Head of Operations

Advius; Middelburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Independent School Middelburg in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, seeks a hands-on Head of Operations to oversee day-to-day operational, facilities, and support-services functions of the school. This role is critical to ensuring a safe, efficient, well-maintained, and smoothly run environment for learners, staff and visitors.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Executive Head and senior management team to ensure operational excellence across facilities, maintenance, health and safety,

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Operations Management, Facilities Management, or Business Administration.
• Health and Safety certification (e.g., SAMTRAC) advantageous.
• Valid Code B driver's licence.
• Minimum 5–8 years' experience in an operations, facilities, or general management role, ideally within an educational, hospitality, or institutional environment.
• Proven experience managing budgets, contracts, and supplier/vendor relationships.
• Strong experience in staff supervision and team leadership.
• Sound knowledge of health and safety, risk management, and compliance requirements.
• Experience managing maintenance, infrastructure, and facilities projects.
• Clear criminal record and clear credit record; willing to undergo background checks.

Responsibilities

• Oversee all non-academic operational functions of the school, including facilities, maintenance, grounds, security, and transport.
• Manage and maintain school buildings, infrastructure, and equipment to a high standard.
• Develop and implement health, safety, and risk management policies in line with relevant legislation.
• Manage operational budgets, procurement, contracts, and supplier relationships.
• Lead and manage support staff teams (maintenance, cleaning, security, transport, etc.).
• Ensure compliance with occupational health and safety, fire safety, and other regulatory requirements.
• Oversee planning and logistics for school events, functions, and daily operational needs.
• Manage service level agreements with external contractors and vendors.
• Support capital projects, renovations, and infrastructure development initiatives.
• Liaise with the Executive Head and governing body on operational planning and resource allocation.
• Ensure operational systems and processes support a safe and productive teaching and learning environment.

Skills

Operations management

Facilities management

Health & safety

Budget management

Staff supervision

Leadership

Project coordination

Education

Tertiary qualification in Operations/Facilities Management or Business Administration

Job description

Middelburg, South Africa | Posted on 09/03/2026

A well-establishedindependent school in Middelburg, Mpumalanga, is seeking a capable and hands-on Headof Operations to oversee the day-to-day operational, facilities, andsupport-services functions of the school. This role is critical to ensuring asafe, efficient, well-maintained, and smoothly run environment for learners,staff, and visitors.

The successful candidatewill work closely with the Executive Head and senior management team to ensureoperational excellence across facilities, maintenance, health and safety,procurement, transport, and support staff management.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee all non-academic operationalfunctions of the school, including facilities, maintenance, grounds,security, and transport
• Manage and maintain school buildings,infrastructure, and equipment to a high standard
• Develop and implement health, safety,and risk management policies in line with relevant legislation
• Manage operational budgets, procurement,contracts, and supplier relationships
• Lead and manage support staff teams(maintenance, cleaning, security, transport, etc.)
• Ensure compliance with occupationalhealth and safety, fire safety, and other regulatory requirements
• Oversee planning and logistics forschool events, functions, and daily operational needs
• Manage service level agreements withexternal contractors and vendors
• Support capital projects, renovations,and infrastructure development initiatives
• Liaise with the Executive Head andgoverning body on operational planning and resource allocation
• Ensure operational systems and processessupport a safe and productive teaching and learning environment

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification inOperations Management, Facilities Management, Business Administration, ora related field
  
• Health and Safety certification (e.g.,SAMTRAC or equivalent) advantageous
  
• Valid Code B driver's licence
  
• Minimum 5–8 years' experience in anoperations, facilities, or general management role, ideally within aneducational, hospitality, or institutional environment
  
• Proven experience managing budgets,contracts, and supplier/vendor relationships
  
• Strong experience in staff supervisionand team leadership
  
• Sound knowledge of health and safety,risk management, and compliance requirements
  
• Experience managing maintenance,infrastructure, and facilities projects
  
• Strong problem-solving, organisational,and multitasking abilities
  
• Clear criminal record and clear creditrecord
  
• Willingness to undergo relevantbackground/vetting checks