General Manager at Kobo Safaris

Job summary:

Reporting to the Executive Chairman, the General Manager is responsible for managing overall Company operations and the administration.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Responsible for the realization of performance objectives assigned by the Executive Chairman. This will include objectives around sales performance, operational efficiencies and service standards.
• Provide leadership and support to the Heads of Department which includes Sales, Reservations, Ground Operations, HR & Administration, Product, Marketing, and Finance. This includes motivating employees as required.
• Setting SMART objectives for each of the Heads of Department which complement and support one’s own and overall Company objectives.
• Managing effective reporting systems from each department so as to monitor performance of individuals and team.
• Proactively take decisions and solve possible problems related to customers. This includes setting up meetings, investigating particular circumstances of events and involving various stakeholders.
• Evaluate and report any possible incidents and relevant information in the operation to the Chairman.
• Involvement in the recruitment and selection of human resources. Ensuring that the final selection of candidates is in the best interest of the Company.
• Collaborate with the Chairman in the preparation of the annual proposal for the reservations bed bank.
• Maintain frequent contact with suppliers for the sourcing of product for the bed bank and reservations for the rest of the services. Specifically initiate and be involved in hotel price contracting and confirmation of required future allocation. By maintaining a good relationship with suppliers, we are able to improve our bargaining power and influence in the market.
• Carry out research on new product and industry trends and make recommendations on their applicability to the Company. Also regularly review the existing product offering and make suggestions on these. Implement these recommendations as required.
• Carry out research and enter into new source markets with approval from the Executive Chairman so as to improve the diversity spread of the travel load from source markets across the calendar year.
• Liaise with the Chairman on the formulation of the annual budget.
• Serve as the intermediary between the team and overseas agents and/or suppliers, particularly in dispute resolution.
• Participation in marketing trips and representation of the Company in trade fairs, as directed by the Chairman.

Minimum skills and competencies required for this position are as follows:

• Must have a minimum of a Bachelor degree in a relevant field
• Minimum of 10 year’s relevant work experience as a General Manager preferably in the tourism Industry.
• Excellent professional and character references
• Initiative and capacity to work well with minimum supervision
• Strategic Thinking
• Experience working in a multi-lingual environment
• Key understanding of business drivers in order to effectively input into the country budgeting process
• Commitment, integrity and determination to ensure that all efforts undertaken in the best interest of the Company
• Specific experience in hotel price contracting and gaining and managing future space allocations
• Adaptability and behavioural flexibility
• Strong commercial and business acumen
• Leadership and motivation capability
• Strong interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills
• Conflict resolution skills
• Excellent analytical, organizational and problem solving skills
• Enthusiasm, energy and ability to deliver
• Ability to assimilate corporate mission, values and objectives and to permeate these in daily activities.
• Ability to command respect and influence amongst peers in the industry and from staff.
• Executive level presentation skills