General Manager

General Manager

The Cottages at Charleston Harbor · Charleston, South Carolina

Property Overview

The Cottages at Charleston Harbor is an intimate collection of ten waterfront cottages and a clubhouse, doubling as one of the Lowcountry's premier wedding and private event destinations. Guests include leisure travelers, corporate retreat attendees, wedding parties, and long-term residents who return for the property's personalized, unhurried style of hospitality.

Description

The General Manager is the property's chief steward and lead salesperson — a hands-on leader who drives revenue and bookings while personally overseeing daily cottage operations, guest relations, and event venue management. This is a dual-role position requiring equal strength in sales and operations.

Job duties include but are not limited to:

? Drive direct bookings, corporate retreats, and wedding/event sales; manage dynamic pricing and seasonal packages to maximize RevPAR.

? Serve as primary host and point of contact for guests, curating personalized local experiences and maintaining detailed guest preference profiles.

? Oversee day-to-day management of all ten cottages and the clubhouse, including housekeeping standards, maintenance scheduling, and curb appeal.

? Manage the wedding and private event program, including vendor coordination, client planning through day-of execution, and venue setup/breakdown standards.

? Own the property's operating budget and monthly P&L; track RevPAR, ADR, occupancy, and event revenue, reporting results to ownership.

? Recruit, train, and lead a lean team across housekeeping, groundskeeping, maintenance, and guest services.

? Maintain waterfront grounds, docks, and common areas, and ensure compliance with health, safety, and licensing requirements.

? Resolve guest concerns swiftly and with genuine care, reaching fair resolutions for guest and property alike.

Qualifications:

? 5+ years of progressive hospitality leadership experience, including at least 2 years as a General Manager or Director of Operations, ideally in a combined sales and operations capacity.

? Proven experience in boutique or luxury lodging, with a track record managing wedding or event venue operations.

? Deep knowledge of the Charleston, SC luxury hospitality, dining, and events market preferred.

? Exceptional interpersonal, sales, and relationship-building skills; polished guest-facing communication.

? Strong financial acumen, including budget ownership and revenue strategy.

? Proficiency with Property Management Systems (PMS), event management platforms, and digital sales/channel tools.

? Flexible availability, including weekends, holidays, and evenings as guest and event needs require.

? Bachelor's degree in Hospitality Management, Business, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

Compensation & Benefits

? Competitive base salary, commensurate with experience.

? Performance-based incentive compensation tied to occupancy, revenue, and guest satisfaction.

? Comprehensive benefits, including healthcare, 401(k), and paid time off.