Chief Operating Officer (Operations, Data & Digital)

Edgegrowth; Johannesburg, Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 2,000,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Edge Growth Solutions seeks a Chief Operating Officer to lead Operations, Data and Digital, partnering with the CEO to scale the business while improving productivity and margins. You will design scalable processes, ensure governance, and drive data and digital capabilities across multiple client engagements in South Africa.

You will own risk, vendor relationships and the delivery playbook, while shaping strategy with the leadership team to deliver sustainable growth and client value.

Qualifications

• Proven experience designing or rebuilding operating models.
• Strong operational leadership across multiple client engagements.
• Data and digital fluency with ability to set direction and manage vendors.
• Commercial mindset: understand how operating choices affect revenue and growth.

Responsibilities

• Design and embed a simple, scalable operating model with clear roles and efficient workflows.
• Provide delivery enablement with tools, processes and systems for teams to work consistently.
• Own operational risk, governance and performance reporting with early issue flagging.
• Select and manage partners and vendors for quality, cost and value.
• Capture reusable methods and IP to avoid starting from scratch across teams.
• Set and deliver a data strategy that supports client delivery and growth.
• Build and maintain reliable, scalable data systems and tools.
• Provide accurate, timely reports to clients and teams.
• Define data ownership, standards and governance to ensure accuracy and trust.
• Ensure data privacy and compliance with POPIA and other requirements.
• Turn data into insights to improve programme performance and decisions.
• Own strategy and performance of Edge's digital platforms and tools.
• Leverage automation and AI to reduce manual work and cut delivery costs.
• Lead high-performing Operations, Data and Digital teams with clear accountability.
• Contribute to overall business strategy and scale decisions as a ManCo member.
• Partner with the CEO to translate priorities into action across the business.
• Represent Edge's capabilities confidently with senior clients and partners.
• Drive change leadership and foster a culture of accountability.

Job description

Chief Operating Officer (Operations, Data & Digital)

Johannesburg / Cape Town, South Africa | Posted on 09/09/2026

Are you passionate about making a living from making living in South Africa better for everyone? Then join our team of SME Development Solutionists and help us to pioneer a new, more inclusive business landscape in South Africa while creating shared value through purpose-led partnerships.

Edge Growth Solutions is a leading South African impactbusiness. We partner with large companies to design and deliver Enterprise andSupplier Development (ESD) programmes that help small and medium enterprises(SMEs) grow, create jobs and build stronger businesses. We work across banking,insurance, mining and energy.

Edge is entering its next phase of growth. We need toscale without adding cost and complexity at the same rate, and use data andtechnology more effectively. The Chief Operating Officer will lead this shiftacross Operations, Data and Digital.

This is a build-and-run role. Working with the CEO andleadership team, you will improve how the business runs today while buildingwhat Edge needs for scale. Your mission is to turn strategy into action, raiseproductivity and margin, and make growth easier to deliver.

Purpose

Build and run a simple, scalable operating model thathelps Edge deliver strong outcomes for clients and SMEs, improve productivityand margin, and grow sustainably. Lead the Operations, Data and Digitalcapabilities that make this possible.

Operations

• Operating model and ways of working: design and embed a simple, scalable andtechnology-enabled operating model with clear roles and efficient workflows.
• Delivery enablement: givedelivery teams the tools, processes, systems and support they need to workconsistently and efficiently.
• Risk, governance and performance reporting: own operational risk and controls. Set a clear managementrhythm that flags performance and issues early.
• Supplier and vendor management: select and manage partners and vendors for quality,performance, cost and value.
• Knowledge and intellectual property: capture what Edge learns in reusable methods, tools andintellectual property so teams do not keep starting from scratch.

Data

• Data strategy: setand deliver a data strategy that supports client delivery, business performanceand growth.
• Data infrastructure: buildand maintain reliable, scalable data systems and tools.
• Measurement and reporting: give clients and teams accurate, timely reports they cantrust and use.
• Data governance and quality: set clear definitions, ownership and standards so data isaccurate, consistent and trusted.
• Data privacy and protection: make sure Edge handles data responsibly and complies withthe Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) and other relevantrequirements.
• Analytics and insight: turn data into insights that improve programme performance, businessdecisions and client conversations.

Digital

• Digital platforms and assets: own the strategy, roadmap and performance of Edge'sdigital tools and platforms. Make sure they are reliable, used and ready toscale.
• Automation and artificial intelligence (AI): use automation and AI to cut manual work, improve speedand quality, and lower the cost of delivery where technology can do the workbetter.

Leadership

• Team leadership: buildand lead strongOperations, Data and Digital teams with clear accountabilityand high standards.
• Business leadership: asa ManCo member, help shape business strategy, commercial performance and thechoices Edge must make to scale.
• CEO partnership: workclosely with the CEO to turn priorities into action across the business.
• Client and partner credibility: represent Edge's Operations, Data and Digitalcapabilities confidently with senior clients, partners and vendors.
• Change leadership and culture: lead change with clarity and pace while keeping teamsengaged and accountable.

Requirements

What success looks like in the first year

• Edge has a clear,simpler operating model with well-defined roles, standard ways of working and astrong management rhythm.
• Productivity isimproving, and the business can handle more work without adding cost andcomplexity at the same rate.
• Reliable data,measurement and reporting are in place and trusted by leaders, delivery teamsand clients.
• Edge's digital toolshave a clear roadmap, are stable and well managed, and automation is reducingmanual work.
• The Operations, Dataand Digital teams are strong, accountable and set up to support growth.

Experience andtrack record

• A builder: youhave designed or rebuilt an operating model, data capability or digitalplatform and made it work in practice.
• A strong operator: youcan run a complex, multi-client business to a high standard while improving it.You know change cannot come at the cost of today's delivery.
• Data and digital fluency: you have led data or technology work directly. You do notneed to be an engineer, but you can set direction, make trade-offs and hold teams and vendors to account.
• Commercial leadership: you understand how operating choices affect revenue, margin,productivity and growth. Experience in professional services or anotherpeople-intensive business is useful.
• Senior stakeholder credibility: you can influence executives, work across teams and represent Edge confidently with major corporate clients.

How you work

• You see the wholesystem and also get into the detail needed to make change happen.
• You are comfortablewith ambiguity and change. You create clarity, make hard choices and keep thebusiness moving.
• You are rigorouswith numbers. You use data to spot problems early, make trade-offs and stayfocused on outcomes.
• You have low ego andhigh ownership. You care about Edge's impact and are disciplined about buildinga business that can sustain it.