Fuel Business Unit Lead

Performability; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading fuel solutions provider in Johannesburg is seeking a Head of Fuel to lead their Fuel Division's strategic development and operations. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of 3 years of senior experience in the related industry, focusing on partner management and operational scaling. Strong interpersonal and leadership skills are essential for maintaining key stakeholder relationships and overseeing a team of specialists.

Qualifications

• 3+ years senior experience in the fuel industry.
• Demonstrated experience in partner and stakeholder management.
• Proven ability to lead and mentor teams effectively.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic development and operational scaling of the Fuel Division.
• Build and maintain high-trust relationships with key stakeholders.
• Manage end-to-end onboarding of new sites, ensuring operational integrity.

Skills

Commercial Acumen

Relationship Leadership

Systems Thinking

Resilience and Agility

Executional Excellence

Education

Related Degree

Job description

Purpose of the Position :

The Head of Fuel will lead the strategic development, partner management, and operational scaling of the Fuel Division. This role owns the end-to-end commercial, relationship, and product lifecycle, and is accountable for developing sustainable, data-driven fuel solutions. You will unlock growth opportunities, manage key partnerships, and ensure commercial viability and operational integrity for our client across South Africa.

Key Responsibilities :

• Partner and Stakeholder Relationship Management : Build, maintain, and expand high-trust relationships with key industry stakeholders such as Oil Companies, Branded Marketers, Retailers, Banks, POS providers, and Infrastructure Partners. You will also serve as the face for our client in industry events and strategic partner engagements , and negotiate exclusivity and integration agreements with banking partners.
• Strategic Product Development and Innovation : Identify new commercial opportunities and iterate on product offerings based on retailer and partner needs. Drive product enhancement through insights from POS, ATG, and financial data integration , and collaborate with technical teams for seamless implementation of smart fuel management solutions.
• Operational and Commercial Oversight : Manage end-to-end onboarding of new sites, including due diligence, profitability analysis, and partner approvals. Oversee the implementation and optimization of ATG systems, POS integrations, and banking infrastructure , ensuring real-time access and oversight of site performance, fuel volumes, cash flow, and credit usage.
• Team Leadership and Capacity Building : Lead and mentor a team of Fuel Specialists and Account Specialists to ensure consistent national coverage. Build team capability in financial literacy, industry knowledge, and relationship management.
• Market Expansion and Channel Development : Drive the geographical and portfolio expansion of our client, prioritizing strategic growth corridors. Engage branded marketers and oil companies to access downstream fuel retailers.

Key Competencies :

Commercial Acumen : Deep understanding of fuel retail economics, operational efficiency levers, and capital deployment.

Relationship Leadership : High-trust interpersonal skills with the ability to influence stakeholders across oil companies, banks, and retailers.

Systems Thinking : Ability to connect data points across financials, operational data, and POS systems to identify insights and risk.

Resilience and Agility : Operates effectively in unstructured, high-growth environments with a proactive problem-solving mindset.

Executional Excellence : Drives accountability, precision, and follow-through in scaling complex operations across multiple stakeholders.

Requirements :

3+ years senior experience

Related industry experience

Related Degree preferred