Commercial Operations Manager – Events & Conferences Job

Hospitality Jobs. Corporate Staffing Jobs. Commercial Operations Manager – Events & Conferences leading the launch and operational growth of a resort, requiring a Diploma/Degree in Hospitality Management with 4+ years experience in hospitality leadership or event operations, in a hospitality environment, on-site role in Naivasha.

Our client is a new resort and conference/event destination in Naivasha seeking to hire an energetic, commercially driven, and hands-on Commercial Operations Manager to lead the launch and operational growth of the property.

Unlike a traditional administrative management role, this position requires an entrepreneurial operator who balances proactive business development and local account acquisition with dynamic, on-the-ground execution.

Role Purpose

The Commercial Operations Manager will establish operational routines, drive property revenue, and lead day-to-day guest experiences. The position oversees Front Office, Housekeeping, Food C Beverage, Conferencing C Events, and Facility Operations, working in close coordination with Finance and Marketing to build a lean, profitable, and high-quality hospitality business.

Key Responsibilities

Business Generation, Sales and Client Acquisition

• Actively prospect, engage, and secure bookings from corporate clients, NGOs, government bodies, event planners, tour operators, and private event hosts in Naivasha and surrounding regions.
• Host prospective clients, lead site inspections, and act as the primary commercial closer for major group accounts.
• Partner with Marketing to create, price, and sell attractive conferencing, team-building, staycation, and event packages tailored to market demand.
• Build and maintain a healthy pipeline of prospective leads to maximize weekday venue utilization and weekend leisure occupancy.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients before, during and after events.
• Participate in sales missions, exhibitions, networking events and industry forums.

Excellent Event Delivery and Guest Experience

• Personally oversee operational execution during major conferences, corporate retreats, and special events to ensure contract terms and guest service standards are exceeded.
• Lead pre-event alignment briefings with kitchen, service, and technical teams to guarantee seamless service delivery.
• Handle guest feedback directly on the floor, converting guest experiences into positive reviews, testimonials, and repeat bookings

Agile Operational Leadership Staff Productivity

• Implement a flexible, volume-driven staffing model utilizing cross-trained core staff and casual labor that scales up for major events and scales back on quiet days.
• Maintain active daily schedules during low-occupancy periods focused on outbound client outreach, local networking, preventative maintenance, and targeted service skills training.
• Ensure all public spaces, conference rooms, guest areas, lawns, and facilities remain immaculate and presentation-ready for prospective client walkthroughs at all times.

Revenue & Commercial Management

• Drive occupancy and revenue through conference and events business, particularly during low-demand periods.
• Monitor conversion rates, average spend, event profitability and overall sales performance.
• Recommend appropriate packages, promotions and value-added offerings.
• Ensure commercial decisions are aligned with the resort’s revenue objectives.
• Prepare regular sales forecasts and pipeline reports.
• Track confirmed, tentative and lost business and analyse reasons for lost opportunities.

Commercial Alignment Operational Governance

• Work alongside the Finance C Accounting team to ensure operational activities stay strictly within budget parameters, eliminating waste and controlling operational leakage.
• Ensure deposits, payments, contracts and other commercial requirements are followed up in a timely manner.
• Track conversion rates on site visits, revenue per available space, client return rates, and guest satisfaction scores.
• Provide regular operational and commercial updates to Management covering sales leads, event pipelines, guest feedback, and operational performance.

Team & Operational Leadership

• Coordinate and provide direction to the relevant teams involved in events and conferences.
• Ensure all teams understand client requirements and event expectations.
• Support training and coaching of staff on conference and events service standards.
• Promote teamwork and effective communication across departments.
• Ensure health, safety, hygiene and operational standards are maintained during events.

Qualification

• Diploma or Degree in Hospitality Management, Hotel Management, Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field.
• At least 4 years of hands-on experience in hospitality leadership, conference sales, or high-volume event operations and
• At least 2–3 years in a supervisory or management-level role.
• Commercial Drive: Demonstrated track record of prospecting, converting leads, hosting successful site tours, and building local corporate networks.
• Existing relationships with corporate, NGO, government, travel and event clients would be an advantage.
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets and converting business.
• Experience using hotel PMS, CRM, sales reporting or event management systems is desirable.
• Operational Mastery: Strong practical background running food C beverage, conferencing, and guest services during live events.
• Agility: Ability to operate comfortably in an entrepreneurial, launch-phase environment without reliance on large administrative teams.

How to Apply

If you are up to the challenge and possess the necessary qualifications and experience, please send your CV, quoting only the job title in the email subject (Commercial Operations Manager ––Conferences), to vacancies@corporatestaffing.co.ke  before 16^th September 2026

NB: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. If you do not receive any communication from us within two weeks of your application, kindly consider your application unsuccessful. We appreciate your interest and thank you for applying

Corporate Staffing Service never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the recruitment process