Skippers is a small but ambitious hospitality, coliving, food, and impact business based in Diani, Kenya.

We are building more than a hotel. We are building a place where travellers, remote workers, local teams, and community projects can connect in a practical, useful way.

That means we need people who are hands-on, curious, structured, direct, and willing to take responsibility.

We are not looking for people who only want to “do their job”. We are looking for people who want to help build the company.

The type of people we look for

People who take ownership

At Skippers, ownership means seeing a problem and doing something about it.

• If a guest is confused, you help;
• If a room has an issue, you report it properly;
• If a process is messy, you help improve it;
• If something is not working, you do not wait for someone else to notice;

We value people who can be trusted to follow through.

People who are curious and like solving problems

We like people who ask:

• “Why is this happening?”
• “How could this be better?”
• “What can I learn so I can fix this?”

You do not need to know everything already. But you do need to be willing to learn, research, test, and improve.

A good Skippers team member does not stop at “I don’t know”. They go and find out.

People who are structured and organised

We are a small business, so organisation matters.

We use checklists, SOPs, planning tools, reporting, and weekly priorities to keep the business moving. This is not bureaucracy. It is how we reduce chaos, protect standards, and make sure important things do not get missed.

We like people who write things down, track tasks, give updates, and finish what they start.

People who communicate clearly and directly

Clear communication is essential here.

We expect people to raise problems early, give honest updates, and say when something is blocked. We do not expect perfection, but we do expect transparency.

If something has not been done, we would rather hear the truth quickly than receive excuses later.

People who care about guests

Hospitality is not just about rooms, food, or checklists. It is about how people feel when they stay with us.

Our guests may be digital nomads, solo travellers, local families, long-stay residents, or first-time visitors to Kenya. We want team members who notice small details, make people feel welcome, and care about creating a good experience.

Good service is practical, warm, and reliable.

People who are comfortable being hands-on

Skippers is not a corporate office where everyone has a narrow job description.

• Sometimes managers help with guest issues;
• Sometimes chefs talk to customers;
• Sometimes office staff help prepare for arrivals;
• Sometimes everyone needs to help solve an urgent operational problem;

We value people who are willing to get involved.

People who want to grow

We are especially interested in people who want to develop beyond their current role.

That could mean learning finance, operations, hospitality management, technology, sales, marketing, construction coordination, guest relations, or leadership.

We are building systems, businesses, properties, and community projects. The right people will have room to grow with us.

Who Skippers may not be right for

Skippers may not be the right fit if you:

• Prefer to wait for instructions before taking action
• Avoid difficult conversations
• Do not like using checklists, systems, or written updates
• Are uncomfortable with change
• Struggle to take responsibility for outcomes
• Prefer a highly corporate environment with fixed duties only

We are still building. That means things move quickly, priorities change, and everyone has to think.

What we value

• Ownership — do what you say you will do.
• Curiosity — learn, ask, research, improve.
• Structure — use systems to reduce risk and issues.
• Guest focus — care about the experience people have.
• Direct communication — raise issues early and honestly.
• Practical action — solve real problems, not theoretical ones.
• Teamwork — support the people around you.
• Impact — help us build something useful for guests, staff, and the local community.

Recommended learning

We value people who are curious, structured, and willing to improve how they think.

For candidates who want to strengthen their problem-solving and critical thinking skills, we recommend exploring these courses:

Logic and Critical Thinking — Duke University

A Coursera specialisation covering reasoning, arguments, logic, and better decision-making. View the course on Coursera

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving — Rochester Institute of Technology

An edX course focused on structured thinking, problem-solving, and practical decision-making. View the course on edX

You do not need to have completed these courses before applying. What matters more is the mindset: curiosity, follow-through, and a willingness to learn.

Business Strategy – University of Virginia 

A specialisation covering the fundamentals of business strategy. You’ll learn how to evaluate industry evolution, build and sustain competitive advantage, formulate and assess business strategies. View the course on Coursera

Google Workspace End User Path – Google

We use Google Workspace for our full internal tooling. Knowing how to use Sheets, Docs, Slides, Gmail and other tools is essential to be productive. View course on Google Skills

Want to build with us?

We are interested in people who want responsibility, learning, and the chance to be part of a growing business.

If that sounds like you, we would like to hear from you. Apply to join the Skippers team.