Head of Operations (Industrial Engineer)

Nile Ag.; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration

Vibrant work environment

Job summary

Nile.ag in Centurion, South Africa, is seeking a Head of Operations to report directly to the Managing Director and sit on the Exco. The role will oversee process design, innovation, and daily operations to scale our agrifood platform.

You will lead cross-functional teams, drive performance metrics, and explore AI-enabled improvements. A degree in Industrial Engineering and 3–10 years of relevant experience are preferred; readiness to grow toward a COO position.

Qualifications

• Degree in Industrial Engineering from a top-tier university.
• 3–10 years of experience in operations, project management, process and system scoping/implementation, and resource management.
• Leadership experience in people management (direct or indirect) preferred.
• Operational exposure in high-volume environments (warehousing, retail, wholesale, or agrifood).
• Open-minded approach to new ways of working, including applying AI for efficiency.

Responsibilities

• Design and implement scalable operational processes and systems.
• Leverage technology and AI to optimize operational workflows.
• Oversee daily activities across the core business to ensure efficiency and scalability.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project execution.
• Develop and monitor key operational metrics to drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Process design

Team leadership

AI applications

Operational excellence

Cross-functional

Adaptability

Strategic thinking

Education

Industrial engineering degree

Job description

About Nile.ag

Nile's mission is to enhance the livelihoods of both farmers and consumers throughout Africa. By providing a digital ecosystem that streamlines trading and transactions, we help farmers improve their economic viability while ensuring food remains affordable for consumers. Our all-in-one application allows farmers to sell produce, access funds, and manage input procurement and financing.

We are a high-growth company backed by institutional investors, including Naspers and the Dutch Development Bank (FMO). Our founding team brings together experience from world-class organizations such as Amazon, J.P. Morgan, and Luno. Learn more about us at www.nile.ag/about

Our Team & Culture

We are committed to building a high-performing team that is passionate about fundamentally transforming Africa's food systems. Nile's work environment is fast-paced, modern, and fun, reflecting the nature of our high-growth business. We operate daily based on our core values, which form the foundation of all our decisions.

The role

At Nile, we view roles as opportunities for personal development; as our business evolves, so will your role. We are currently seeking a Head of Operations to report directly to our Managing Director and serve as a member of our Exco. Given the rapid evolution of our business, this position has the potential to grow into a COO role over time.

The successful applicant will take ownership of the following:

• Process and System Design: Designing and implementing operational processes and systems to support the growth of new business ventures.
• Innovation: Leveraging technology and AI applications to optimize operational workflows.
• Oversight: Overseeing daily activities across the core business to ensure efficiency and scalability.
• Team Leadership: Managing cross-functional teams to ensure seamless project execution.
• Performance Management: Developing and monitoring key operational metrics to drive continuous improvement.

• Education: Degree in Industrial Engineering from a top-tier university.
• Experience: 3-10 years of experience in a relevant function, including project management, process and system scoping/implementation, and resource management.
• Leadership: Experience in people management (direct or indirect) is preferred.
• Operational Exposure: Familiarity with high-volume operational environments, such as warehousing, retail, wholesale, or agrifood.
• Adaptability: An open-minded approach to embracing new ways of working, including the application of AI to drive efficiency.

• Nile offers competitive remuneration, with opportunities to advance your career within a fast-growing company.
• We offer a vibrant work environment where you get to collaborate with highly motivative team members.