Chief Operating Officer

ZealHR; Cape Town; Hybrid; ZAR 1,200,000 - 1,800,000; Full time

Job summary

ZealHR seeks a transformative Chief Operations Officer to lead cross-country operations across Africa, reporting to the CEO and Executive Team. The role requires translating strategy into disciplined execution while developing capable leaders and strengthening accountability across diverse markets.

You will drive operational excellence, design scalable systems, and align impact, growth, finance, people and technology.

Qualifications

• Proven 12–15+ years in leadership within NGO/community development contexts.
• 5+ years in senior leadership across multiple African countries.

Responsibilities

• Translate strategy into clear operational plans across countries.
• Lead pan-African operational execution with accountability and resources.
• Build simple, scalable systems, SOPs and dashboards.
• Oversee budgets, forecasts and governance with Finance.

Skills

Systems leadership

Execution discipline

Leadership multiplier

Pan-African leadership

Financial stewardship

Education

Postgraduate qualification in Social Sciences/Development Studies/MBA/Public Policy

Tools

Microsoft Office

Teams

Excel

AI tools

Job description

Chief Operations Officer

Our client is a well-established pan-African youth development organisation working through grassroots organisations, community partners and wider stakeholder networks to equip young people with the skills, leadership capabilities and opportunities required to participate meaningfully in society and the economy. An exceptional Chief Operations Officer (COO) is sought to work closely with the CEO and Executive Team to build the operational backbone required for sustainable growth across Africa. This individual can be based in South Africa or Rwanda. This is not a maintenance role; it requires a systems builder and leadership multiplier who can translate strategy into disciplined execution while developing capable leaders and strengthening accountability across multiple countries. Responsibilities: Strategic & Operational Leadership Translate strategy into clear operational plans, priorities and measurable outcomes across countries and

functions. Lead pan-African operational execution, ensuring teams have the clarity, resources and accountability to deliver. Strengthen integration across impact, growth, finance, people, technology and field operations. Lead operational improvement and restructuring initiatives to prepare the organisation for sustainable scale. Systems, Performance & Operational Excellence Build simple, scalable systems, SOPs and processes that enable effective execution. Establish dashboards, KPIs, reporting structures and performance accountability mechanisms. Oversee operational budgets, forecasts and performance in collaboration with Finance. Identify operational risks and ensure appropriate mitigation and governance measures are in place. Pan-African Field & Partner Leadership Provide executive leadership to National Managers and country teams across multiple African markets. Strengthen collaboration with grassroots partners, governments, civil society and community stakeholders. Ensure consistent, high-quality programme delivery across diverse operating environments. Empower country leaders with clear accountability, authority and support. Leadership, Culture & Organisational Development Develop strong senior, country and functional leaders who take ownership and make effective decisions. Strengthen organisational culture, leadership maturity and team performance. Maintain clear roles, reporting structures, decision rights and performance expectations. Lead organisational change with clarity, empathy, accountability and maturity. Capacity Building & Quality Delivery Oversee training, resource development and capacity-building functions. Strengthen systems that equip internal teams and implementing partners for consistent delivery. Ensure operational execution remains aligned with programme quality and intended outcomes. Support scalable delivery models that contribute to long-term organisational sustainability. Executive Collaboration & External Engagement Support the CEO with strategic partnerships, donor engagements and key stakeholder relationships. Collaborate with Finance, Growth and Impact leadership to strengthen governance, sustainability and scalability. Represent the CEO with internal and external stakeholders when required. Build trusted relationships across government, donors, civil society and private-sector partners.

Requirements: 12–15+ years leadership experience within community development, youth development, social enterprise,

systems-level NGO or a closely related environment. At least 5 years’ experience in a senior leadership or executive management position. Demonstrated experience leading operations across multiple African countries and culturally diverse

environments. Significant experience working within grassroots African development contexts and distributed partner or

affiliate networks. Proven experience designing and implementing operational systems, performance frameworks and

accountability structures at scale. Experience leading organisational restructuring, transformation or significant periods of operational change. Strong financial and operational management experience, including budgets, forecasting, resource allocation,

trade-offs and sustainability. Proven ability to develop senior and mid-level leaders while creating accountable, high-performing teams. Experience engaging donors, governments, civil society organisations and other multi-stakeholder partners. Strong understanding of African youth development, education, livelihoods and economic participation

ecosystems. Fluent English and fluency in an African language – essential. Willingness to undertake regular travel across Africa. Qualifications Postgraduate qualification in Social Sciences, Development Studies, Business Administration, Public Policy or a

related discipline from a recognised institution. Equivalent senior leadership experience within relevant sectors may also be considered. Advantageous Direct experience within youth development programmes, including peer education, youth employment,

entrepreneurship or education-to-work pathways. Experience building networks of independent grassroots, community-based or social franchise partners. Exposure to social enterprise models and transitioning organisations towards diversified and sustainable revenue

streams. Experience designing or overseeing blended training and capacity-building platforms. Strong knowledge of government systems and stakeholder ecosystems across African markets. Proficiency with digital collaboration, data and productivity tools, including Microsoft Office, Teams, Excel and

emerging AI technologies. Key Competencies Systems leadership: Builds simple, scalable structures that enable people to perform effectively without

unnecessary dependence on central leadership. Execution discipline: Converts strategy into clear plans, measurable targets, operating rhythms and consistent

follow-through. Leadership multiplier: Develops capable leaders, delegates meaningful authority and creates accountability

without becoming controlling. Pan-African leadership: Navigates different cultures, countries and operating environments with maturity,

respect and contextual awareness. Financial stewardship: Understands budgets, resource constraints, operational trade-offs and the relationship

between impact and financial sustainability. Change leadership: Brings clarity and stability during restructuring, growth and organisational transformation. Executive communication: Builds trusted relationships and communicates effectively across boards, executives,

governments, donors, employees and community stakeholders. Data-informed decision-making: Uses meaningful operational and financial information to identify risks, improve

performance and guide priorities. Personal accountability: Demonstrates maturity, discipline, integrity and calm decision-making under pressure.