General Manager - International DMC, South Africa

About the role

An established destination management company (DMC) in South Africa is looking for a General Manager to be based in Cape Town. The GM provides operational leadership across South Africa, overseeing Operations, Finance, Sales & Marketing and Information Technology, with a focus on operational excellence, leadership and cross-functional coordination. The role suits a hands-on leader who supports departmental heads and guides the day-to-day running of the organisation.

Key responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for the business across South Africa, driving growth, profitability and operational objectives.
• Oversee day-to-day operations with departmental heads, ensuring efficient resource use, service quality and customer satisfaction.
• Lead and mentor a mostly remote team, building a collaborative, accountable, high-performance culture.
• Drive continuous improvement, risk management and adherence to industry best practices.
• Oversee financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, cash flow, financial controls and profitability.
• Support the Sales and Marketing function, including revenue growth, key client relationships and market expansion.
• Ensure technology and business systems support efficiency, reporting, data security and growth.
• Maintain relationships with shareholders, suppliers, tourism authorities and partners, and ensure compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Tourism Management, Hospitality Management, Finance or a related field; an MBA or postgraduate qualification is advantageous.
• Senior leadership experience in Destination Management, Tourism, Travel or a related service industry in South Africa.
• Proven track record leading multi-functional teams and managing complex operations across regions or countries.
• Strong commercial and financial management experience, with demonstrated success in organisational growth and strategic transformation.

The vacancy is advertised by Summit Recruitment & Search, an executive search agency in Kenya. Applications are handled directly by the agency; candidates not contacted within two weeks should apply again for other matching roles.