Head Field Guide Role Description and Duties: · A “Head Field Guide” is a senior position within a wildlife or nature reserve, responsible for overseeing a team of field guides, ensuring the highest quality wildlife viewing experience for guests, maintaining safety standards, and often playing a key role in staff training, conservation efforts, and guest relations within the lodge or reserve; essentially leading the guiding operations and acting as the primary expert on the local ecosystem and wildlife. · Meticulous in all aspects of managing the guiding department · Manage, oversee and discipline staff in the guiding department · Staff training and development · Assist the Marketing team in managing social media content and submitting the monthly newsletters · Perform all administrative duties pertaining to the guiding department · Allocation of Guides to daily game drives · Staff scheduling and rosters · Manage daily game drives and bush walks · Follow up on CarTrack and monitor Guide movements · Assist around the lodge in other departments if needed · Light concession work – trimming of branches and light road maintenance · Operational stock control · Compile weekly and monthly reports · Have thorough technical knowledge and understanding of vehicles, operations and equipment – strong mechanical background will be beneficial · Perform Duty Manager shifts when necessary – hosting guests and ensuring the service shift runs smoothly Minimum Requirements: Qualifications & Experience: · NQF 4 qualification or higher · Full Lead Trails and at least 3 years’ experience with guiding on foot (VPSA, ARH) · A minimum of 7 years of work experience on a Big 5 Game Reserve, with a minimum of 5 years working in a Luxury Lodge environment · A level 2 FGASA qualification or higher with theory and practical completed · Registered with DEAT and THETA in terms of improving his/her qualifications · Firearm competency · Track and Trails guide certificate · Valid first aid certificate · SASSETA Certificates · A valid South African Driver’s license and PDP experience Skills required · Leadership · Guiding Skills · Wildlife Knowledge · Geology, Geography, and History · Basic Food and Beverage Service · Tracking and Bushcraft · Guest engagement · Safety and Risk Management · Vehicle and equipment maintenance · Passion for nature · Fluency in English is essential, and proficiency in additional languages may be advantageous for catering to diverse guest demographics. · Problem-solving · Decision-making · Training and development · Conflict resolution · Financial acumen · Experience in wildlife photography will be beneficial · Computer literate · Basic understanding of labour law and disciplinary procedures · Ability to keep calm in stressful situations