General Manager - Retirement Community

About the role

Fairseat Foundation is a not-for-profit retirement community in Nairobi offering cottages, apartments and rooms in a green, welcoming environment. It is seeking a General Manager to lead the organisation, reporting to the Board. The role is full and demanding, covering finance, operations, residents and families, staffing, facilities, care services, catering, risk and future development.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the heads of Finance, Care and Nursing, Catering, Housekeeping and Laundry, Maintenance and Facilities and other functional teams, ensuring they work together effectively.
• Oversee budgets, income, expenditure, cashflow, reserves, procurement and internal controls, working closely with the Chief Accountant.
• Ensure policies and procedures support finance, record-keeping, health and safety, security, housekeeping and maintenance.
• Protect the community's character as a home, stay visible and approachable, and listen to residents and families.
• Oversee admissions and resident reviews with the care team and the Board, supporting families in decisions that protect safety, dignity and community comfort.
• Communicate maturely with residents and families, including those living overseas, and guide people through difficult changes, serious illness and bereavement.
• Lead a diverse team of managers and frontline staff, setting clear expectations and making performance management fair and transparent.
• Plan staffing with functional heads as resident numbers and service needs change, and create an environment where staff can raise concerns.
• Work with the Board on the community's future, including respite care and other services, and develop relationships with doctors, hospitals, clubs and community groups.
• Identify additional income streams and report regularly to the Board on operations, finance, occupancy, risks, incidents and resident matters.

Required profile

• Seven to ten years of relevant professional experience, including a senior operational or general management role.
• Experience leading managers and frontline teams, setting expectations and holding people accountable.
• Experience of working in Kenya, with knowledge of local employment practices.
• Backgrounds such as hospitality, property, healthcare, professional services or the not-for-profit sector are welcome; direct experience of retirement living, healthcare or social care is useful but not required.
• Genuine empathy for older people, warmth, authority, discretion, emotional resilience and a proactive approach.

Required skills

• Strong financial and commercial judgement: reading and challenging budgets and management accounts, cost control, procurement and internal controls.
• Ability to move between Board discussions, financial reviews, staffing issues, maintenance problems and conversations with residents or families.