Country Lead (Operations)

Pillango Placements; Wes-Kaap; Hybrid; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A rapidly growing African scale-up seeks an early-career professional to manage country operations with significant responsibilities. This role involves solving commercial problems, managing P&L, engaging across cultures while earning a USD-denominated salary between $1,200 – $2,500. Ideal candidates have a minimum GPA of 70% and a degree in Commerce, Science, or Engineering. Enjoy a flexible hybrid work model and additional perks like share options and travel opportunities.

Benefits

Share options

Travel opportunities

Annual team retreats

Qualifications

• Less than 3 years of professional experience.
• Minimum GPA of 70% from a top-four South African university.

Responsibilities

• Develop and demonstrate problem-solving capabilities.
• Manage profit & loss of a business area.
• Engage with teams and customers across cultures.
• Support ad-hoc projects in various areas.

Skills

Entrepreneurial spirit

Problem-solving

Cultural communication

Education

Degree in Commerce, Science or Engineering

Job description

If your academic record reads like a fairy tale and you will thrive in a fast-paced mission-led environment, take a closer look!

In addition to stepping into a rare, career-defining opportunity as an early-career professional, you will earn in US dollars while working in a flexible hybrid model based in the heart of Cape Town.

The Company:

A rapidly growing African scale-up is improving everyday lives by providing access to solar energy and smartphones through innovative financing, in-house technology, and broad distribution networks across Africa.

What’s in it for you?

You will join a purpose-led business that combines the stability of a large organisation with the agility of a small team, where you are trusted with meaningful responsibility from Day 1 in a high-expectation, high-support culture. Enjoy additional benefits such as share options, travel opportunities, hybrid flexibility and annual team retreats.

What would make you ideal for the position?

• You are an early-career professional (0–3 years’ experience) who is excited to take on broad responsibilities and full country ownership, while still benefiting from strong support.
• You bring a clear entrepreneurial spirit, thrive on solving problems and taking accountability,.
• You have an outstanding academic record—minimum GPA of 70% from a top-four South African university or 80% from others—with a completed degree in Commerce, Science or Engineering.

Your Responsibilities?

• Practice Entrepreneurship: In this role, and along the career path beyond Country Lead, you are expected to continually develop and demonstrate capabilities to effectively solve commercial problems.
• Manage country operations: Your role will entail working with functional heads to manage the profit & loss of an area of business. Troubleshoot sales issues, train and develop in-country operations team members, and managing the financial outcomes of the business.
• Connect across cultures: Visit African countries and meet team members and customers in the local context. You'll need to be able to communicate, connect, and manage performance across cultural boundaries.
• Support with ad-hoc projects: Play a supporting role in various functional areas such as sales & marketing, customer support, operations & people management, and culture building.

The Offer:

• A USD-denominated monthly salary between $1,200 – $2,500, converted to ZAR (Offer will be market related, based on qualifications, skills and experience)

We don’t want you to miss out due to limited access to your academic results. Please keep your academic record, including your GPA / overall average, readily available, as this will be required as one of the first steps in the process.