Job Description

Job Summary
General Manager with 5 Star Luxury Boutique Management Exposure is required for a private luxury Estate.
Role Summary:
1: The successful candidate will serve as the primary operator of the client's residences, personal support infrastructure and private life, combining the command of a luxury hospitality general manager with the direct executive assistance required by a high-performance principal.
2: The successful candidate will manage three premium residences, with direct control of the principal Johannesburg estate (12,000m total, 3,500m under roof), which must operate to the standard of a five-star boutique hotel. The role includes oversight of all staff, household operations, service quality, property readiness, and the principal's local and international travel, calendar, and personal affairs.
3: This is a high-trust, high-accountability role, suited only to candidates with a proven track record in ultra-luxury environments where discretion, speed, and excellence are non-negotiable.
4: SERVICE PHILOSOPHY: PRESENCE WITHOUT INTRUSION: The principal residence must operate with the invisible precision of a world-class boutique hotel. Staff must be present, prepared, and proactive, but rarely seen or heard. The Chief of Residence C Lifestyle will lead and train the team to move like shadows, creating an environment of quiet control, daily comfort, and anticipatory service.
Key Responsibilities:
1. PRIMARY ESTATE MANAGEMENT (JOHANNESBURG RESIDENCE)
Lead all daily operations of the 12,000m principal residence
Supervise 10+ staff including butler, chefs, housekeepers, grounds team, security, and contractors
Implement and maintain boutique hotel standards across presentation, scent, lighting, sound, and readiness
Ensure invisible, anticipatory service delivery through training, rhythm, and staff discipline
Oversee infrastructure: HVAC, spa, pool, generators, landscaping, security systems, and vehicles
Manage dining experience: menu planning, sourcing, plating, wine pairing, and event hosting
Maintain household inventory, pantry, wine cellar, and consumables at luxury standards
2. SECONDARY RESIDENCE OVERSIGHT
Conduct regular inspections of two additional residences
Manage on-site staff, maintenance schedules, and readiness protocols
Prepare homes ahead of arrival: cleaning, restocking, technical checks, and aesthetic presentation
Travel with or ahead of the principal when required
3. EXECUTIVE PERSONAL SUPPORT
Manage the principal's personal and family calendars, schedules, and time-sensitive logistics
Oversee confidential communication, relationship coordination, and high-level correspondence
Plan and manage all local and international business trips and holidays, including flights, charters, visas, accommodations, wardrobe planning, and itinerary preparation
Coordinate wardrobe, gifting, personal shopping, medical appointments, and specialist engagements
Organise private events, family milestones, and lifestyle moments to a flawless standard
4. HOUSEHOLD STAFF LEADERSHIP
Recruit, train, and performance-manage all household staff across three residences
Enforce service protocols, grooming standards, and elite conduct
Conduct daily walk-throughs and operational briefings
Train staff in service flow, fine dining, turndown, fragrance layering, and professional silence
Foster a calm, loyal, and high-performing service culture
5. VENDOR & FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Manage household budgets and monthly reporting
Oversee all vendor relationships, contracts, and quality assurance
Vet and coordinate contractors and service providers (security, landscaping, technical systems)
Ensure luxury service outcomes while maintaining operational cost control
Minimum Requirements:
Minimum 10 years of senior management experience with full operational responsibility for a Five-star boutique hotel or Ultra-luxury five-star game lodge (where the average daily rate is R35,000 or more per person)
Must have held the title of General Manager, Resident Manager, Lodge Manager, or equivalent, with total command over people, property, service delivery, and daily execution
Experience in private households or principal-facing roles is preferred, but not essential if hospitality experience is world-class
Must have personally overseen: Multidisciplinary teams (chefs, butlers, housekeepers, groundskeepers, maintenance contractors)
Full property presentation, service SOPs, readiness protocols, and event hosting
Systems and processes to maintain guest/principal-ready conditions at all times
Ultra-luxury service delivery with silence, polish, and precision
Candidates without full operational control in ultra-luxury hospitality environments, or whose experience is limited to support, departmental, or assistant roles, will not be considered
Degree or diploma in Hospitality Management
Business Administration (optional)
A degree is preferred but not essential if supported by world-class luxury experience
Additional training in butler service, silver service, wine pairing, event management, or estate/facilities operations is advantageous
Valid South African driver's license and own vehicle
Based in Johannesburg South Africa
South African citizenship or permanent residency required
Willingness to travel, work non-standard hours, and operate in high-trust, high-intensity environments
Skills and competencies:
Executive presence and calm authority
Deep hospitality instinct and anticipatory mindset
Highly structured, operationally mature, and hands-on
Able to manage complexity across people, property, logistics, and priorities
Strong team leadership and training capabilities
Outstanding verbal and written communication
Tech-literate, detail-driven, and emotionally intelligent
Utmost discretion, loyalty, and protection of trust
Location:
Based in Johannesburg (main residence)
Routine travel to two additional residences within South Africa
Occasional travel with or ahead of the principal as required
Remuneration:
Salary depending on experience and capability
Performance-based incentives
Fuel and domestic travel allowances
Tools of trade provided as required
This is a live-out position
NOTE THIS IS A LIVE-OUT POSITION AND DOES NOT OFFER ACCOMMODATION
HotelJobs
Recruiter