[Hiring] Maintenance Manager @Wild Dreams

Role Description

A pair of remote luxury safari lodges in the northern Kruger National Park is seeking an experienced and resourceful MAINTENANCE MANAGER to join their team. This is a hands-on, self-reliant role overseeing off-grid power, water, vehicles and general upkeep across both properties, where suppliers are hours away and quick, creative problem-solving is part of the job.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years’ hands-on maintenance management experience, ideally in a remote safari lodge, bush camp or off-grid environment
• Proven practical expertise in electrical systems, plumbing, water pumps, diesel generators, refrigeration/air-con and general building/carpentry
• Demonstrated experience leading, motivating and upskilling a multi-disciplinary maintenance team
• Valid unendorsed Code B (or EB) driver’s licence, with solid 4x4 bush driving and long-distance highway experience
• Working knowledge of lodge-scale solar and battery inverter systems (highly advantageous)
• Comfortable with Microsoft Office (Excel, Word), digital snag lists, stock sheets and email reporting
• Trade certifications or technical qualifications (advantageous)
• South African citizen or valid South African work permit
• Resourceful and deadline-driven; able to improvise safe temporary fixes before completing permanent repairs
• Resilient and bush-smart; calm under pressure and comfortable living in an isolated Big Five wilderness area

Requirements

• Oversee and carry out daily maintenance across guest suites, public areas, kitchens, staff villages and back-of-house facilities
• Diagnose and resolve electrical, plumbing, mechanical, refrigeration and structural issues
• Manage and maintain off-grid power systems, including solar arrays, inverter/battery banks and backup generators
• Maintain borehole and river water supply, filtration plants, pumps, storage tanks and sewage and wastewater systems
• Oversee servicing of air-conditioning, cold rooms, kitchen and laundry equipment, game-viewing vehicles and machinery
• Develop and run a preventative maintenance programme suited to harsh bushveld conditions, aligned with occupancy and seasonal closures
• Maintain a prioritised snag list, routine infrastructure audits and accurate service histories
• Coordinate and supervise external contractors, planning their logistics well in advance
• Manage the workshop and critical-spares inventory, source quotations and adhere to budgets
• Monitor fuel, LP gas and other essential reserves to prevent shortages
• Conduct regular long-distance town trips to collect spares, materials and supplies
• Lead, mentor and work alongside the maintenance team, providing hands-on technical coaching
• Enforce OHS standards and ensure fire equipment, emergency lighting, electrical boards and water quality systems are tested and compliant
• Work in line with strict environmental guidelines in this ecologically sensitive area
• Support refurbishments and capital projects, and submit weekly maintenance, project and expenditure reports