Pre-Opening General Manager (Hospitality) – Nairobi, Kenya at Summit Recruitment and Search

The organization is establishing a new hospitality facility with modern conference and accommodation infrastructure in Nairobi and requires a self-driven professional to lead the full pre-opening, setup, and operational launch process. The role is expected to transition into General Manager of the hotel upon successful opening, subject to performance. The position reports to the Director for Finance and Administration and requires a structured operator with strong hospitality project execution capability, operational discipline, and brand alignment experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all pre-opening activities to ensure timely operational readiness of the hotel.
• Ensure compliance with international hotel brand/franchise standards across all operational areas.
• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and structuring of all hotel departments including Front Office, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Restaurant, Stores, and Marketing.
• Develop and implement operational systems, standard operating procedures, and technology platforms required for hotel launch and ongoing operations.
• Support financial planning and setup including budgeting, cost control frameworks, pricing structures, and revenue planning.
• Oversee procurement, supplier onboarding, and stock management systems in line with policy and operational requirements.
• Coordinate sales, marketing, and business development activities to support launch readiness and early revenue performance.
• Manage overall launch readiness and post-opening operations, including staffing, training, compliance, service delivery, guest experience, and operational performance.

Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years’ experience in hotel operations.
• 2–3 years’ experience in hotel pre-opening or hotel setup/project roles.
• Experience with international hotel brands or franchise systems is an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of hotel operations including budgeting, staffing, marketing, and brand compliance.
• Ability to manage structured operational projects with multiple workstreams.

End Date: 15th July 2026