National Operations Lead

Smollan; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 800 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading consumer electronics company is seeking a National Operations Manager to lead its Operations team in South Africa. This role focuses on driving operational excellence, managing key partnerships, and ensuring customer satisfaction. Responsibilities include implementing strategies, managing financial performance, and cultivating strong relationships with retail partners. Ideal candidates will have strong business acumen, decision-making skills, and the ability to lead teams effectively. This position offers the opportunity to make a significant impact on the company's performance.

Responsibilities

• Implement operational strategy to achieve organisational objectives.
• Negotiate and agree on tactical plans with key customers.
• Drive operational efficiency and address discrepancies.
• Prepare forecasts and budgets, managing performance against budget.
• Build strong relationships with retail and wholesale partners.

Skills

Strong industry and business acumen

Judgement & decision-making capability

Transformational and change leadership

Sales orientation and commercial focus

Ability to coach, mentor and develop teams

Influential communication & stakeholder engagement

Emotional maturity & resilience

Team leadership and performance management

Results-driven with a strong execution mindset

Job description

We are a leading brand in the consumer electronics industry, offering premium household appliances including televisions, fridges, microwaves, and more. We are searching for an experienced National Operations Manager to lead our Operations team, elevate customer satisfaction, and grow key retail and wholesale partnerships across South Africa.

Job Summary

The National Operations Manager is responsible for leading and managing the national operations function to ensure exceptional stakeholder satisfaction, strong customer retention, and the successful execution of our strategic agenda. This role will drive operational excellence, strengthen customer relationships, and uncover new revenue opportunities within the retail and wholesale channel.

Key Responsibilities

1. Strategy Execution

• Implement operational strategy, business structures, and processes to deliver on organisational objectives.
• Participate in collaborative strategic planning with key customers to ensure alignment on critical KPIs.
• Identify and cultivate new business opportunities through strategic and conceptual selling.

2. Tactical Planning & Development

• Deeply understand customer strategies through ongoing engagement with internal and external stakeholders.
• Negotiate and agree on tactical plans, financial frameworks, and execution objectives.
• Provide insights into operational complexities and design an optimal organisational structure.
• Continuously evaluate service models and introduce innovation aligned to market and customer trends.

3. Operations Management

• Drive operational efficiency, address discrepancies, and implement corrective actions.
• Build robust operational structures that meet or exceed business requirements.
• Implement high-performing business processes to ensure maximum output.
• Maintain strong communication cadence with key customer personnel to reinforce value and partnership.
• Monitor and refine call cycles, ensuring alignment with budgets, labour regulations, and business priorities.
• Define, communicate, and oversee point-of-purchase standards and ensure sales team compliance.
• Identify and execute initiatives to grow sales, profitability, and channel performance.
• Optimise the effectiveness and efficiency of distribution methods.
• Manage and safeguard company assets.

4. Financial Performance & Sustainability

• Analyse operational data to ensure targets and milestones are achieved.
• Develop and implement plans to address performance gaps.
• Prepare forecasts and budgets, obtain necessary approvals, and manage performance against budget.
• Investigate and resolve variances, ensuring sustainable profitability and cost management.
• Communicate budgets and performance expectations to divisional managers and the sales team.

5. Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong, influential relationships with retail and wholesale partners.
• Align customer and organisational objectives to drive mutual growth.
• Host regular performance and strategy review meetings with customers and internal leadership.
• Manage expectations, uphold brand reputation, and maintain an effective customer contact matrix.
• Balance competing priorities, identify cross-selling opportunities, and collaborate across functions to enhance customer value.

Key Competencies

• Strong industry and business acumen
• Judgement & decision-making capability
• Transformational and change leadership
• Conceptual and strategic thinking
• Sales orientation and commercial focus
• Ability to coach, mentor and develop teams
• Influential communication & stakeholder engagement
• Emotional maturity & resilience
• Team leadership and performance management
• Results-driven with a strong execution mindset