Job Information
Marriott Recreation Manager (Senior Field Guide) in Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Job Number 24082729
Job Category Golf, Fitness, & Entertainment
Location Al Maha a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa Dubai, Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates
Schedule Full-Time
Located Remotely? N
Relocation? N
Position Type Management
JOB SUMMARY
To oversee, coordinate and develop the personalized tours, field activities and services for the guests and visitors of the Resort. To participate in and assist with the ecological work, and to act as the primary link between the guest and the field operations, ensuring that the standards of all equipment, animal stock and facilities used by Field Guides and guests are safe and maintained at the required standards. To be responsible for communication between guests and Guides, and for development and training the Resort Field Officers with regard to ecology, history, heritage and culture. Daily allocation of duties to Guides in line with the Resort’s services and functionality.
SCOPE / BUSINESS CONTEXT
A Full Time position based at Al Maha Desert Resort and Spa, The Luxury Collection.
Number of Direct Reports - 15
Titles of Direct Reports – Field Guides and Grooms
CANDIDATE PROFILE
Experience:
At least 2 years working experience in a supervisory position relevant to the job requirements
Experience in a similar resort would be a strong recommendation.
A driver’s license, and some experienced in First Aid, safety conscious, confident driving manner.
Skills and Knowledge
A Degree, Diploma or recognized training in Ecology, Biological Sciences, or relevant area of study.
Training in P.R. or guest services is relevant but not essential.
Any of the following specialized areas of interest, ability or training would be relevant:
1) Experience of equestrian/animal care.
2) Knowledge of Falconry and avian care.
3) Archaeology.
4) Natural Sciences.
5) Professional guiding
Education or Certification
- The candidate should have one or more of the following abilities/experiences/traits:
1) English plus one / more languages. Fluency in Arabic / German / French / Italian / a Nordic language
2) A First Aid Diploma would be beneficial
3) The candidate should be single or if married, without child dependent.
SPECIFIC DUTIES:
The following are specific responsibilities and contributions critical to the successful performance of the position:
JOB ACCOUNTABILITIES:
To ensure the required arrangements and guests requests for activities and tours is coordinated with Reception for guest check-in, check-out and billing procedures
To ensure that allocated guests receive the activities, tours, special functions and excursions in an informed and educational manner, while maintaining the policies, procedures and safety systems of the Resort. This to be done by maintaining personal contact and safe activities with the guest, and providing continuity to the guests interactions with the other departments of the Resort, coordinated with the Resort Operations Manager.
To oversee the Leisure department, and to ensure that this unit is disciplined and well-coordinated with Front Office / Guest Relations and other resort operations. This is to ensure that the guest receives the full services of the resort in a well-coordinated and thorough manner.
To coordinate with DDCR and Director of Operations concerning ecological maintenance and monitoring, and to ensure its sound development as part of an integrated environmental policy for the region. This includes the routine works and maintenance required for the housing and care of domestic animals, and for the continual monitoring of wild animal species.
To pass on all relevant information, (including complaints), to the other departments in the resort, to ensure that the guest receives services in a well-coordinated and timely manner. This includes additional information which may be relevant to developing and upgrading services, Guest History records, Management and Sales & Marketing.
To monitor the use and maintenance of all equipment provided for the activities, tours and excursions, (including vehicles). Ensuring it is maintained according to the standards laid down by the Resort Management; and to report on any works to be carried out to the relevant Department.
To ensure that the image of the Resort, the Group, Dubai and its policies are maintained through provision of a disciplined, groomed and professional approach, at all times promoting a friendly, informal and polite relationship between guests and the Resort staff.
To actively enquire and recommend the services, activities and facilities of the resort to guests and visitors, ensuring that they are kept informed of the full range of options available to them.
To ensure that existing knowledge which is relevant to the services of the resort is created, maintained and upgraded, in order to maintain the function of being the primary information source for visitors to the resort and to the U.A.E.
The Recreation Manager is expected, as part of their guest services duties, to assist other departments in their service delivery. This is part of the personalized services offered, and provides continuity for the guest as they move between individual department services
The position demands activities that may be physically demanding. The Recreation Manager will therefore require some sporting and other physical abilities.
As a Recreation Manager, you will be responsible for the following areas within the Leisure department:
Falcon, Camels & Camel Farm, Training, Vehicles, Archery, Horses & Horse Stables.
Archery:
Completing spot checks on Archery range to check cleanliness and tidiness.
Ensuring Archery range is maintained. i.e. palm leaves and rubbish is removed.
Raising relevant purchasing requests.
Updating and maintaining archery SOPs’, risk assessments and JSAs’.
Assisting with any other archery related matters.
Maintaining archery equipment in perfect working condition.
Conducting archery training sessions with the field guides.
Horses:
Ensuring the horse stables is neat, presentable and tidy.
Ensuring the horse grooms have the necessary equipment and tools to conduct their duties.
Ensuring the horses health are at optimal levels through regular deworming, vaccinations and following a structured feeding plan.
Conducting annual vaccinations, farrier visits, deworming schedules and annual dentist visits. Keeping logs up to date.
Raising relevant purchasing requests.
Completing spot checks on the horse stables.
Liaising with Veterinarians concerning any injured or sick horses.
Updating and maintaining Horse and Stable SOPs’, risk assessments and JSAs’.
Assisting with any other horse or horse stable related matters.
Training:
Ensuring all relevant training is completed in a timely manner.
Raising relevant purchasing requests.
Conducting regular training sessions with grooms and guides to maintain knowledge levels.
Improving training if and where necessary.
Updating and maintaining training SOPs’.
Keeping training records up to date.
Assisting with any other training related matters.
Vehicle Fleet:
Ensuring all 13 station wagon land cruisers are kept in prime condition.
Ensuring all vehicles are scheduled for services as required.
Communicating with Diamondlease and/or Budget regarding any vehicle issues.
Completing spot checks on land cruisers to check cleanliness and tidiness.
Ensuring weekly vehicle inspections are done in a timely manner.
Ensuring monthly fuel logs are maintained.
Ensuring daily vehicle sanitization and air filter cleaning are being completed as required.
Ensuring all the field guide land cruisers contain the necessary recovery equipment.
Ensuring vehicle first aid kits are up to date.
Raising relevant purchasing requests.
Arranging VIP fuel tags for vehicles and taking the vehicles for VIP fuel tag fitment.
Updating and maintaining vehicle SOPs’, risk assessments and JSAs’.
Assisting with any other vehicle related matters.
Camels:
Ensuring the camel farm is neat, presentable and tidy.
Ensuring the camel grooms have the necessary equipment and tools to conduct their duties.
Ensuring the camels health are at optimal levels through regular deworming, shampooing and following a structured feeding plan.
Conducting annual MERS testing certifications and vaccinations. Keeping logs up to date.
Raising relevant purchasing requests.
Updating and maintaining Camel SOPs’, risk assessments and JSAs’.
Assisting with any other camel related matters.
Falcon Mews:
Ensuring the falcon mews is neat, presentable and tidy.
Ensuring the field guides have the necessary equipment and tools to conduct their duties at the falcon mews.
Ensuring the falcons are at optimal health levels.
Conducting annual checkups if/when required through the assistance of Nad Al Shiba Veterinary clinic.
Raising relevant purchasing requests.
Maintaining adequate quail levels.
Maintaining sand levels around the weathering cages.
Ensuring falcons are being trained and that field guides follow the Standard Operating Procedures at the falcon mews.
Monitoring falcon-flying weights throughout the year.
Arranging clean-ups at the mews through-out the year, and especially after wind/rain storms.
Updating and maintaining Falconry SOPs’, risk assessments and JSAs’.
Assisting with any other falcon related matters.
The above described accountabilities and responsibilities are not exhaustive. Additional accountabilities and responsibilities may be added as required by the operation.
OTHER ACCOUNTABILITIES:
The job holder is expected, as part of their guest service duties, to assist other departments in their service delivery. This is part of the personalised services offered, and provides continuity for the guest as they move between individual department services.
The position requires activities that may be physically demanding. The job holder will therefore require some sporting and other physical abilities.
CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:
- Customer and Service orientation: The job holder is responsible for carrying out the supervision of guests, and delivery of wide range of guest services. The job will require a person who is disciplined, punctual and aware of the customers’ needs and who has the natural ability to respond to this in an enthusiastic, open and professional manner.
b) Adaptability: The position calls for a diverse range of activities. Being in the ‘front line’ and dealing with guests’ requests/complaints the job holder will be required to make independent judgements which respond to individual needs. The ability to take these decisions and action the appropriate response will be part of the day to day duties of this position.
c) Team Orientation: The job will require the co-ordination of services from many support departments and persons. In providing the guest with the best possible services from these departments the title holder must ensure co-operation and support from the service providers. They should therefore be aware of the limitations and capabilities of fellow staff, and be willing to participate with others to achieve results.
d) Communication Skills: The job-holder is expected to initiate and develop rapport, and to be informative towards their allocated guests. The ability to listen, interpret and manage the response to guests is of primary importance in meeting the guest’s expectations and enhancing their appreciation of the Resort. Equally this applies to providing of clear and accurate information to other departments of the resort ensuring that the required results achieve the standards necessary.
e) Diplomacy: The job holder, in dealing with the diversity of guests and the many internal departments which will require sensitivity, and the ability to produce clear results from these interactions. A self-disciplined, sincere and enthusiastic response to situations, people and departments will be a requirement for producing the desired results.
f) Professional knowledge: The job holder will be required to put knowledge and experience to practical use, utilising these skills to manage their daily resort functions, while being able to convey this knowledge to the guests, visitors and other staff of the resort.
OTHER RELATED INFORMATION :
a) The job holder will be required to live on site in the accommodation provided. This will be of a standard that is comparable with that made available to similar positions in Dubai. Staff accommodation is restricted and it would be preferable for the job-holder to be unmarried.
b) Since all Resort staff will be accommodated on the property, there is a requirement that all staff have a consideration for the comfort and privacy of others, and the temperament to maintain easy relations with colleagues.
c) The Senior Field Guide is responsible for a staff strength of 9 Field Guides and 6 horse and camel grooms. The job has responsibility for wildlife and the department in general is responsible for a guest oriented ‘front line’ position, which combines professional knowledge with practical management and maintenance activities in the ‘reserve’ areas: the conduct of one’s self is critical to the guests’ perception of the resort and therefore it is seen as a “key’ position.
Marriott International is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in hiring a diverse workforce and sustaining an inclusive, people-first culture. We are committed to non-discrimination on any protected basis, such as disability and veteran status, or any other basis covered under applicable law.
The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, with over 120 properties in more than 35 countries, offers the promise of authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories. Our more than 100 years of experience, beginning in 1906 under the Italian CIGA brand – a collection of Europe's most celebrated and iconic properties – serves as a solid foundation as we continuously evolve to exceed the desires of the luxury traveler.
From legendary palaces and remote retreats to timeless modern classics, each luxury hotel and resort is a unique and cherished expression of its locale – a portal to the destination’s cultural charms and treasures. If you are someone with an appreciation for evocative storytelling, a keen interest and passion for this destination's heritage, and a desire to deliver genuine, personalized, and anticipatory hospitality, then we invite you on our journey. In joining The Luxury Collection, you join a portfolio of brands with Marriott International. Be where you can do your best work, begin your purpose, belong to an amazing global team, and become the best version of you.