General Manager - Operations & Openings 
(18293)

At Kerzner, we never settle. Through continued innovation, our team of pioneers push until the next level is achieved, and then to keep going. Our philosophy is simple - we go above and beyond to Blow Away our Guest and Colleagues. Good enough never is. For us, it is all about perfection and innovation. This is not simply our job, it’s our passion. 
 

Our Colleagues are at the heart of who we are and what we do. With an international team of over 10,000 Colleagues and strong strategic growth on the horizon, we offer unrivalled career opportunities around the world. We are committed to provide our Colleagues at all levels with opportunities to grow and develop within the organisation through personalised development plans and tailored succession planning. We invest in our communities to sustain the environment where we operate and minimising our own footprint. Whether it is through animal conservation, education or tree-planting, we like to give back in as many ways as we can to help our communities flourish.
 

Job Summary

The General Manager Operations & Openings serves as the strategic business leader for Kerzner International brands in the areas of Development, Pre-Openings, Renovations and Planning Operations across the entire portfolio including Atlantis, One&Only, SIRO, and Rare Finds properties worldwide. This position reports to the Brand Presidents developing, implementing, and evaluating Development and Pre-Opening, Renovations & Planning activities while working with interconnected departments to develop and implement departmental strategies.

The role ensures implementation of brand service strategy and brand initiatives throughout the period leading up to the opening of hotels while ensuring operations meet each brand's specific standards and target customer needs. The position establishes and maintains consistency of brand-specific standards throughout the group, manages and combines best practices for implementation, and creates a culture of innovation throughout the respective brands while focusing on revenue generation and improvement strategies across all properties in the global portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

• Work with Development teams for producing pro forma components including F&B projections and review of feasibility assumptions for all brand projects
• Collaborate with Technical Services to plan hotel facilities criteria, rooms mix, F&B outlets, staff accommodation and back of house programming planning
• Lead creation of pre-opening budgets and staffing guidelines with regional teams while presenting and securing owner approval
• Work with Branded Residence teams to integrate operational models within hotel and resort developments across all brands
• Review business-related data including market share, financial performance, inventory, and guest satisfaction to proactively address changing market conditions
• Develop operational strategy in consultation with Global teams that aligns with each brand's business strategy and lead execution
• Champion change and ensure brand and regional business initiatives are implemented with follow-up actions communicated to teams
• Establish vision for product and service delivery on property while managing owner communication regarding construction progress and opening
• Keep operations teams focused on critical components to drive guest satisfaction and desired financial results while making executive decisions
• Drive punch and milestone processes with Global Operations and Development Asset Management teams ensuring quality and timeline adherence
• Manage critical path for opening readiness including pre-opening and countdown processes while coordinating multiple stakeholder requirements
• Stay current with industry trends and monitor strengths and weaknesses of competition to inform strategic positioning
• Ensure property business plans are aligned with brand strategies while maintaining operational excellence standards
• Onboard Pre-Opening General Managers providing strategic guidance and operational expertise throughout the pre-opening process
• Coordinate Pre-Opening task force teams ensuring cross-functional collaboration and effective resource utilization
• Coordinate and interlink global departments towards pre-opening properties ensuring seamless communication and execution
• Hire operations management colleagues in consultation with Global HR teams who demonstrate strong functional expertise and entrepreneurial leadership
• Create appropriate development plans and develop colleagues based on individual strengths, development needs, and career aspirations
• Set goals and expectations for direct reports using performance review processes while holding staff accountable for successful performance
• Ensure service, technical skills and leadership training occurs throughout operations to support successful daily operations
• Establish and maintain open, collaborative relationships with direct reports and entire teams across all properties
• Ensure regular ongoing communication takes place to recognize performance, set expectations, and create awareness of business objectives
• Provide input and support overall sales strategy while suggesting innovative marketing ideas to gain market share
• Balance sales goals and commitments with operations ability to deliver against them across all brand properties
• Attend revenue management meetings, evaluate revenue opportunities, and provide pricing recommendations while anticipating challenges
• Use market research and competitive analysis to maintain awareness of hotel market position and identify growth opportunities
• Review financial reports and statements with property teams to determine Operations performance against budget
• Coach and support operations teams to effectively manage occupancy, rate, wages, and controllable expenses while maintaining profit margins
• Facilitate capital expenditure processes with operations departments while ensuring funds address service strategy priorities
• Provide operational expertise during owner meetings while demonstrating understanding of cash flow and owner priorities
• Build owner loyalty through excellent communication, recognition, and involvement in key decisions during pre-opening stages
• Balance owner objectives and Kerzner International objectives to produce mutually beneficial solutions during pre-opening stages
• Establish post-opening review mechanisms to evaluate success, extract learnings, and recalibrate strategies for future developments
• Prepare creative concepts for new hotel projects and assist with concept changes of existing hotels while ensuring brand alignment
• Conduct site visits with Presidents of Brands for new and potential projects while providing expert operational assessment

Skills, Experience & Educational Requirements

• Extensive senior leadership experience in luxury hospitality operations with proven track record as a General Manager.
• Strong understanding of revenue management, financial planning, and operational excellence in luxury hospitality environments
• Experience with brand standards development and implementation across multiple properties and international markets
• Proven ability to lead General Managers and senior property leadership teams during pre-opening phases
• Strong background in guest experience management and colleague engagement in luxury hospitality settings
• Experience with budget planning, financial analysis, and asset management in hospitality operations and development projects
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with ability to influence property leadership and ownership groups
• Strong analytical skills with ability to identify trends through root cause analysis and develop collaborative solutions
• International business experience with understanding of diverse cultural markets and operational requirements
• Proven track record in driving revenue performance and operational efficiency across multiple properties
• Experience working with asset managers, ownership groups, and business development teams on strategic initiatives

Our company is expanding faster than ever before. We are investing in the growth of our company, and that means we are committed to investing in you. Join a team that is open-hearted, innovative, inclusive, and inspiring in spirit. We believe in making our guests happy beyond anything they have ever imagined. We wow them at every turn and create memories that will last a lifetime. You will be at the heart of this vision, to constantly innovate to deliver Amazing Experiences and Everlasting Memories.