IT Manager -(Hotel Pre-Opening)

Job Title

IT Manager (Hotel Pre-Opening) – 5-Star Luxury Property | Zambia

Location

Zambia

Employment Type

Full-time | Pre-opening and operational role

Property Context

5-star luxury hotel

Position Summary:

IT strategy and governance, integration of hospitality applications, OPERA PMS ecosystem readiness, network and cloud services, cybersecurity, guest-facing technologies, and Audio Visual (AV) systems

Key Responsibilities

1) Pre-Opening Technology Delivery & Readiness

• Lead the

  IT pre-opening plan

  , timeline, and execution aligned with the overall hotel project plan.
• Coordinate with Owner, Project Team, Consultants, Operator (if applicable), and Contractors to ensure infrastructure and systems are delivered to specification.
• Oversee the

  design review, implementation, commissioning, and handover

  of all IT/ELV/AV-related systems.
• Manage UAT, end-to-end testing, and cutover planning for

  go-live readiness

  , including contingency and rollback plans.
• Ensure all systems are

  fully documented

  (as-built diagrams, SOPs, asset registers, warranties, licenses, configs, runbooks).

2) IT Operations (Hotel 24/7 Environment)

• Establish and maintain IT operations processes to support a 5-star guest and colleague experience (helpdesk, incident/problem management, change control).
• Ensure

  high availability

  of all mission-critical systems including PMS, network, telephony, Wi-Fi, payment interfaces, and guest services platforms.
• Implement SLAs and KPIs for service quality, system uptime, response time, and vendor performance.

3) Hospitality Systems & Integrations

• Own integration planning and execution across hotel platforms, ensuring data flows are stable and secure.
• Responsible for:

• OPERA PMS

  administration readiness and interfacing

• IDS/Channel Manager

  connectivity and configuration
• Interfaces and integrations with POS, payment, telephony, IPTV, door locks, Wi-Fi, guest apps, finance, HR systems (as applicable)
• Partner with operational leaders (Front Office, F&B, Finance, Sales, Security) to ensure systems support operational workflows.

4) IT Strategy, Governance & Vendor Management

• Define and execute the hotel’s IT strategy aligned to brand standards and business goals.
• Manage IT vendors, system integrators, service providers, and support contracts.
• Ensure compliance with applicable hospitality technology standards and internal audit requirements.
• Maintain technology roadmaps and lifecycle plans for hotel systems.

5) Cybersecurity & Risk Management

• Implement and maintain a robust cybersecurity posture: access control, endpoint protection, patching, vulnerability management, backups, and monitoring.
• Ensure secure network segmentation for

  guest vs. back-of-house

  environments.
• Enforce user account governance, least privilege, MFA (where applicable), and security awareness.
• Coordinate incident response plans and ensure audit-ready documentation.

6) Cloud Computing & Infrastructure

• Manage cloud-based services and hybrid environments, ensuring resiliency and performance.
• Oversee network architecture (LAN/WAN/Wi-Fi), server infrastructure (on-prem and/or cloud), and core services (directory, email, backup, monitoring).
• Ensure bandwidth planning, redundancy, and performance standards suitable for luxury guest expectations.

7) Audio Visual (AV) & Guest-Facing Technology

• Lead deployment and support strategy for hotel AV systems including:
• Meeting and event spaces (sound, projection/LED, control systems, conferencing)
• Public area background music and digital signage (if applicable)
• In-room guest technology ecosystem interfaces as required
• Train relevant teams and ensure support processes are established for events operations.

8) Budgeting & Cost Control

• Build and manage IT budgets (pre-opening CapEx and operating OpEx).
• Control costs through smart vendor negotiation, asset lifecycle management, and license optimization.
• Provide clear forecasting and reporting to hotel leadership/ownership.

9) Team Enablement & Training

• Recruit, train, and supervise IT team members (if applicable) and ensure 24/7 coverage readiness.
• Deliver colleague training on systems use, basic troubleshooting, and escalation workflows.
• Develop SOPs and knowledge base documentation for operational sustainability.

Required Skills & Experience

• Minimum 10+ years’ experience

  in

  hospitality IT

  , including

  5-star/luxury hotel environments

  .
• Proven

  pre-opening experience

  for

  5-star hotels

  (end-to-end delivery through go-live and stabilization).
• Strong capability across:

• IT Operations

  , service management, and hotel IT governance

• IT Integration

  across hospitality applications and vendors

• IT Strategy

  and technology roadmap development

• Budgeting

  (CapEx/OpEx), procurement, vendor and contract management

• OPERA PMS

  (knowledge of interfaces and operational readiness)

• IDS

  connectivity (and related distribution interfaces)

• Cloud Computing

  and hybrid environments

• Cybersecurity

  (controls, policies, monitoring, incident response)

• Audio Visual (AV) Systems

  for meetings/events and public areas

• Project Management

  (planning, dependency management, risk/issue tracking)
• Strong stakeholder management with hotel operations, ownership, and external integrators.
• High service orientation suitable for luxury hospitality standards.

Qualifications (Preferred)

• Degree or diploma in IT, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related discipline.
• Recognized certifications are advantageous (e.g., ITIL, PMP/PRINCE2, vendor/security certifications).
• Experience working with hotel standards and compliance frameworks (brand or operator standards where applicable).

Behavioral Competencies

• Hands-on, delivery-focused leader who can operate in a fast-paced pre-opening environment.
• Strong problem-solving, prioritization, and decision-making under pressure.
• Excellent communication skills with both technical and non-technical stakeholders.
• Discreet, ethical, and security-minded with a high standard for documentation and controls.

Eligibility & Special Requirements

• Willing to relocate to Zambia

  and work on-site full time.

• Single status only

  (as per company accommodation/relocation policy).
• Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings/weekends as required during pre-opening and go-live.