Chief Operating Officer

Goapply Connect; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1 000 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in South Africa is seeking a decisive Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive operational excellence and scale business performance. The ideal candidate will have proven experience in senior operations leadership, strong financial acumen, and exceptional leadership capability. Key responsibilities include overseeing operations, translating strategic vision into actionable plans, and ensuring compliance with governance requirements.

Qualifications

• Proven experience as COO, Managing Director, or in a senior operations leadership role.
• Strong track record of scaling operations and delivering sustainable outcomes.
• Exceptional leadership capability with the ability to influence and drive results.
• Deep expertise in operational strategy, performance management, and business transformation.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations with accountability for performance and efficiency.
• Translate strategic vision into actionable plans for seamless execution.
• Drive financial discipline, optimizing cost structures while enabling growth.
• Implement scalable systems and processes to support rapid expansion.

Skills

Leadership

Operational Strategy

Change Management

Financial Acumen

Stakeholder Management

Communication Skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Operations

MBA (preferred)

Job description

Overview

We are seeking a decisive and commercially astute Chief Operating Officer (COO) to drive operational excellence and scale business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee day‑to‑day operations with full accountability for operational performance and efficiency.
• Translate strategic vision into actionable plans, ensuring seamless execution across functions.
• Drive financial discipline, optimizing cost structures while enabling growth.
• Implement scalable systems, processes, and controls to support rapid expansion.
• Monitor performance metrics, ensuring accountability and data‑driven decision‑making.
• Lead organizational transformation initiatives, embedding a culture of high performance.
• Collaborate with executive leadership to shape long‑term strategy and business priorities.
• Ensure compliance with governance, risk management, and regulatory requirements.

Requirements

• Proven experience as COO, Managing Director, or in a senior operations leadership role within a complex, fast‑paced environment.
• Strong track record of scaling operations and delivering sustainable business outcomes.
• Exceptional leadership capability with the ability to influence, inspire, and drive results.
• Deep expertise in operational strategy, performance management, and business transformation.
• Financial acumen with experience managing large‑scale budgets and P&L ownership.
• Demonstrated success in change management and organizational development.
• Strong stakeholder management, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, Operations, or related field; MBA preferred.

What We Value

• Commercial focus with relentless execution discipline.
• Ability to balance strategic foresight with tactical delivery.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with resilience and agility in dynamic markets.