Upholsterer

The Upholsterer at The Royal Portfolio’s Warehouse in Diep River is solely responsible for repairing and refurbishing furniture items sent from our Cape properties; restoring each piece to the standard our guests expect. This ensures that we can continue to deliver on our company purpose, which is “to give our guests a complete experience and a perfect stay”.

• Furniture Repair & Refurbishment – Receive, assess and repair or reupholster furniture items sent from our three Cape properties, including re-webbing, re-springing, padding and re-covering, finished to the standard expected of a luxury hotel group.

• Workload Planning & Prioritisation – Plan for and prioritise a fluctuating workload across multiple properties, managing several jobs at once and agreeing realistic turnaround times with Design & Procurement.

• Materials & Fabric Management – Assess fabric, foam, trim and haberdashery requirements for each job, and liaise with the Design & Procurement team at Head Office to source and order materials timeously.

• Collaboration with Carpentry – Work alongside the Carpenter on items requiring structural repair, coordinating timelines to ensure a smooth handover between trades.

• Quality & Craftsmanship – Maintain a consistently high standard of finish, in keeping with the furniture, fabrics and finishes found across The Royal Portfolio's properties.

• Reporting & Communication – Provide regular feedback to the Design & Procurement team on job progress, timelines, and any items or materials requiring further instruction or approval.

• Workshop Management – Keep the upholstery workshop, tools and equipment at the Diep River warehouse organised, clean and safe, and manage stock levels of consumables.

• At least 5 years' experience as a qualified Upholsterer, ideally gained on high-end furniture or within the luxury hospitality industry.

• A relevant upholstery trade qualification or apprenticeship is a distinct advantage.

• Strong working knowledge of fabrics, pattern matching, foams & feather inners, springing and furniture construction.

• Own set of upholstery tools is advantageous, but not essential.

• Excellent planning and prioritisation skills, with the ability to manage a fluctuating workload across multiple properties.

• Self-motivated with strong initiative, able to work independently and manage own time, as the sole upholsterer on site.

• Meticulous attention to detail and a genuine pride in the quality and finish of your work.

• Physically able to lift, move and manoeuvre furniture, and to work with hand and power tools.

• Well mannered, self-motivated, positive and eager to learn.

• Good communication skills in English, able to liaise clearly with the Design & Procurement team and other trades.

• Reliable own transport to the warehouse in Diep River, Cape Town, is essential.

It is important that the candidate is able to work as part of a team and is a good cultural fit for The Royal Portfolio.

South African citizenship is advantageous. A valid work permit is essential if you are not in possession of a South African .

Please note it is a condition of employment, that all staff undergo a pre-employment polygraph test.