General Manager Operations Manager South Africa

LRQA; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading assurance and inspection company seeks an Operations Manager in Cape Town. The role involves overseeing service delivery, enhancing client relationships, and driving commercial growth across South Africa. Candidates should have a relevant degree, experience leading teams, and strong business acumen. This is an essential role for maintaining operational excellence in the market.

Qualifications

• Proven experience in leading multidisciplinary teams in a service delivery or operational environment.
• Strong understanding of business strategy, client development, and financial performance.
• Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English; additional local languages are a plus.

Responsibilities

• Oversee resource planning, utilization, and delivery efficiency across the region.
• Drive commercial performance by identifying upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
• Act as a senior point of contact for key clients, ensuring satisfaction and long-term partnerships.

Skills

Leadership

Business strategy

Client relationship management

Operational oversight

Commercial acumen

Team development

Education

Degree in a technical or business discipline

Job description

Job ID :

Location : Cape Town : K and K Centurion

Position Category : Management

Position Type : Employee Regular

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 LRQA’s 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 services. In addition, you will act as a commercial ambassador, identifying growth opportunities, strengthening client relationships, and enhancing LRQA’s 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 LRQA’s 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 LRQA’s 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 LRQA’s 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 (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.