DMC GENERAL MANAGER
CAPE TOWN — HYBRID WORKING
COMPETITIVE SALARY + BONUS STRUCTURE
DMC General Manager job in Cape Town within the African travel industry, offering a competitive salary and bonus structure. This is a hands-on leadership role covering sales, product, operations and team management for an established inbound DMC.
▌ Do you?
Have the experience to lead an African inbound DMC, oversee its sales manager and consultants, and take responsibility for the quality and commercial performance of the business? Do you enjoy developing a team, improving how an operation runs and ensuring that every booking is delivered to a high standard?
Are you also a product specialist who enjoys building supplier relationships, discovering new experiences and negotiating the rates and terms that make a DMC competitive? This General Manager role offers the chance to take ownership of product while helping shape a growing Cape Town business alongside its UK Directors.
▌ Our Customer
Our client is an established destination management company (DMC) based in Cape Town, specialising in inbound travel across Southern and East Africa. They design and deliver tailor-made experiences for their clients.
They are now looking for a DMC General Manager to take overall responsibility for the day-to-day running of the business — leading the Cape Town team while remaining hands-on across sales, product, contracting and operations, and helping to shape the company’s future growth.
▌ The Role
In this role, you will take overall responsibility for the Cape Town DMC, leading the team while remaining hands-on across sales, product, contracting and operations.
– Take day-to-day responsibility for the DMC’s performance and commercial objectives
– Monitor sales, margins, profitability and operational performance
– Manage the sales and reservations team while designing and costing complex, tailor-made itineraries
– Develop and maintain a competitive product portfolio across Southern and East Africa
– Manage key supplier relationships and negotiate rates and commercial terms
– Oversee the full booking lifecycle and ensure consistently high service delivery
– Manage operational issues, supplier disputes and in-travel escalations
– Lead, support and develop the Cape Town team
– Contribute to recruitment and future team structure as the business grows
– Improve systems, processes and ways of working to support scale
▌ Experience Required
– At least 7 years’ experience in African inbound travel, preferably within a DMC
– Strong first-hand knowledge of South Africa; East Africa knowledge also desirable
– Proven experience designing and costing complex, tailor-made and high-value FIT itineraries
– Experience managing supplier relationships, negotiating rates and developing product
– Previous experience managing a travel or reservations team
– Willingness and ability to travel within Southern and East Africa when required
▌ Benefits
– Competitive salary with a bonus structure
– Hybrid working
– Opportunities for educational trips and destination visits
– A supportive team environment
▌ Frequently Asked Questions
What is the salary for this DMC General Manager role?
A competitive salary with a bonus structure. Ambitions Travel Recruitment will share the full package details with shortlisted candidates
What does hybrid working look like in this role?
The role is based at the Cape Town office with hybrid working. Ambitions Travel Recruitment can confirm the exact structure with shortlisted candidates.
Is African travel / DMC experience required?
Yes — at least 7 years’ experience in African inbound travel is required, ideally within a DMC, along with strong first-hand knowledge of South Africa.
What does a General Manager role at a DMC involve?
Overall responsibility for a destination management company’s day-to-day performance — leading the local team while staying hands-on across sales, product, contracting and operations.
How do I apply through Ambitions Travel Recruitment?
Apply via this page. Ambitions Travel Recruitment reviews every application personally — no automated screening. Register at ambitionstravelrecruitment.com to be considered for future roles.
Who are Ambitions Travel Recruitment?
Ambitions Travel Recruitment is the leading global recruitment agency dedicated exclusively to leisure travel. We place exceptional professionals at every level, from entry-level roles to C-suite appointments, across tour operating, luxury and tailor-made travel, safari, expedition and adventure travel, ocean and river cruise, ski, and UHNW concierge businesses. Our specialist leisure travel recruitment services cover the UK, South Africa, the GCC, Asia and North America.
Click here to apply for this DMC General Manager job, which is being recruited by Ambitions Travel Recruitment.
Ambitions Travel Recruitment places professionals across all areas of leisure travel, including tour operators, tailor-made travel, safari companies, expedition and adventure travel, ocean and river cruise lines, ski operators, and UHNW concierge businesses, in the UK, South Africa, GCC, Asia, and North America. With over 100 combined years of industry experience, we are trusted by global corporations, independent travel businesses, and growing operators to source hard-to-find specialists through a headhunting approach that reaches candidates who never appear on job boards.
▌ IMPORTANT
– If this role ticks your boxes and you’ve got the relevant experience, then click and apply
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– Due to the massive number of applications, we receive, we’re usually only able to reply to candidates whose requirements meet our customers’ needs. We’re super grateful that you take the time to apply, and we will save your CV and be in touch for other suitable roles
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