurement, stock, inventory and expenditure.
  

5. People & Culture

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• Lead, coach and develop the lodge’s management team and wider workforce.
  
• Establish clear objectives, KPIs and performance expectations.
  
• Build a high-performing, service-oriented and accountable team.
  
• Identify training and development needs and ensure appropriate programmes are implemented.
  
• Promote employee engagement, retention and succession planning.
  
• Ensure fair, consistent and professional management of employee relations.
  
• Lead by example and foster a positive workplace culture.
  

6. Sales, Marketing & Business Development

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• Develop and implement an effective sales and marketing strategy in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.
  
• Strengthen the lodge’s presence within the domestic and international leisure, corporate, MICE and safari markets, as appropriate.
  
• Build strategic partnerships with tourism stakeholders and key distribution channels.
  
• Drive direct bookings and reduce over-reliance on third-party distribution channels where commercially appropriate.
  
• Support the development of promotional campaigns, packages, events and experiences that increase demand and revenue.
  

7. Property, Maintenance & Asset Management

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• Ensure the property, facilities, equipment and guest areas are maintained to a high standard.
  
• Establish preventative maintenance programmes and ensure timely resolution of maintenance issues.
  
• Work with relevant teams to protect the long-term value of the property and its assets.
  
• Identify opportunities for operational improvements, refurbishment and capital investment.
  

8. Health, Safety, Risk & Compliance

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• Ensure the lodge operates in compliance with all relevant legislation, licences, permits and industry standards.
  
• Maintain robust health, safety, security, food safety and emergency procedures.
  
• Ensure appropriate risk-management systems are in place.
  
• Promote responsible environmental and sustainability practices.
  
• Maintain strong relationships with local authorities, community stakeholders and relevant tourism bodies.
  

9. Stakeholder & Community Relations

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• Develop positive relationships with owners, investors, suppliers, local communities, government authorities and tourism stakeholders.
  
• Represent LEML professionally at industry events and in relevant external engagements.
  
• Support initiatives that strengthen the lodge’s relationship with the surrounding community.
  
• Identify opportunities for responsible local sourcing and community participation.
  

Qualifications & Experience

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• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Tourism or a related discipline.
  
• 8–12+ years of progressive hospitality management experience, with at least 3–5 years in a senior hotel/lodge management or General Manager role.
  
• Proven experience managing a full-service hotel, lodge, resort or comparable hospitality operation.
  
• Strong commercial and financial management experience, including budgeting, forecasting and P&L accountability.
  
• Demonstrated success in improving revenue, profitability and operational performance.
  
• Strong understanding of the East African hospitality and tourism market would be highly advantageous.
  
• Experience working with tour operators, travel trade, corporates and international guests.
  
• Strong knowledge of hospitality systems, revenue management and distribution channels.
  
• Experience leading and developing diverse teams.
  
• Strong commercial acumen
  
• Strategic and operational leadership
  
• Exceptional guest-service orientation
  
• Financial discipline
  
• Sales and business-development capability
  
• Strong people leadership and coaching skills
  
• Problem-solving and decision-making ability
  
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
  
• High levels of integrity and accountability
  
• Ability to work effectively in a remote/lodge environment
  
• Strong negotiation and stakeholder-management skills
  
• Adaptability and resilience
  
• Passion for hospitality, tourism and the destination
  

How to Apply
If you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualifications and experience, please send your CV, quoting only the job title in the email subject (General Manager -Hospitality), to jobs@corporatestaffing.co.ke before 11th September 2026
NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not receive any communication from us within two weeks of your application, kindly consider your application unsuccessful. We appreciate your interest and thank you for applying
Corporate Staffing Service never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the recruitment process