Regional Operations Executive – East Africa job at Lemala Camps and Lodges

Background

Lemala Camps & Lodges is seeking an experienced Regional Operations Executive to support the Head of Operations in overseeing operations across East Africa. The role works closely with Country and Lodge Managers to ensure operational efficiency, exceptional guest experiences, strong financial performance, and consistent company standards.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Operations in managing regional operations and resolving operational challenges.
• Monitor property performance, KPls, budgets, costs, and profitability.
• Conduct regular property visits and follow up on operational action plans.
• Monitor guest feedback and support the resolution of major guest concerns.
• Identify opportunities to improve service, efficiency, profitability, and operating standards.
• Support new lodge openings, refurbishments, acquisitions, and regional projects.
• Assist with implementing new systems, procedures, and operational improvements.
• Support recruitment, training, talent development, succession planning, and leadership coaching.
• Build strong relationships with government authorities, suppliers, tourism partners, and local communities.
• Prepare operational reports and coordinate regional operations meetings.
• Represent and act on behalf of the Head of Operations when required.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Tourism, Finance, or a related field; postgraduate qualification is an advantage.
• Minimum 8 years’ hospitality operations experience, including managing multiple properties or business units.
• Strong leadership, communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills.
• Excellent understanding of hospitality operations, finance, procurement, guest experience, maintenance, and people management.
• Proven ability to improve systems, processes, efficiency, and productivity.
• Strong decision-making, problem-solving, and influencing skills.
• High integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment and travel extensively across East Africa.

• Support the Head of Operations in managing regional operations and resolving operational challenges.
• Monitor property performance, KPls, budgets, costs, and profitability.
• Conduct regular property visits and follow up on operational action plans.
• Monitor guest feedback and support the resolution of major guest concerns.
• Identify opportunities to improve service, efficiency, profitability, and operating standards.
• Support new lodge openings, refurbishments, acquisitions, and regional projects.
• Assist with implementing new systems, procedures, and operational improvements.
• Support recruitment, training, talent development, succession planning, and leadership coaching.
• Build strong relationships with government authorities, suppliers, tourism partners, and local communities.
• Prepare operational reports and coordinate regional operations meetings.
• Represent and act on behalf of the Head of Operations when required.

• Strong leadership skills
• Strong communication skills
• Strong organisational skills
• Strong stakeholder management skills
• Excellent understanding of hospitality operations
• Excellent understanding of finance
• Excellent understanding of procurement
• Excellent understanding of guest experience
• Excellent understanding of maintenance
• Excellent understanding of people management
• Proven ability to improve systems
• Proven ability to improve processes
• Proven ability to improve efficiency
• Proven ability to improve productivity
• Strong decision-making skills
• Strong problem-solving skills
• Strong influencing skills

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Tourism, Finance, or a related field
• Postgraduate qualification is an advantage