General Manager — Boutique Oceanfront Retreat, El Transito, Nicaragua

Boutique Oceanfront Retreat · El Tránsito, Nicaragua

Reports to: Owner

Location: On-property, El Tránsito, Nicaragua (housing provided)

Type: Full-time, year-round

Languages: Fluent English and Spanish (both required)

ABOUT THE ROLE

Mandla is entering its next chapter under new ownership, and we’re hiring a General Manager to lead it. This is a step-up role for the right person — someone with strong hospitality fundamentals who is ready to run their own property. You will be the most senior person on site, accountable for the guest experience, the team, the P&L, and the standards that earned Mandla its 5-star reputation. You’ll work directly with the owner to shape what Mandla becomes over the next five years — protecting what’s already great about the property and building the operational backbone for thoughtful, sustainable growth.

The property hosts a mix of contracted retreat operators and independent group bookings across the year, with multiple stakeholder relationships to manage with diplomacy and clarity. You’ll be the single point of accountability for the property regardless of who’s hosting that week.

WHAT YOU’LL OWN

•    Guest experience. Maintain Mandla’s 5-star standard across every touchpoint — arrival, accommodations, F&B (La Mesa), activities, departure. Personally present during high-stakes weeks.

•    Team leadership. Hire, train, and develop the on-property team: F&B, housekeeping, maintenance, grounds, guest services, drivers. Build a culture of pride and accountability with a small, tight crew.

•    F&B program. Oversee La Mesa, our signature restaurant. Recruit and partner with an executive chef; protect and evolve the European-influenced cuisine that has become a destination in its own right. Manage cost of goods, sourcing, and beverage program.

•    Operator and partner relationships. Manage the day-to-day relationship with Mandla’s contracted retreat operators. Coordinate property logistics, transitions between groups, and shared use of facilities and staff.

•    P&L ownership. Build and manage the annual budget alongside the owner. Track occupancy, revenue, COGS, payroll, and operating expenses. Report monthly to ownership with discipline and clear narrative.

•    Compliance and risk. Maintain MINSA, INTUR, and labor compliance. Own the property’s emergency action plan, vendor insurance, and guest waivers. Coordinate with Nicaraguan legal and accounting counsel.

•    Capital projects. Partner with ownership on property improvements — design, scoping, vendor management, execution.

•    Safety. Surf, watersports, horseback, volcano excursions, and remote logistics all carry real risk. Own the safety culture.

WHAT YOU BRING

•    4+ years of hospitality experience, with at least 2 in a leadership role — Assistant GM, F&B Director, Operations Manager, Front Office Manager, or comparable. First-time GMs are welcome and encouraged.

•    Experience at a boutique, lodge, retreat, or upscale property where service standards were taken seriously — you know what “good” looks like and you can hold a team to it.

•    Native or fully fluent in both English and Spanish. You’ll move between guest-facing English and team-facing Spanish constantly, often in the same conversation.

•    Strong F&B instincts. You don’t have to be a chef, but you have opinions about food and you’ve worked closely with culinary teams before.

•    Comfortable with multi-stakeholder dynamics — owners, operators, partners, guests, staff — and the diplomacy to keep all of them aligned.

•    Direct, honest communicator. We value candor over polish.

•    Right to work in Nicaragua, or willingness and ability to obtain it.

STRONG PLUSES

•    Prior experience at a recognized boutique property in Latin America (e.g., Mukul, Rancho Santana, Aqua Wellness, Pelican Eyes, Jicaro Island, Cayuga Collection properties, or comparable).

•    Surf, wellness, or adventure travel exposure.

•    Experience opening, relaunching, or repositioning a property.

•    Existing professional network in Nicaragua or Central America hospitality.

•    Hospitality school education (Les Roches, Glion, EHL, FIU, Cornell, Sant Pol, or local equivalents).

WHAT WE OFFER

•    Competitive base salary (USD), commensurate with experience

•    On-property housing

•    Meals on property

•    Performance bonus tied to guest satisfaction, financial, and operational metrics

•    Real ownership of a property that is positioned to grow significantly over the next 5 years

•    A direct line to the owner — small org, fast decisions, no layers

•    Paid time off, and a workplace on one of Latin America’s last truly underdeveloped luxury coastlines

HOW TO APPLY

Submit your CV, a brief cover note (English or Spanish — your choice), and three professional references. Shortlisted candidates will speak with the owner directly.