Director of Operations Customer Service

Sitel; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A global customer service company based in Cape Town seeks a Director of Operations to lead large-scale US client accounts. The role demands strong leadership, operational excellence, and P&L ownership to ensure high service quality and client satisfaction. Ideal candidates have over 12 years in BPO operations, with experience managing significant teams. This is a fast-paced and metrics-driven environment requiring adaptability to US time zones and continuous improvement initiatives.

Qualifications

• 12+ years of experience in BPO/call center operations.
• 5+ years leading large customer service operations for US markets.
• Proven experience managing 500–1,500+ FTE across multiple accounts.

Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operations for multiple US customer service clients.
• Ensure consistent achievement of SLAs and KPIs.
• Drive a customer-first culture focused on empathy and resolution.

Skills

Customer Experience leadership

Strategic and commercial thinking

Advanced data analysis and decision-making

Executive client management

Cross-cultural leadership

Change and transformation management

Strong presentation and communication skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or related field

Lean / Six Sigma certification

Job description

Role Overview

The Director of Operations is responsible for leading large-scale customer service clients supporting US clients within a BPO call center environment. This role ensures exceptional service delivery, client satisfaction, financial performance, and operational excellence across multiple accounts. The Director will drive performance across voice, email, chat, and technical customer support channels while maintaining strict adherence to SLAs, regulatory expectations, and customer experience standards typical of US markets.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead end-to-end operations for multiple US customer service clients
• Ensure consistent achievement of SLAs and KPIs such as Service Level, AHT, CSAT, FCR, and Quality Scores
• Drive a customer-first culture focused on empathy, resolution, and brand representation
• Standardize best practices across programs to improve efficiency and service quality

Client Relationship Management

• Act as the senior operational leader and primary escalation point for US clients
• Lead Weekly, Monthly, and Quarterly Business Reviews (WBRs/QBRs)
• Translate client expectations into actionable operational plans
• Identify opportunities for account growth, value-add services, and renewals

Financial & Commercial Ownership

• Own full P&L for assigned customer service accounts
• Manage cost drivers including headcount, overtime, shrinkage, and productivity
• Improve margins through operational efficiencies and automation initiatives
• Support commercial teams in pricing models, RFPs, and solution design

Workforce Strategy & Planning

• Partner with Workforce Management to ensure accurate forecasting for seasonal and promotional demand common in US/UK markets
• Oversee recruitment planning to meet ramp timelines and language/skill requirements
• Monitor schedule adherence, occupancy, and shrinkage to balance cost and service

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead Operations Managers, Senior Managers, and support leaders across programs
• Build a culture of accountability, coaching, and performance recognition
• Drive engagement strategies to reduce attrition in high-volume customer service environments
• Develop succession pipelines for frontline and leadership roles

Customer Experience & Quality

• Partner with QA and Training to enhance soft skills, product knowledge, and customer handling for Western markets
• Ensure consistent tone, communication style, and service etiquette aligned with US customer expectations
• Drive root cause analysis on customer dissatisfaction and repeat contacts

Compliance & Risk Management

• Ensure compliance with data privacy and consumer protection standards relevant to US clients (e.g., GDPR awareness, PCI-DSS where applicable)
• Oversee information security, call handling standards, and regulatory adherence
• Lead business continuity and disaster recovery readiness

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Lead Lean/Six Sigma or process improvement initiatives to reduce AHT and improve FCR
• Champion automation, self-service, and AI-assisted support tools
• Use data analytics and VOC (Voice of Customer) insights to improve journey and service outcomes

Governance & Reporting

• Provide executive-level reporting on operational, financial, and CX performance
• Establish governance routines with internal and client stakeholders
• Drive accountability through performance dashboards and action planning

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• SLA attainment (Service Level, Response Time, Backlog)
• Customer Satisfaction (CSAT) / NPSFirst Contact Resolution (FCR)Quality Assurance scoresEmployee engagement & attritionRevenue, margin, and cost per contactClient retention and account growth

  Qualifications & Experience

  • Bachelor’s degree in Business, Management, or related field (MBA preferred)
  • 12+ years of experience in BPO/call center operations
  • 5+ years leading large customer service operations for US markets
  • Proven experience managing 500–1,500+ FTE across multiple accounts
  • Strong P&L ownership and commercial acumen
  • Experience working directly with international clients and stakeholders
  • Knowledge of Western customer service standards and communication expectations
  • Lean / Six Sigma certification preferred

  Core Competencies

  • Customer Experience leadership
  • Strategic and commercial thinking
  • Advanced data analysis and decision-making
  • Executive client management
  • Cross-cultural leadership
  • Change and transformation management
  • Strong presentation and communication skills

  Work Environment

  24/7 customer service environment supporting US time zones which requires schedule flexibility and availability. Fast-paced, metrics-driven, client-facing BPO setting.