General Manager

wePlace; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 391,000 - 502,000; Full time

Job summary

wePlace is seeking a General Manager to lead its Cape Town office as the senior operational and commercial leader. You will own day-to-day operations, client relationships, and logistics while driving tech adoption and performance across the site.

The role requires balancing national executive responsibilities with local execution, stabilizing teams, and serving as escalation point for Cape Town accounts. A strong focus on cost control and revenue defense is essential.

Responsibilities

• Senior On-Site Leadership: Function as the primary senior authority in the Cape Town office, ensuring smooth day-to-day office management and high-level team performance.
• Culture Transfer: Transfer Johannesburg office work culture, operating standards, and accountability mechanisms to the Cape Town branch.
• Team Stability & Morale: Address turnover in Cape Town through proactive leadership, structured guidance, and coaching.
• Account Ownership & Portfolio NRR: Take direct responsibility for Cape Town client accounts, drive account health and maintain NRR ≥ 105%.
• Executive Alignment & Proactive Support: Build relationships with client decision-makers and manage client needs.
• QBRs & Commercial Growth: Prepare and execute QBRs, manage renewals, negotiate pricing/scope, monetize out-of-scope requests.
• Logistics Oversight: Oversee Cape Town logistics execution and replace the need for a dedicated Logistics Manager.
• Tech Concepts & Automation: Deploy daily tech tools and ensure 100% data hygiene in Cape Town using ClickUp and automated workflows.
• Cost Savings: Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities across transport and operations.
• Performance & Escalations: Conduct monthly KPI reviews and act as the first escalation point for risks in Cape Town.

Job description

Our client is looking for a General Manager to serve as the senior operational and commercial leader at their Cape Town offices.

CTC: R35 000 p/m - R45 000 p/m

Role Summary

The General Manager serves as the senior operational and commercial leader on-site in Cape Town. This role is created to balance the national executive responsibilities of the General Manager by owning day-to-day operations, client relationships, logistics execution, and tech adoption in Cape Town. The GM will ensure high operational standards, transfer Johannesburg office culture to Cape Town, stabilize team turnover, and serve as the senior escalation point for Cape Town accounts.

Key Responsibilities & Core Functions

Cape Town Senior Leadership & Office Efficiency

• Senior On-Site Leadership: Function as the primary senior authority in the Cape Town office, ensuring smooth day-to-day office management and high-level team performance.
• Culture Transfer: Successfully transfer Johannesburg office work culture, operating standards, and accountability mechanisms to the Cape Town branch.
• Team Stability & Morale: Address team turnover in Cape Town through proactive leadership, structured guidance, 1-on-1 coaching, and management of local team morale budgets.

Client Management & Revenue Defense

• Account Ownership & Portfolio NRR: Take direct responsibility for Cape Town client accounts, driving account health and maintaining portfolio Net Retention Rate (NRR ≥ 105%).
• Executive Alignment & Proactive Support: Build strong relationships with key client decision-makers, take initiative on client needs, and maintain professional engagement boundaries.
• QBRs & Commercial Growth: Prepare and execute Quarterly Business Reviews (QBRs), manage contract renewals, negotiate pricing/scope, and monetize out-of-scope requests while preventing scope creep.

Logistics Management & Operational Delivery

• Logistics Oversight: Oversee Cape Town logistics execution, replacing the need for a dedicated Logistics Manager.
• Operational Optimization: Drive vehicle utilization, cost per trip efficiency, grouped trip performance, and route planning to eliminate late arrivals and unnecessary vehicle capacity.
• Driver & Fleet Collaboration: Work directly with the driver department to align site managers, fleet providers, and dedicated driver pools

Tech Concepts, Systems & Automation

• Tech Concept Implementation: Drive the deployment and active daily use of technology tools and feature releases in Cape Town, relieving the national burden currently handled by the General Manager of Operations & Client Management.
• ClickUp & Data Hygiene: Maintain 100% operational hygiene across ClickUp boards, active support ticket pipelines, centralized knowledge base documentation, and automated workflows.

Financial Initiatives & Cost Optimization

• Cost Savings: Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities across Cape Town transport and operational workflows.
• Morale & Operational Budgeting: Manage local operational expenses and team morale funds with full financial accountability.

Team Governance, Performance & Escalations

• Performance Reviews: Conduct monthly performance evaluations using standardized KPI scorecards, setting clear development plans and implementing Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs) when required.
• Escalation Ownership: Serve as the first internal escalation point for critical commercial, contractual, or operational risks in Cape Town, containing damage early before escalating to Directors.

Role Specifications & Time Allocation

Time Allocation: 40% Operational Delivery & Logistics / 30% Client Engagement & Strategy / 30% Senior Leadership & Office Oversight.

Reporting Line: Reports to GM of Operations & Client Management on Logistics, Client Management & Tech; collaborates with Driver Dept & Fleet Ops.

Direct Reports: Cape Town Client Managers, Support Client Managers, and Logistics Specialists.