Hospitality Manager (gn)

Hatari Lodge and Shumata Camp are proud to celebrate 20 unforgettable years. Located in the heart of Arusha National Park, the Lodge boasts a rich history that includes the Maasai and Meru peoples, as well as notable individuals such as Margaret Trappe, Hardy Krüger, and the Mallorys, before its acquisition in 2003. The Momella region on Mt. Meru boasts over a century of tourism heritage, evolving from Margaret's hunting safaris to Krüger's charter tours, and is currently home to our boutique tourism service. This place is the birthplace of East Africa's safari tourism, especially famed after the filming of "Hatari," which starred John Wayne and Hardy Krüger. Margarete's life story is equally fascinating.

In the local dialect, "Hatari" translates to "danger," while its metaphorical meaning in Swahili represents resilience.

"Shumata Camp" means paradise in Maasai.

The Lodge features nine deluxe rooms and three villas, including suites and junior suites, while the Luxury Camp comprises seven tents. Both Hatari and Shumata provide an exhilarating experience, whether enjoyed independently or together. Our unique advantage is our breathtaking location, situated between the majestic Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru, far from the large crowds typically found in the Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti. We plan to further enhance this enchanting experience by adding three more camps within Arusha National Park shortly. Guests can effortlessly move between our accommodations, immersing themselves in an authentic and responsible safari adventure amidst the mountains, on foot or by vehicle.

Alongside our dedicated safari initiatives, we established Wondergarden Ltd, which prioritises a farm-to-table experience honouring the cultural heritage of mountain communities. We collaborate with approximately 1,500 individual farmers, processing around 100 rediscovered food products seasonally, which results in about 200 menu items at Hatari Lodge and Shumata Camp. This initiative allows us to source 90% of our ingredients locally, significantly decreasing our reliance on imports—an achievement we take great pride in.

Hatari Lodge, Shumata Camp, and Wondergarden welcome guests year-round, with our safari business peaking from mid-January until Easter and again from June to October.

Job description

We are looking for an experienced and dynamic Hospitality Manager to join our team at a unique business that combines responsible tourism certification, a 15-room hotel, an expanding 7-tent luxury camp, a farm-to-table restaurant, and in addition to all safari- and rainforest activities we offer community activities including botanical tours with breakfast at individual farm gardens, further developing Wondergarden's Soko Safi Deli & Bakery, a Culinary Centre, and an increasing focus on natural food processing.

The Hospitality Manager will assist the General Manager in daily operations and lead and coordinate key business components. This is an exciting opportunity for someone who thrives in a lively, fast-paced, and multifaceted environment, particularly one focused on food and beverage, natural food events, and hotel administration.

The ideal candidate is a self-driven individual with exceptional time management skills, capable of leading a team and efficiently responding to the diverse needs of our guests, members, and staff. Availability for nights and weekends is essential, making this role ideal for someone who excels under pressure and is passionate about delivering outstanding service in a luxury hospitality atmosphere while embracing heritage roots by looking back, cooking forward, and practising culinary conservation.

This role will cover three key functional areas:

Food and Beverage Director (60%)

1. Manage daily restaurant and bar operations, ensuring excellent service and high-quality food and beverage offerings.
2. Ensure adherence to health and safety regulations and operational standards.
3. Oversee inventory, ordering, and budget control for food and beverage activities.
4. Train, mentor, and supervise food and beverage staff on all heritage foods processed at the Wondergarden manufacturer and included in daily menus and drinks, fostering a positive team-oriented atmosphere.
5. Monitor guest feedback and address any issues related to food and beverage services.

Event Coordinator (10%)** for Wondergarden Ltd, Easter, Christmas & New Year

1. Plan and execute natural food events, festive seasons and private functions held at the venue.
2. Collaborate closely with the reservation and team to capture the company's vision, timeline, and specific event requirements.
3. Manage event setup, staffing, and execution, ensuring a seamless experience and guest satisfaction.
4. Handle logistics efficiently, from lounge setups to guest services, maintaining high-quality standards and attention to detail.
5. Assistance in support of marketing efforts to promote the event space for increased bookings and revenue.

Hotel Administration (30%)

1. Oversee hotel operations, including guest check-in/check-out, room assignments, and ensuring a superb guest experience.
2. Address guest inquiries, complaints, and special requests promptly and professionally.
3. Collaborate with housekeeping and maintenance to ensure that guest rooms and facilities meet the highest quality standards.
4. Monitor and improve guest satisfaction through feedback and surveys.

1. 3+ years of management experience in hospitality, ideally in a private club, hotel, or event venue.
2. Solid understanding of food and beverage operations, event management, and hotel administration.
3. Proven leadership skills and exceptional interpersonal abilities.
4. Ability to thrive under pressure and juggle multiple responsibilities simultaneously.
5. Detail-oriented with a commitment to delivering outstanding customer service.
6. Strong organisational and time management skills.
7. Willingness to work nights, weekends, and holidays.
8. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
9. Proficiency in local hotel management software, including ResRequest, POS systems, and Google.

1. This is a salaried position
2. US$ 2500,- (basic salary + Call-in-Allowance) before tax
3. Basic Housing on the property for a single person, including meals & laundry, is a company cost.
4. Probation (3 months)
5. Contract – OFF-DAYS
6. ANNUAL Leave,
7. Sick-Leave
8. Medical Aid
9. Pension Scheme
10. Incentives, Other Benefits, Travel costs (50% Expatriates), Work & Resident Permit & Costs (Probabtion on company account; 2 year contract based on reimbursement: 10% withhold of net salary/month - rewarded back after completion of 2 year contract ), Clothing, Confidentiality Clause…all to be discussed in the process of the application period.