Group Operations Manager

Basani Group; Gqeberha; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

Basani Group is seeking a Group Operations Manager to oversee and optimise daily operations across its group and subsidiaries. You will translate strategic plans into day-to-day execution, coordinating with Group Management, provincial teams and support functions.

The role demands strong planning, problem-solving and stakeholder-management capabilities to ensure alignment with budgets, policies and management directives.

Qualifications

• Strong coordination, planning, problem-solving, and stakeholder-management capabilities.
• Experience in coordinating multiple teams and departments across a decentralised structure.
• Ability to translate business plans into day-to-day operational execution.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operational activities of the Group and its entities.
• Coordinate operations across head office, provincial offices, branches, sites and project locations.
• Ensure operations align with approved plans, budgets and management directives.
• Monitor operational performance and identify areas for improvement.
• Provide guidance to provincial and departmental teams and manage resource allocation.

Job description

The Group Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing, coordinating and improving the day-to-day operational activities of the Group and its various business entities, ensuring that operations are effectively planned, properly resourced, efficiently executed and aligned with the strategic objectives of Group Management.

The position provides central operational oversight across the Group’s decentralised structure and serves as the key link between Group Management, provincial operations, project teams, operational staff and supporting business functions.

The Group Operations Manager is responsible for ensuring that approved business plans, contracts, projects and operational activities are translated into effective day-to-day execution. The role requires strong coordination, planning, problem-solving, performance management and stakeholder-management capabilities.

The position will work closely with Group Management and other functional departments, including Finance, Human Resources, ICT, Procurement, Sales, Business Development, Tenders, Compliance and Administration, to ensure that operational requirements are properly coordinated and that business units have the resources and support required to perform effectively.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

1. Group Operations Management

• Oversee the day-to-day operational activities of the Group and its various business entities.
• Coordinate operational activities across the Group’s head office, provincial offices, branches, sites and project locations.
• Establish and maintain consistent operational standards, procedures and reporting practices across Group entities.
• Ensure that operational activities are aligned with approved business plans, budgets, policies and management directives.
• Coordinate the implementation of Group operational plans and ensure that agreed activities are executed within approved timelines.
• Monitor the overall operational performance of business units and identify areas requiring management intervention.
• Ensure effective communication between Group Management and operational teams.
• Provide operational guidance and support to provincial and departmental teams.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement practical measures to improve productivity, service delivery and cost-effectiveness.
• Ensure continuity of operations by identifying operational dependencies, resource constraints and potential disruptions.

2. Provincial and Regional Operations

• Provide operational oversight across the Group’s decentralised provincial structure.
• Coordinate the activities of Provincial Operations & Project Administrators.
• Ensure that provincial offices and operational teams comply with Group operational procedures and reporting requirements.
• Monitor provincial operational performance and address issues affecting service delivery.
• Coordinate the allocation of staff, equipment, vehicles, materials and other operational resources between locations where required.
• Maintain regular communication with provincial representatives regarding operational requirements and challenges.
• Conduct or coordinate periodic operational reviews and site visits.
• Identify recurring operational challenges within provinces and recommend appropriate corrective measures.
• Ensure that provincial operations remain aligned with Group-wide objectives and standards.

3. Contract and Service Delivery Operations

• Oversee the operational delivery of customer contracts, projects and service agreements.
• Ensure that operational teams understand their responsibilities, deliverables, timelines and service requirements.
• Monitor service delivery against agreed operational targets, specifications, KPIs and SLAs.
• Coordinate resources required to fulfil contractual and project commitments.
• Identify potential service-delivery risks before they negatively affect customers or contractual performance.
• Ensure that operational issues affecting customer commitments are escalated promptly.
• Coordinate corrective actions where service delivery falls below required standards.
• Work closely with the Group Compliance & Contracts Officer regarding contractual obligations, without assuming responsibility for the legal or compliance aspects of contracts.
• Support management in assessing operational implications when entering into new contracts, projects or business opportunities.

4. Project Operations

• Oversee the operational execution of Group projects from mobilisation through to completion.
• Coordinate project resources, personnel, equipment, materials and operational requirements.
• Ensure that project teams understand approved scopes, timelines, deliverables and responsibilities.
• Monitor project progress and identify delays, resource constraints and operational risks.
• Coordinate corrective action where projects are not progressing according to plan.
• Ensure that project documentation and operational records are maintained by the responsible teams.
• Coordinate project handovers, mobilisation and demobilisation activities where applicable.
• Monitor post-project issues and ensure that outstanding operational matters are resolved.
• Work with Project Administrators and relevant departmental teams to maintain accurate project information and reporting.

5. Resource Planning and Allocation

• Plan and coordinate the effective utilisation of Group operational resources.
• Assess staffing, equipment, materials and logistical requirements for operational activities.
• Coordinate resource allocation between projects, contracts, branches and provincial operations.
• Identify under-utilised or over-extended resources and recommend appropriate adjustments.
• Work with Finance and Human Resources to ensure operational resource requirements are properly planned and budgeted.
• Monitor operational equipment and asset requirements and elevate shortages, breakdowns or replacement requirements.
• Ensure that resources are deployed in a manner that supports productivity and cost efficiency.

6. Staff Coordination and Operational Supervision

• Provide operational supervision and direction to employees assigned to Group operations.
• Coordinate with Human Resources regarding staffing requirements, vacancies, onboarding and operational workforce planning.
• Ensure that employees understand their operational responsibilities and performance expectations.
• Monitor attendance, deployment and workforce availability where these directly affect operational delivery.
• Address operational performance issues and elevate disciplinary or employment matters to Human Resources where appropriate.
• Promote accountability, professionalism and effective teamwork across operational teams.
• Support the implementation of performance objectives and KPIs for operational employees.
• Ensure that operational teams have appropriate tools, information and resources to perform their duties effectively.

7. Operational Performance and KPIs

• Develop and monitor operational KPIs for Group business units and operational teams.
• Track service delivery, productivity, turnaround times, project progress, resource utilisation and operational costs.
• Review operational performance against agreed targets and identify areas requiring improvement.
• Prepare regular operational performance reports for Group Management.
• Analyse operational trends and identify recurring performance issues.
• Recommend corrective and improvement initiatives based on operational data.
• Ensure that agreed corrective actions are assigned to responsible persons and monitored through to completion.
• Promote a culture of measurable performance and accountability across the Group.

8. Quality Management and Service Standards

• Establish and maintain appropriate operational quality standards across the Group.
• Monitor the quality of services and operational outputs delivered by Group teams.
• Conduct or coordinate operational quality inspections and reviews.
• Investigate recurring service-quality issues and recommend corrective measures.
• Ensure that customer complaints relating to operational delivery are appropriately investigated and resolved.
• Monitor adherence to agreed service standards and operational procedures.
• Work with relevant departments to implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure that lessons learned from operational failures and successes are incorporated into future operations.
• Identify and monitor operational risks that may affect Group activities, projects, contracts or service delivery.
• Maintain visibility of significant operational risks and ensure that appropriate mitigation measures are implemented.
• Escalate material operational risks to Group Management.
• Develop practical contingency measures for critical operational activities.
• Monitor operational dependencies, including staffing, suppliers, equipment, technology, logistics and third-party services.
• Coordinate responses to operational disruptions and unforeseen incidents.
• Ensure that operational incidents are properly reported, investigated and followed through to resolution.
• Work with the Compliance & Contracts Officer and other relevant functions where operational risks have contractual, regulatory or legal implications.

10. Procurement, Stock and Operational Supplies

• Coordinate operational requirements for materials, consumables, equipment and other supplies.
• Work with Procurement and Finance to ensure that operational purchasing requirements are properly planned.
• Monitor the availability of critical operational supplies.
• Identify recurring stock shortages, wastage, over-ordering or procurement inefficiencies.
• Monitor the operational use of consumables and materials.
• Ensure that operational teams provide timely information regarding stock and supply requirements.
• Assist management in identifying opportunities to reduce operational procurement costs without compromising service delivery.

11. Assets, Equipment and Facilities

• Monitor the operational availability and utilisation of Group equipment and assets.
• Coordinate reporting of damaged, lost, defective or unavailable operational equipment.
• Ensure that maintenance requirements are identified and escalated.
• Monitor the operational condition of facilities, offices, equipment and other infrastructure.
• Coordinate with relevant departments and service providers regarding maintenance and repairs.
• Maintain appropriate operational records relating to assets and equipment.
• Identify opportunities to improve asset utilisation and reduce unnecessary operational expenditure.

12. Occupational Health, Safety and Operational Incidents

• Promote safe working practices across Group operational environments.
• Ensure that operational teams are aware of applicable health and safety procedures.
• Monitor operational safety requirements and elevate identified risks.
• Coordinate reporting and escalation of operational incidents.
• Ensure that incidents affecting employees, customers, sites or operations are appropriately recorded.
• Work with the responsible compliance, HR or safety representatives on corrective actions.
• Ensure that operational risks identified through inspections or incidents are addressed promptly.

13. Customer and Stakeholder Coordination

• Support effective operational relationships with customers and key stakeholders.
• Ensure that operational commitments made to customers are communicated to responsible teams.
• Coordinate the resolution of operational customer complaints and service issues.
• Monitor customer service delivery and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Escalate significant customer-impacting operational matters to Group Management.
• Participate in operational meetings with key customers, partners or service providers when required.
• Ensure that operational teams maintain professional standards when dealing with customers and external stakeholders.

14. Supplier and Service Provider Coordination

• Coordinate operational relationships with suppliers and third-party service providers.
• Monitor supplier performance where it directly affects Group operations.
• Identify supplier-related delays, service failures or operational risks.
• Escalate persistent supplier performance issues to Procurement, Finance or Group Management as appropriate.
• Ensure that operational teams provide timely feedback regarding supplier performance.
• Assist with operational evaluations of potential suppliers and service providers where required.

15. Operational Policies and Procedures

• Develop, implement and maintain Group operational procedures and standard operating practices.
• Ensure that operational procedures are communicated effectively to relevant employees.
• Review operational procedures periodically and recommend improvements.
• Standardise operational processes across Group entities where practical.
• Identify unnecessary duplication, manual processes and operational bottlenecks.
• Support the digitalisation and automation of operational processes through the Group’s ERP and other business systems.
• Ensure that operational procedures support accountability, efficiency and consistent service delivery.

16. ERP and Operational Systems

• Ensure that relevant operational information is accurately captured within the Group’s ERP system.
• Promote the use of the ERP system for operational planning, task management, reporting and performance monitoring.
• Monitor operational workflows and identify areas that can be improved through automation.
• Work with ICT and system administrators to address operational system requirements.
• Ensure that operational teams use approved Group systems and processes.
• Support the development of management dashboards and operational reports.
• Use available operational data to support decision-making and continuous improvement.

17. Financial and Cost Control

• Monitor operational expenditure against approved budgets.
• Identify unnecessary or avoidable operational costs.
• Work with Finance to investigate significant budget variances.
• Ensure that operational teams understand approved spending limits and procurement procedures.
• Identify opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce operating costs.
• Monitor the financial impact of operational decisions and resource allocation.
• Provide management with recommendations relating to operational cost optimisation.

18. Business Continuity and Operational Readiness

• Ensure that critical business operations are adequately prepared for disruptions.
• Identify operational dependencies that could affect business continuity.
• Develop and maintain practical operational contingency arrangements where required.
• Coordinate operational responses to disruptions, emergencies or unexpected events.
• Ensure that critical contracts, projects and services have appropriate operational continuity measures.
• Review operational readiness before the commencement of major contracts or projects.

19. Management Reporting

• Prepare and submit weekly operational reports to Group Management.
• Prepare comprehensive monthly Group Operations reports covering performance, staffing, projects, contracts, resources, risks and outstanding actions.
• Highlight significant operational challenges requiring management intervention.
• Track outstanding operational actions and ensure that responsible persons are held accountable for completion.
• Provide management with accurate and timely information to support decision-making.
• Present operational performance updates at management meetings when required.
• Maintain appropriate operational records and reporting documentation.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency, productivity and service delivery.
• Review existing processes and recommend practical improvements.
• Introduce standardised procedures where they can improve consistency and accountability.
• Monitor the effectiveness of implemented improvements.
• Encourage operational teams to identify inefficiencies and propose solutions.
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement, accountability and customer-focused service delivery.
• Ensure that operational lessons learned are documented and incorporated into future planning.

Key Performance Areas

The performance of the Group Operations Manager may be measured against the following key areas:

• Effective management of Group operations.
• Achievement of operational KPIs and performance targets.
• Successful delivery of contracts and projects.
• Quality and consistency of service delivery.
• Effective utilisation of staff, assets and operational resources.
• Operational cost control and efficiency.
• Timely resolution of operational issues.
• Reduction of recurring operational failures and service disruptions.
• Quality and timeliness of operational reporting.
• Effective coordination between operational and support functions.
• Implementation of operational improvement initiatives.
• Customer satisfaction and service-delivery performance.
• Effective coordination between operational and management.

Key Working Relationships

The Group Operations Manager will work closely with:

• Group Director
• Group Management
• Provincial Operations & Project Administrators
• Finance & Administration
• Human Resources / People Operations
• Group Compliance & Contracts Officer
• Procurement and Supply Chain
• Tenders and Business Development
• Sales and Client Relations
• ICT and Technology
• Project Teams
• Site and Operational Personnel
• Customers and Key Stakeholders
• Suppliers and Service Providers

Authority and Accountability

The Group Operations Manager is accountable for the effective coordination and execution of Group operations within approved policies, budgets, procedures and delegated authority.

The position is expected to identify operational problems, initiate appropriate corrective action within delegated authority and expedite matters requiring management approval.

The role does not replace the responsibilities of Finance, Human Resources, Compliance, Legal, Procurement or other specialist functions. Instead, the Group Operations Manager coordinates with these functions to ensure that operational requirements are properly addressed.

Overall Purpose of the Position

The overall purpose of the Group Operations Manager is to ensure that the Group's businesses operate efficiently, resources are properly coordinated, contracts and projects are delivered effectively, operational risks are managed, and management has clear visibility of operational performance.

The position serves as the central operational coordination function of the Group, ensuring that strategic decisions made by Group Management are translated into practical, measurable and accountable operational execution.