Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Island Manager

🎯 Role Definition

The Island Manager is the senior on-site leader responsible for the safe, profitable, and sustainable operation of an island property or resort. This role blends hospitality, facilities management, marine logistics, environmental stewardship, vendor and contractor management, and community relations. The Island Manager ensures outstanding guest experiences, maintains operational continuity in remote environments, manages P&L performance, and enforces health, safety and regulatory compliance while leading a multi-discipline team in an often-challenging island context.

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📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Assistant Resort Manager or Resort Operations Supervisor
Marina or Port Operations Supervisor
Remote Property Manager / Facilities Manager

Advancement To:

Regional Resort Operations Director
Director of Island/Remote Properties
VP of Hospitality Operations or Head of Remote Assets

Lateral Moves:

General Manager (mainland resort)
Director of Sustainability or Environmental Programs

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Own full P&L responsibility for the island operation: develop annual budgets, prepare monthly financial reports, identify revenue growth opportunities (F&B, excursions, private events), monitor key performance indicators (occupancy, ADR, RevPAR, cost per occupied room) and implement corrective action plans to meet financial targets.
Lead day-to-day island operations including front desk/guest services, housekeeping, food & beverage, marina and water sport operations, engineering, and grounds maintenance to deliver consistent, high-quality guest experiences and operational uptime.
Recruit, hire, onboard and retain a multi-national, multi-skilled island team; design staffing plans for seasonal demand, implement training programs, performance management, succession planning and local workforce development initiatives.
Implement comprehensive health, safety and security programs tailored to a remote island environment: emergency response plans, fire & life-safety systems, medical evacuation procedures, crisis communication, and ongoing drills in coordination with local authorities.
Manage island supply chain and logistics: plan and supervise scheduled cargo shipments, inventory management, cold chain for perishable supplies, charter coordination (boats/helicopters), customs/permits clearance and contingency stock planning.
Negotiate, manage and evaluate vendor contracts and local suppliers for food & beverage, utilities, construction, waste management, fuel, and transportation; enforce service level agreements and drive cost efficiencies through competitive procurement.
Oversee on-site engineering, utilities and infrastructure including power generation (diesel, solar hybrid), water production/desalination, wastewater treatment, telecommunications, and preventive maintenance programs to ensure service reliability and regulatory compliance.
Develop and enforce environmental stewardship and sustainability programs: waste reduction, energy efficiency, coral and coastal protection plans, biodiversity monitoring, and compliance with local environmental legislation and conservation partners.
Create and manage island guest programming and experiences (excursions, diving, cultural experiences, events) to maximize guest engagement and ancillary revenue while ensuring safety and environmental best practices.
Maintain and improve property standards and capital asset condition through multi-year capital planning, life-cycle forecasting, management of refurbishment projects, contractor oversight and quality assurance.
Serve as primary on-island liaison to local governments, community leaders, conservation NGOs and stakeholders to secure permits, maintain positive relations, and align island activities with local regulations and community priorities.
Lead marketing and commercial initiatives in collaboration with central sales/marketing teams: provide on-island content, manage F&B concepts, support package development, and implement guest feedback improvements to drive occupancy and repeat business.
Monitor and manage utilities usage and costs, implement demand-reduction initiatives and alternative energy projects while ensuring uninterrupted guest and operational services.
Ensure all guest-facing operations meet brand standards and service excellence metrics; resolve escalated guest complaints, analyze root causes and implement corrective actions to preserve reputation and drive guest satisfaction scores.
Administer payroll, HR compliance, benefits administration, labor relations and local employment law adherence for on-island staff; work with HQ to implement fair hiring, compensation and welfare programs for remote employees.
Oversee maritime safety and vessel operations when applicable: ensure vessel maintenance programs, licensing and certification compliance for captains and crew, safe mooring practices and passenger transfer protocols.
Manage food safety and quality by implementing HACCP or equivalent programs, ensuring kitchen sanitation, vendor traceability, accurate portioning and inventory controls to reduce waste and maintain guest safety.
Direct guest reservation overflow and on-site group booking logistics including private events, weddings, corporate retreats and charter coordination, ensuring profitability and operational feasibility.
Monitor and report operational risks, prepare mitigation plans, and maintain business continuity strategies, including contingency plans for storms, power outages, supply chain disruptions and geopolitical risks.
Implement technology and property management systems (PMS), point-of-sale (POS), inventory systems and connectivity solutions to improve operational visibility, revenue management and guest experience.
Champion continuous improvement and employee engagement initiatives to reduce turnover, improve productivity and build a resilient island team culture aligned with company values.
Prepare and present regular operational, safety and financial reports to regional leadership and stakeholders, including incident reports, KPI dashboards and capital expenditure proposals.

Secondary Functions

Support cross-functional initiatives with corporate teams (finance, HR, marketing, sustainability) to align island operations with enterprise strategies and standards.
Act as an on-site project manager for capital improvement projects, coordinating with engineers, architects and contractors, managing timelines, budgets and quality control.
Coordinate guest health services and first-aid capabilities; manage relationships with contracted medical providers and evacuation partners.
Facilitate cultural exchange and community outreach programs that support local employment, education and conservation programs tied to the island’s social license to operate.
Monitor guest feedback channels (online reviews, surveys, social media) and convert insights into tangible operational and service improvements.
Lead onboarding and cross-training programs to ensure multi-functional coverage across the island during peak and off-peak periods.
Maintain inventory of safety equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) and ensure routine inspections and replacement schedules.
Assist in the development of seasonal promotions, dynamic pricing and packaging strategies to optimize occupancy and direct bookings.
Support ad-hoc legal and compliance requests, including land-use reporting, licensing renewals, and insurance claims coordination.
Participate in periodic audits (safety, environmental, financial, brand standards) and drive remediation actions to achieve compliance and best-practice certification.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

P&L management and financial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, variance analysis, and cost control for remote/resort operations.
Hospitality operations expertise: front office, housekeeping, F&B, events, guest services and experience management.
Marine and logistics operations: cargo planning, vessel operation oversight, mooring management and charter coordination.
Facilities and engineering oversight: preventive maintenance, power generation (diesel, solar), desalination/water systems, wastewater and telecoms.
Safety, security and emergency response planning: incident command, evacuation protocols, first-aid/medical coordination, and fire safety systems.
Environmental management and sustainability programs: waste management, biodiversity protection, regulatory compliance and reporting.
Contract negotiation and vendor management: procurement, SLA performance tracking and cost-benefit analysis.
Property Management Systems (PMS), POS, inventory control systems and basic IT/telecommunications troubleshooting.
Project management skills for capital works: scope development, contractor management, schedule and budget control.
Food safety systems knowledge (HACCP or local equivalents) and health inspection readiness.
HR administration and labor law familiarity for the host country/region including payroll, visa/work permit management where applicable.
Advanced Excel and financial modeling; experience with revenue management systems and KPI dashboards.

Soft Skills

Strong leadership and people management with proven ability to recruit, coach and retain a high-performing remote team.
Exceptional communication skills for internal teams, guests, stakeholders, government and community partners.
High resilience, adaptability and problem-solving under pressure in isolated or rapidly changing conditions.
Cultural sensitivity and diplomacy when working with local communities, authorities and multinational staff.
Strategic thinker with strong operational discipline and attention to detail.
Conflict resolution and crisis management skills to de-escalate incidents and lead recovery efforts.
Customer-centric mindset with dedication to delivering outstanding guest experiences and maintaining brand standards.
Negotiation skills and commercial mindset to maximize revenue streams while controlling costs.
Time management and prioritization skills for handling competing operational demands.
Initiative and entrepreneurial mindset to innovate guest experiences, sustainability initiatives and local partnerships.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

High school diploma with substantial relevant experience in hospitality, facilities or marine operations OR
Associate degree in Hospitality, Business, Facilities Management, or related field plus relevant experience.

Preferred Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, Marine Science, Environmental Management or related discipline.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Hospitality Management
Business Administration / Finance
Marine Operations / Maritime Studies
Environmental Science / Sustainability
Facilities Management / Engineering

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range: 5–10+ years of progressive experience in hospitality, resort operations, marine logistics or remote property management, with at least 2–4 years in a supervisory or managerial role.

Preferred:

5+ years directly managing island or remote resort operations, or large remote facilities with P&L accountability.
Demonstrated experience with capital project delivery, environmental compliance, and emergency response in a remote setting.
Experience working with multi-cultural teams and engaging with local communities and regulators.