General Manager Operations Manager South Africa

LRQA; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A global assurance and inspection company is seeking an Operations Manager in Cape Town to drive operational excellence and commercial growth. You'll lead a team focused on client engagement, oversee resource planning, and ensure compliance with standards. The ideal candidate will have a degree in a relevant field and proven leadership experience in a service delivery environment. This role demands strong business acumen and the ability to build client relationships while fostering a collaborative team culture.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading multidisciplinary teams in a service delivery or operational environment.
• Strong understanding of business strategy, client development, and financial performance.
• Knowledge of the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of operational excellence and commercial growth across the region.
• Lead a team of Service Delivery Managers and technical experts.
• Drive commercial performance by identifying upselling and cross-selling opportunities.

Skills

Team leadership

Client relationship management

Business strategy development

Operational excellence

Education

Degree in a technical or business discipline

Job description

Job ID: 42960

Location: Cape Town : K5 and K6 Centurion

Position Category: Management

Position Type: Employee Regular

Overview

As the Operations Manager for South Africa you will take ownership of both operational excellence and commercial growth across the region. This role combines P&L leadership, client engagement and business development positioning you as a key driver of LRQAs success in the South African market.

You will lead a team of Service Delivery Managers and technical experts ensuring high-quality delivery of assurance and inspection; you will act as a commercial ambassador identifying growth opportunities, strengthening client relationships and enhancing LRQAs market presence. This role requires a strong balance of people leadership, operational oversight and commercial acumen.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach and develop a high-performing team of managers and subcontractors across South Africa.
• Ensure service delivery meets budget, quality and accreditation standards while aligning with LRQAs values and strategic goals.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Commercial Strategy & Growth

• Drive commercial performance by identifying upselling and cross-selling opportunities with existing clients.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to support new business acquisition and client retention.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to inform strategic decisions and maintain LRQAs competitive edge.

Client Relationship Management

• Act as a senior point of contact for key clients ensuring satisfaction and long-term partnerships.
• Resolve client issues and complaints swiftly maintaining LRQAs reputation for excellence.
• Represent LRQA at industry events, client meetings and networking opportunities.

Operational Excellence

• Oversee resource planning, utilisation and delivery efficiency across the region.
• Ensure compliance with internal procedures, legal requirements and accreditation standards.
• Lead management meetings and training sessions to align teams and share best practices.

People & Culture

• Promote a positive, inclusive and high-performance team culture.
• Proactively manage wellbeing, performance and development across the team.
• Support recruitment and onboarding of new talent in collaboration with the People team and regional leads.

Requirements

• Degree in a technical or business discipline (e.g. Engineering, Business Management).
• Proven experience in leading multidisciplinary teams in a service delivery or operational environment.
• Strong understanding of business strategy, client development and financial performance.
• Knowledge of the Testing, Inspection and Certification (TIC) industry.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Familiarity with South African legal and regulatory frameworks relevant to assurance and inspection services.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; additional local languages are a plus.
• Experience in coaching, mentoring and delivering training initiatives.

Diversity and Inclusion at LRQA

We are on a mission to be the place where we all want to work and we are passionate about embracing different perspectives because we understand the value this brings to our business, our clients and each other. We are all about creating a safer and more sustainable future and our inclusive culture is right at the heart of our business.

Together our employees make our communities better and we want you to be part of our diverse team!

LRQA is a leading global assurance integrity and expertise; we bring to our partnership with clients support their journey to a safer, more secure and more sustainable future.