Pre-Opening General Manager

Summit Recruitment & Search Africa

Our client is seeking to recruit a Pre-Opening General Manager to lead the setup, launch, and operational readiness of a new hotel facility in Nairobi.

Reporting to the Director for Finance and Administration, the successful candidate will oversee all pre-opening activities and transition into the General Manager role upon successful opening, subject to performance. Having experience in hotel operations, pre-openings, and international hotel brand or franchise standards is an added advantage

The role provides Medical allowance, Provident fund, and Educational support.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and coordinate all pre-opening activities to ensure timely operational readiness of the hotel.

• Ensure compliance with international hotel brand/franchise standards across all operational areas.

• Oversee recruitment, onboarding, and structuring of all hotel departments including Front Office, Housekeeping, Kitchen, Restaurant, Stores, and Marketing.

• Develop and implement operational systems, standard operating procedures, and technology platforms required for hotel launch and ongoing operations.

• Support financial planning and setup including budgeting, cost control frameworks, pricing structures, and revenue planning.

• Oversee procurement, supplier onboarding, and stock management systems in line with policy and operational requirements.

• Coordinate sales, marketing, and business development activities to support launch readiness and early revenue performance.

• Manage overall launch readiness and post-opening operations, including staffing, training, compliance, service delivery, guest experience, and operational performance.

• Key Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Business Administration, or related field.

• 5+ years’ experience in hotel operations.

• 2–3 years’ experience in hotel pre-opening or hotel setup/project roles.

• Experience with international hotel brands or franchise systems is an added advantage.

• Strong understanding of hotel operations including budgeting, staffing, marketing, and brand compliance.

• Ability to manage structured operational projects with multiple workstreams.

• Summit Recruitment and Search Africa is a leading Recruitment and Executive Search agency headquartered in Kenya providing outstanding talent to a wide range of companies and NGOs in various business sectors across Africa.

• We endeavour to make contact with all of our applicants, but unfortunately, high volumes of applications make this unrealistic. If you do not hear from us within two weeks your application has not been successful on this occasion. This does not mean you will not be considered for future roles so please keep an eye on our job board and apply for positions that match your skills and experience.

• Summit Recruitment and search Africa upholds a steadfast commitment to sustainability, inclusivity, and equality as integral pillars of our operations. Dedicated to driving positive change through the adoption of sustainable practices that minimize our ecological footprint. We firmly believe in fostering an inclusive and diverse workforce that embraces individuals from all races, genders, and backgrounds, ensuring equal opportunities for every candidate. Summit recruitment actively advocate for equality by cultivating an environment of respect, fairness, and non-discrimination. By prioritizing sustainability, inclusivity, and equality, we aim to set a high industry standard and contribute to the betterment of society as a whole.

• Summit Recruitment & Search, as a policy, does not charge any fee as a pre-employment or post-employment requirement