My client is building a design-led hospitality portfolio in Cape Town, starting with a property in Camps Bay, as featured in Architectural Digest, House & Leisure, and Scape.

We are hiring a General Manager to lead operations and guest experience and, over time, help establish and maintain the same operational and hospitality standards across additional villas in the portfolio.

This is a hands-on operational leadership role suited to someone who takes pride in exceptional presentation, guest experience, and running a property to the highest standards.

• You must live in Cape Town and be able to reach Camps Bay within approximately 15–20 minutes.
  
• The role requires regular presence at the property during guest stays and the ability to respond quickly if operational issues arise.
  

Guest Experience

• Manage hosted check-ins (approximately 5 - 10 per month)
  
• Conduct art and architecture walkthroughs for guests.
  
• Provide in-stay support and ensure professional service recovery when required.
  
• Maintain a calm, discreet and professional guest presence.
  

• Ensure the villa is maintained at luxury hospitality presentation standards.
  
• Coordinate turnovers and readiness for arriving guests.
  
• Maintain the home in a show-ready condition at all times.
  

People and Partners

• Coordinate and manage the on-site housekeeper.
  
• Manage relationships with garden, pool, and other specialist service providers.
  
•  Ensure work is completed on time and at the expected quality level.
  

Maintenance and Suppliers

• Manage maintenance issues end-to-end
  
• Sourcing and comparing quotes
  
• Scheduling work
  
• Supervising contractors
  
• Ensuring quality completion
  
• Negotiate effectively with suppliers while protecting the property and maintaining standards.
  

Commercial Operations

• Manage enquiries and maintain booking calendar hygiene.
  
• Coordinate listing platforms such as Airbnb and Perfect Hideaways.
  
• Manage direct bookings, guest extensions and scheduling.
  

Administrative and Operational Oversight

• Maintain organised records of supplier invoices and payments.
  
• Track operational costs related to the property.
  
• Maintain petrol expense records for property-related travel.
  

Growth Scope

• Develop repeatable operational SOPs.
  
• Maintain consistent design-led hospitality standards across properties.
  
• Expand and manage the supplier network.
  
• Support the hiring or coordination of additional housekeepers or operational staff.
  
• Ensure a consistent guest experience across the portfolio.
  

• This is a senior hospitality operations role and the property operates seven days per week during guest stays.
  
• Typical operational hours will generally fall between:
  
• 08:00 – 18:00, depending on arrivals, departures, guest requirements and operational priorities.
  

• 18:00 – 20:00: respond to guest queries where reasonably required
  
• ·20:00 – 08:00: emergencies only (security issues, medical incidents, lock-outs, major utilities failure, or property risk)
  

This role is above the BCEA earnings threshold, and working hours will therefore be managed based on operational requirements and delivery of responsibilities.

Requirements

• Proven experience in high-end hospitality, boutique hotels, villa operations, guest relations, or premium short-term rental
  
• Business degree preferred, or equivalent operational experience
  
• Exceptional attention to detail and pride in maintaining luxury hospitality standards
  
• Strong organisational skills with excellent follow-through and reliability.
  
• Calm under pressure and comfortable managing high-expectation guests.
  
• Confident managing suppliers, contractors and property maintenance.
  
• Comfortable using structured tools including Microsoft Office, messaging platforms and calendars
  
• Own vehicle required for property-related tasks
  
• Fluent English required.
  

Benefits

• Petrol reimbursed for property-related travel at AA rates
  
• Opportunity to grow into portfolio-level operational leadership as additional villas are added