Operational Manager

At the heart of this role is We Are Nature’s mission and the living ecosystem of Pousada Picinguaba.

We Are Nature exists to steward places where hospitality becomes a true relationship with nature, culture, and human connection. For more than 25 years, Picinguaba has welcomed guests from around the world who are not seeking standardized luxury, but meaningful experiences rooted in place, simplicity, and presence.

Located in a preserved fishing village on the Costa Verde (São Paulo), Picinguaba is where forest, sea, and community are deeply interconnected. It is not just a hotel — it is a living environment that requires care, sensitivity, and attention.

The Role

We are entering a new phase of development at Pousada Picinguaba — deepening what has been built over time while refining operations, team structure, and guest experience.

We are looking for an Operations Manager to accompany this next phase.

This is a hands-on leadership role, combining daily operations, team coordination, and guest experience. It is also a life choice — to live in a small coastal village, close to nature, in a slower but intentional rhythm.

Key Responsibilities

• Ensure the smooth day-to-day operation of the pousada
• Coordinate and support all teams (housekeeping, kitchen, service, reservations)
• Maintain high standards of guest experience, with attention to detail and care
• Recruit, train and develop an aligned local team
• Bring clarity and structure to operational processes
• Manage schedules, logistics and daily coordination
• Support reporting, budgeting and operational planning
• Work closely with leadership on the evolution of the business
• Coordinate with the commercial team, ensuring alignment between sales activity, system availability, and the accuracy of updates and inventory in the reservation system.

Requirements

Professional experience & skills

• Relevant, proven experience in places aligned with our positioning, such as: retreat centers, wellness, conscious hospitality, transformational travel, boutique or experience-led hospitality
• Comfortable in both operational and leadership roles
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail
• Autonomous, reliable and solution-oriented
• Natural ease with people and team dynamics
• Able to balance structure with flexibility

International & Language

• Experience living and/or working in different countries
• Comfortable with an international clientele
• English: native level or equivalent (e.g. having lived at least 3 years in an English-speaking country)
• Portuguese: intermediate or fluent (willing to improve quickly)
• French is a plus

Mindset & Values

• You feel aligned with a more conscious, human approach to hospitality
• You are willing to live close to nature and adapt to a simpler lifestyle
• You are not driven only by financial compensation, but also by experience, learning and meaning
• You value integrity, responsibility and long-term relationships
• You are looking to be part of something evolving over time

Important – Please read before applying

To ensure a strong alignment with the nature of our work, we kindly ask you to review the criteria above before applying.

This will help both you and us assess whether this role is the right fit.

👉 If you do not meet these criteria, we kindly ask that you do not apply.

Trial Period (90 days)

The first 90 days constitute a mutual trial period, allowing both sides to assess alignment — operationally, relationally, and in terms of lifestyle.

During this period, the Operations Manager is expected to progressively take ownership of the role:

First 30 days — Integration & Understanding

• Understand the flow of operations and team dynamics
• Build trust with the team and local community
• Learn the guest experience and service standards
• Identify key gaps and areas for improvement

60 days — Structuring & Activation

• Take active ownership of daily operations
• Begin implementing improvements in organization and processes
• Strengthen team coordination and communication
• Demonstrate reliability and decision-making capacity

90 days — Autonomy & Consolidation

• Operate with autonomy across daily operations
• Ensure consistency in guest experience and service quality
• Show clear improvements in organization, clarity, and team functioning
• Align with leadership on priorities for the next phase

Evaluation & Continuity

• A 30-day and 60-day check-in will be conducted with leadership
• At the end of 90 days, a joint decision will be made regarding continuation
• Either party may terminate the collaboration during the trial period with prior notice
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Benefits

 Compensation:

• We offer a competitive compensation package (base US$3.000/month), tailored to the candidate’s experience, seniority, and current compensation level. It includes housing at Picinguaba.
•  Initial trial period: 3 months
• Minimum commitment: 12 months