Maintenance | Facilities Manager

MAINTENANCE MANAGER Luxury 5-Star Safari Lodge | Waterberg Biosphere, Limpopo A rare opportunity for an experienced technical professional to take ownership of the engineering, maintenance and operational integrity of an exceptional luxury safari destination.

My client is an exclusive, high-end safari lodge operation situated within the Waterberg Biosphere in Limpopo. The property combines luxury accommodation, extensive guest facilities and remote bush infrastructure, requiring a Maintenance Manager who is equally comfortable with sophisticated technical systems, hands-on maintenance and the realities of remote lodge operations.

This is a live-in, senior operational position suited to a technically qualified, highly practical and solutions-driven Maintenance Manager who takes genuine pride in ensuring that everything works flawlessly — often without the guest ever knowing that maintenance has taken place.

The successful candidate will assume overall responsibility for the maintenance, preventative maintenance, safety and operational reliability of a substantial luxury lodge environment encompassing multiple accommodation facilities, luxury canvas suites, cabins, private villas, pools and hot tubs, conference and dining facilities, staff accommodation, workshops, stables, grounds and extensive reserve infrastructure.

You will be responsible for ensuring that the property's critical infrastructure operates reliably and safely, including:

• Solar PV, battery storage and inverter systems

• Backup diesel generators

• Boreholes, filtration and water purification systems

• Pressure pumps and hot-water systems

• Black/grey water and septic systems

• HVAC and electrical infrastructure

• Swimming and plunge pools and wood-fired hot tubs

• Luxury canvas accommodation and timber structures

• 4x4 safari vehicles and utility fleet

• Tractors, trailers and other machinery

• Game fencing, roads, drainage and bridges

• Fire safety infrastructure and equipment

• Lead and execute daily maintenance across the entire property.

• Conduct proactive inspections and identify potential failures before they affect guests.

• Maintain timber decks, balustrades, walkways, canvas structures and associated infrastructure.

• Ensure pools, hot tubs, pumps, heaters and water systems remain fully operational.

• Maintain electrical, plumbing, mechanical and HVAC systems.

• Manage off-grid/hybrid power infrastructure including solar, batteries, inverters and generators.

• Oversee borehole extraction, filtration, purification and water-pressure systems.

• Ensure reliable hot-water delivery through gas and solar systems.

• Maintain wastewater, septic and environmentally responsible treatment systems.

• Manage preventative servicing and emergency repairs across the safari and utility fleet.

• Ensure game-drive vehicles are safe, reliable and operational every day.

• Maintain tractors, trailers and other heavy machinery and equipment.

• Oversee game and perimeter fencing, including electrified fencing.

• Maintain roads, drainage, bridges and erosion-control infrastructure.

• Implement and maintain fire-safety systems, firebreaks, firefighting equipment and fuel-storage compliance.

• Develop, implement and manage a comprehensive Preventative Maintenance Schedule.

• Ensure compliance with South African OHS legislation, environmental requirements and internal safety standards.

• Conduct daily morning inspections and ensure defects are resolved before they become guest-facing problems.

• Lead, motivate, schedule and develop a maintenance team comprising technical and grounds personnel.

• Manage external specialist contractors and service providers.

• Control maintenance budgets, purchasing, inventory and critical spare-parts stock.

• Ensure appropriate technical resources are available despite the remote operating environment.

Maintenance in a luxury safari environment must be professional, discreet and virtually invisible
.

The successful candidate will respond to guest-related maintenance requirements with urgency, courtesy and discretion while ensuring that repairs do not compromise the tranquillity or luxury experience of the property.

The position also participates in a 24/7 emergency call rotation for critical operational or guest requirements.

• Trade qualification / Artisan status — Qualified…