Head of Operations: Estates & Hospitality (Olives)

Head of Operations: Estates & Hospitality

Location: Paarl, Western Cape (with regular travel to portfolio properties listed below)

Employment Type: Full-Time

Salary offered: R50 000 -R65 000 per month dependent on experience.

About the Role

Our client is seeking an experienced and hands-on Head of Operations: Estates & Hospitality to oversee a diverse portfolio of hospitality, estate, and property assets across the Western Cape and Namaqualand.

This is a senior operational leadership role responsible for ensuring the smooth and effective management of multiple properties, infrastructure assets, and hospitality operations. The successful candidate will serve as the key operational link between ownership and local management teams, providing strategic oversight while maintaining a practical, solutions-focused approach to day-to-day operations.

The portfolio includes hospitality establishments, estate properties, accommodation facilities, infrastructure assets, and various commercial and residential properties. This role is ideal for a well-rounded operational leader who enjoys working across multiple environments and can balance people management, financial oversight, property stewardship, and infrastructure management.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Leadership

• Oversee the effective operation of multiple hospitality, estate, and property assets
• Ensure consistent service standards and operational excellence across the portfolio
• Monitor performance and identify opportunities for improvement
• Support long-term sustainability and operational stability of all assets

Team Management & Leadership

• Lead, support, and mentor managers across multiple locations
• Coordinate communication and collaboration between properties
• Monitor operational performance and provide guidance where required
• Assist managers in resolving operational challenges and implementing solutions
• Foster a culture of accountability, professionalism, and service excellence

Infrastructure & Maintenance Management

• Oversee maintenance and upkeep of estate infrastructure and facilities
• Manage maintenance programmes and preventative maintenance schedules
• Coordinate external contractors and service providers
• Ensure effective management of:
• Buildings and facilities
• Estate grounds and landscaping
• Water systems and related infrastructure
• Security and fencing
• Roads and access infrastructure
• Utility services and solar installations
• General property maintenance

Financial Management

• Prepare and manage operational budgets
• Monitor expenditure and implement cost-control measures
• Prioritise maintenance and capital projects within budget constraints
• Work closely with the finance team to ensure sound financial management

Reporting & Strategic Input

• Provide regular operational reports to ownership
• Identify operational risks and opportunities
• Recommend improvements, maintenance projects, and strategic initiatives
• Drive operational efficiencies across the portfolio

Requirements

Minimum Requirements

• Proven experience in a senior operational management role
• Experience within estate management, property management, hospitality, lodge operations, or related environments
• Strong understanding of infrastructure, facilities, and maintenance management
• Experience managing multiple sites or distributed operations
• Demonstrated budgeting and cost-control experience
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel between portfolio properties

Preferred Experience

• Estate or property management
• Hospitality or lodge operations
• Farm or agricultural estate management
• Facilities and infrastructure oversight
• Multi-site operational leadership

Key Skills

• Strong organisational and planning abilities
• Budgeting and financial management skills
• Practical problem-solving capabilities
• Project and maintenance management experience
• Excellent leadership and people management skills
• Strong communication and stakeholder management abilities
• Ability to prioritise and manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously
• High level of accountability and ownership

Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate is:

• A proactive and dependable leader
• Comfortable making decisions and taking ownership
• Practical and solutions-driven
• Calm under pressure and able to navigate operational challenges
• Professional, ethical, and trustworthy
• Passionate about maintaining and improving valuable assets
• Equally comfortable working with people, operations, and infrastructure
• Someone with a genuine heart for people and a strong commercial mindset

Benefits

What Our Client Offers

• A unique opportunity to oversee a diverse and prestigious property portfolio
• Significant autonomy and responsibility
• Exposure to hospitality, estate, and property operations at a senior level
• The opportunity to make a lasting impact across multiple assets and communities