Regional Operations Executive – East Africa

Job Overview

Lemala Camps & Lodges is a leading luxury safari operator managing premium lodges and tented camps across Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The Regional Operations Executive – East Africa supports the Head of Operations in ensuring seamless performance across all properties.

This role focuses on monitoring key performance indicators, controlling costs, and maintaining brand standards while fostering strong relationships with local stakeholders. The executive works closely with country and lodge managers to drive operational improvements and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

With extensive travel across East Africa, the incumbent will identify opportunities to enhance service efficiency, profitability, and sustainability. The position reports directly to the Head of Operations and plays a vital role in supporting new lodge openings, refurbishments, and regional projects.

Key Responsibilities

• Support the Head of Operations in developing, implementing, and monitoring regional operational strategies that align with company objectives, market trends, and sustainability goals regionally effectively.
• Monitor key performance indicators occupancy, average daily rate, revenue per available room, and guest satisfaction to ensure financial targets are met and improvement opportunities identified.
• Conduct regular site visits to each lodge, review operational action plans, and follow up on identified issues to ensure timely resolution and continuous improvement consistently.
• Analyse guest feedback from surveys, online reviews, and direct comments, collaborate with lodge managers to address concerns, and implement service enhancements that boost satisfaction overall.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities across procurement, staffing, maintenance, and energy use, and recommend process improvements that increase profitability while maintaining quality standards and operational efficiency today.
• Assist with the planning and execution of new lodge openings, refurbishments, and acquisitions, ensuring adherence to brand standards, budget constraints, and project timelines quality assurance.
• Support recruitment, onboarding, training, and talent development initiatives, fostering leadership succession planning, coaching, and performance management for lodge management teams and employee engagement programmes across.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with government authorities, tourism partners, suppliers, and local communities to secure licences, permits, and collaborative opportunities that support regional growth.

Qualifications & Experience

Essential

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Tourism, Finance, or a related field; a postgraduate qualification is considered an advantage for senior leadership roles in hospitality.
• Minimum eight years of progressive hospitality operations experience, including managing multiple properties or business units across diverse markets in East Africa and cultural contexts today.
• Proven leadership abilities with strong communication, organisational, and stakeholder management skills demonstrated in senior operational roles within luxury hospitality environments and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
• Excellent understanding of hospitality finance, procurement, guest experience, maintenance, and people management, with ability to interpret KPIs, financial statements, and operational data and performance metrics.
• Demonstrated success in improving systems, processes, efficiency, and productivity, resulting in measurable cost savings, revenue growth, and enhanced guest satisfaction and operational excellence across departments.
• High integrity, professionalism, and ethical standards, coupled with the ability to make sound decisions under pressure in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and proactive risk management.

Desirable

• Experience with property refurbishment projects, new lodge openings, or acquisition integration processes within the luxury safari or high-end hospitality sector and sustainable tourism initiatives globally.
• Familiarity with modern hospitality technology systems such as property management software, channel managers, revenue management tools, and guest relationship platforms and mobile booking applications today.
• Knowledge of East African tourism regulations, licensing requirements, environmental standards, and best practices for sustainable community engagement and conservation initiatives and climate resilience strategies nationwide.
• Proficient in data analysis and reporting, capable of preparing comprehensive operational presentations, dashboards, and reports for executive stakeholders and board members and investor relations globally.
• Fluency in English and Swahili, with additional language skills in French or Portuguese considered beneficial for cross-border stakeholder communication and effective negotiation abilities in multilingual.
• Experience in managing crisis situations, handling major guest complaints, and implementing contingency plans that ensure operational continuity and brand reputation protection and stakeholder trust long-term.

What the Role Offers

• Competitive salary package commensurate with experience, plus performance-based bonuses tied to regional profitability, guest satisfaction scores, and achievement of operational targets and leadership competencies annually.
• Comprehensive health insurance coverage for employee and immediate family, including access to private medical facilities, wellness programmes, and emergency evacuation services across East Africa today.
• Generous housing allowance or provided accommodation near the duty station, with utilities covered, reducing living expenses for staff stationed at remote lodge locations and security.
• Transportation support, including a company vehicle, fuel allowance, and maintenance coverage, facilitating extensive travel across Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania for operational oversight and cost efficiency.
• Opportunities for professional development through sponsored training programmes, international conferences, exposure to global hospitality best practices, and mentorship from senior industry leaders and career advancement.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should submit a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience, copies of academic and professional certificates, and a cover letter outlining their suitability for the role and motivation to join Lemala Camps & Lodges. Please apply now by clicking the link below.

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