Estate Director

Location: ADI Wildlife Sanctuary / Guest Lodge / Education Centre. Free State, SA.

Company: Animal Defenders International South Africa, NPC/PBO.

Salary: R950,000/year. Full time.

Working hours/day: 5.5 working days/week, flexible; 4-day weekend each month.

Sundays/public holidays rota with time off.

Paid sick leave. Holidays: 20 days per year.

Accommodation provided. Local transport provided (not flights).

Reports to: Board directors. Member of the Senior Management Team.

Experience: Proven track record in Estate, Facility, or Property Management.

(Hospitality experience welcome).

SKILLS REQUIRED:

Communication, Organizational, Staff Management:

Strong written and oral communication skills are necessary for effective liaison with directors, staff, management team, visitors, volunteers, donors.

Effective manager of contractors, projects and staff.

Proactive problem-solver with excellent interpersonal skills to handle guest/visitor/staff queries, localised crises, and conflict resolution professionally.

Participates in Senior Management Team meetings, providing advice, planning and support.

Organizational skills:

The Director of all Estate operations must possess excellent organizational skills to handle multiple projects and tasks simultaneously.

Efficient management of resources, schedules, and priorities is crucial to meet deadlines and ensure smooth operations.

Exceptional attention to detail, and the ability to multitask in a dynamic environment.

Management skills:

As a member of the Senior Management Team, the Estate Director plays a key role in overseeing and managing all aspects of the ADI Wildlife Sanctuary (roads, power, water, buildings), while collaborating closely with the Safety & Security and Resident Welfare teams.

Management of maintenance and care of the Visitor and Education Centres, the Guest lodge, supporting the guest lodge and visitor management teams.

This requires the ability to assess the quality of estate, maintenance, building, infrastructure upkeep and oversee contractors, staff, services.

Strong leadership and decision-making skills are necessary to address issues promptly and maintain a high standard of operations.

Technical skills:

Experience with maintenance, building, roads, oversight of contractors, services, construction standards is necessary. Computer literacy and software proficiency, as well as some familiarity with security systems is helpful, as well as some familiarity with solar power and electrics, in order to work together with the Safety & Security Director on oversight of systems.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Daily Operations – oversight, management, facilities for:

• Daily wildlife sanctuary operations
• Visitors and Guest Lodge operations
• Education centre, visiting schools and educators

Rule Enforcement:

Assist Senior Management Team with rule enforcement, training, and issue warnings and penalties to maintain a harmonious living environment, across departments.

Maintenance – Repairs–Problem-solving :

Facilitate all maintenance and repairs related to the estate and its communal areas.

Administrative Tasks:

Handle administrative tasks related to the estate, operations, staffing, management, working through the administration office.

Regular Inspections:

Conduct regular inspections, in company with relevant heads of departments, of buildings, common spaces, staff and visitor accommodation, offices, and other areas based on the designated inspection schedule and agree on any actions needed.

Repairs, renovations, improvements, new construction:

Bring reviews to Senior Management Team meetings to resolve and plan repairs, renovations, improvements, new construction, following the regular inspection schedules. Produce plans, costs, comparison of solutions, for presentation to board directors for approval.

Senior Management Team:

Weekly discussions with department heads at SMT meetings to cover performance of service providers, ad hoc contractors, staffing, health & safety, insurance-related issues.

Job Types: Full-time, Permanent

Pay: R950 000,00 per year

Work Location: In person