Restaurant General Managers jobs in Gauteng

GENERAL MANAGER

Oxbow Country Estate | Boschkop, Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa

Permanent | Full-Time | Live-In Position

An Exceptional Opportunity to Lead a Unique Country Estate

Are you an experienced hospitality professional with a passion for exceptional guest experiences, strong business acumen and a natural ability to inspire and lead people?

Oxbow Country Estate is looking for a dynamic, commercially minded General Manager to take the lead in managing and developing this beautiful country estate. Set in picturesque surroundings approximately 40 minutes from Pretoria, Oxbow Country Estate offers a unique combination of country house accommodation, beautiful wedding and function venues, conferencing facilities and fly-fishing experiences.

We are looking for someone who can bring together the many elements of this diverse hospitality business, drive profitability, develop a strong management team and ensure every guest enjoys an exceptional experience.

The Opportunity:

Reporting directly to the Owners, you will take overall responsibility for the operational success, financial performance and continued development of the estate.

This is an exciting opportunity for a confident, hands-on leader who understands the importance of balancing outstanding hospitality with sound commercial management.

You will lead an established departmental structure, empowering managers to take ownership of their areas while maintaining the highest standards across the estate.

Your Key Responsibilities:

• Leadership & Team Development: Lead, motivate and develop departmental managers, building a positive, accountable and service-driven team culture.
• Business & Financial Performance: Drive profitability through effective budgeting, financial oversight, cost control and operational efficiencies.
• Guest Experience: Champion exceptional hospitality, ensuring consistently high standards of service across accommodation, dining, weddings and events.
• Weddings, Functions & Events: Oversee the successful delivery and commercial performance of weddings, conferences and special occasions, working closely with the events team.
• Sales & Business Development: Identify opportunities to grow revenue, strengthen client relationships and enhance the estate's market presence.
• Property & Estate Management: Oversee the maintenance, presentation and ongoing development of the buildings, grounds and facilities.
• Operational Excellence: Ensure all departments operate efficiently, with clear procedures, effective communication and consistent service standards.
• Standards & Compliance: Maintain high standards of health, safety, legal compliance and professional conduct throughout the business.

What We're Looking For:

We are seeking a well-rounded hospitality professional who combines strong leadership skills with commercial awareness and a genuine passion for the industry.

The ideal candidate will have:

• A minimum of 5 years' progressive hospitality experience, including at least 3 years in a senior management role within a hotel, lodge, country estate or events venue.
• Proven experience managing business performance, budgets, costs and profitability, including profit-and-loss responsibility.
• A successful track record in managing weddings, functions, conferences or similar hospitality operations.
• Experience leading departmental managers, developing teams and driving performance.
• Strong organisational, communication and problem-solving skills.
• An understanding of property maintenance, facilities management and contractor coordination.
• Experience with hospitality management and financial systems, ideally Semper and Forward, or similar platforms.
• A minimum Grade 12/Matric qualification; a relevant hospitality or business qualification would be highly advantageous.
• A valid driver's licence and reliable personal transport.

More Than Just a Manager

The right person for this role will be a natural leader, confident decision-maker and welcoming host.

You will be equally comfortable discussing financial results with the Owners, supporting your management team, engaging with wedding clients or stepping in to resolve an unexpected operational challenge.

Above all, you will understand that successful hospitality is built on great people, attention to detail and memorable guest experiences.

What Makes This Opportunity Special?

Oxbow Country Estate offers the opportunity to take ownership of a diverse hospitality operation in a beautiful country setting.

You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful contribution to the estate's future, working directly with the Owners to strengthen its reputation, develop its people and build on its commercial potential.

This is a live-in position, with accommodation provided on the estate. The role requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, supported by a rotating Duty Manager structure. As the resident General Manager, you will also be responsible for responding to overnight emergencies when necessary.

Ready to Make Your Mark?

If you are a driven hospitality leader looking for an opportunity where your experience, ideas and leadership can make a genuine difference, we would love to hear from you.

Join Oxbow Country Estate and help shape the next chapter of its success.

To apply, please submit your CV together with a brief covering letter outlining your relevant experience and suitability for the position to alison@oxbowestate.co.za.

Commencement: As soon as possible

Pay: R38 000,00 - R45 000,00 per month

Work Location: In person