Head of Corporate Real Estate – Hospitality

About Discovery

Discovery’s core purpose is to make people healthier and to enhance and protect their lives. We seek out and invest in exceptional individuals who understand and support our core purpose, and whose own values align with those of Discovery. Our fast-paced and dynamic environment enables smart, self-driven people to be their best. As global thought leaders, Discovery is passionate about innovating in order to not only achieve financial success, but to ignite positive and meaningful change within our society.

Corporate Real Estate - Hospitality

The head of Corporate Real Estate – Hospitality is responsible for developing and implementing the Corporate Real Estate strategy for the South African composite group, in line with the business requirements. The role will be pivotal in overseeing all aspects of hospitality services, including client relations, operations, and overall employee experience. The strategy for hospitality services is to provide services for the convenience of the group and create a supportive and efficient environment which results in improved employee well-being and productivity.

Key Purpose

• Overseeing day-to-day operations of hospitality and ensuring the highest level of employee satisfaction and service standards.
• Managing and supervising staff, including recruitment, training, and performance evaluation.
• Coordinating with various departments and suppliers to ensure seamless operations.
• Developing and implementing policies, procedures, and standards to enhance employee satisfaction, streamline operations and maintain compliance with industry regulations.
• Monitoring financial performance, managing budgets, and identifying strategies to maximise efficiencies, revenue, and profitability for Discovery and indirectly for the Lifestyle services vendors.
• Maintaining relationships with vendors, suppliers, and partners to ensure quality products and services.
• Handling client feedback and resolving complaints or issues promptly and satisfactorily.   

Areas of responsibility may include but not limited to

• Supervise and manage all aspects of the hospitality department, including reception soft services, training room reservations, logistics, fleet services, switchboard, Forum cuisine and conferencing.
• Ensure a high level of customer service by leading and motivating the team, setting performance expectations, and providing ongoing training and development.
• Oversee customer relations, addressing inquiries, concerns, and complaints in a timely and professional manner, aiming to exceed customer expectations.
• Coordinate reservations and optimise occupancy rates, maximising revenue and maintaining accurate records.

• Monitor customer feedback and satisfaction metrics, implementing improvement initiatives based on feedback and trends.

• Conduct regular inspections to ensure cleanliness, functionality and maintenance of venues and common areas.
• Manage vendor relationships, negotiate contracts, and ensure quality and cost-effective service delivery.
• Stay updated on industry trends, best practices, and emerging technologies in the hospitality field, continuously seeking opportunities to enhance employee experiences.

Personal Attributes and Skills

• Customer service orientation,
• Results orientation,
• Negotiation skills, Professional,
• Assertiveness,
• Tenacity
• Ability to present at an exco level with experience in managing large budgets and assets.
• Strong leadership and organisational skills to manage a diverse team and ensure smooth operations.
• Ability to multitask, priorities and work under pressure in a fast=paced environment

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, facilities management, hotel administration or a related field.
• 10+ years of senior leadership
• Knowledge of hospitality industry trends, best practices, and regulations.
• Experience managing corporate environment.
• Familiarity with revenue management strategies, financial analysis, and cost control.
• Proven leadership capabilities across multiple functional disciplines. The ability to work on multiple projects and manage conflicting demands.
• Strong communicator with ability to both write and present powerfully, to senior stakeholders.
• Experience managing, mentoring, and developing talent.

Employment Equity  

The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.

EMPLOYMENT EQUITY   
                             
The Company’s approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.