General Manager

Description

 General Manager 

The Cottages at Charleston Harbor · Charleston, South Carolina 

Property Overview 

The Cottages at Charleston Harbor is a boutique hotel made up of ten individual 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 hotel'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. 

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. 

Requirements

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.