Executive Operations (Engineering)

Edge Executive Search Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1 200 000 - 1 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading executive search firm is seeking an experienced engineering and facilities executive in Gauteng to take full accountability for large-scale operations. You'll enhance service delivery and ensure compliance with strategic requirements while engaging with senior stakeholders. The role demands 15+ years of experience, a degree in engineering or facilities management, and proficiency in MS Office and SAP. This is a permanent position focused on operational excellence and strategic leadership in a complex environment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of relevant experience, including senior engineering and executive management.
• Strong background in facilities, property, and customer relationship management.
• Solid commercial, contract, and vendor management capability.

Responsibilities

• Take full accountability for engineering and facilities operations across multiple strategic sites.
• Develop and manage capex and operational budgets.
• Engage senior customer stakeholders to align business plans with FM strategies.
• Define service delivery models and contract compliance frameworks.

Skills

Commercial acumen

Operational depth

Stakeholder engagement

Contract management

Vendor management

Education

Degree or BTech in Engineering, Facilities Management, or Management

Government Certificate of Compliance (GCC)

MBA/MBL (advantageous)

Tools

MS Office

SAP

Job description

Executive Operations (Engineering) | Gauteng | Permanent

A senior leadership opportunity for an experienced engineering and facilities executive ready to take full accountability for complex, large-scale operations. This role sits at the centre of strategy, governance, and service delivery across critical facilities.

Reporting to the COO, you will be responsible for ensuring that all strategic, critical, and operational facilities meet both contractual and business requirements. You will design and embed an effective operating model across people, process, and systems to enable consistent, high-quality, and cost-effective service delivery.

The role demands a strong balance between commercial acumen and operational depth. You will translate customer business strategies into facilities management requirements, lead senior stakeholder engagements, and ensure compliance with statutory, contractual, and governance frameworks. A key focus will be driving operational excellence while supporting long-term growth, culture, and sustainability.

Our client is a well-established organisation operating in a complex, asset-intensive environment with high standards for safety, compliance, and service continuity. They partner with blue-chip customers and manage large, technically demanding portfolios where leadership credibility and execution discipline are critical.

What You’ll Do

• Take full accountability for engineering and facilities operations across multiple strategic sites
• Develop and manage short-, medium-, and long-term capex and operational budgets
• Engage senior customer stakeholders to align business plans with FM strategies
• Define service delivery models, KPIs, and contract compliance frameworks
• Lead and influence contracts, technical, facilities, and engineering management teams
• Drive supplier, vendor, and service provider performance in collaboration with Supply Chain
• Ensure compliance with OHS, ISO, governance, and Integrated Management Systems
• Lead change, culture, and communication initiatives across the portfolio

What You Bring

• Degree or BTech in Engineering, Facilities Management, or Management (MBA/MBL advantageous)
• Government Certificate of Compliance (GCC)
• Minimum 15 years’ relevant experience, including senior engineering and executive management
• Strong background in facilities, property, and customer relationship management
• Solid commercial, contract, and vendor management capability
• Working knowledge of finance, law, auditing, and risk management
• Proficiency in MS Office and SAP

What Success Looks Like

• Facilities consistently meeting or exceeding contractual and customer expectations
• Strong cost control with compliant and well-managed budgets
• Engaged teams with clear accountability and performance measures
• Stable, compliant operations aligned to safety, quality, and environmental standards
• Trusted senior-level relationships with customers and internal leadership