National Operations Specialist (EE role)

Ability Executive Recruitment; Centurion; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Ability Executive Recruitment is seeking a National Operations Specialist in Centurion to support the National Operations Manager with execution oversight across the property portfolio. You will ensure plans, budgets and standards are implemented consistently at site level, working with site-based Operations Managers who remain accountable for their precincts.

You will lead capex execution oversight, standardisation, reporting, risk management and contract performance, building breadth of asset

Qualifications

• 5+ years in Facilities Management or Property Operations
• Experience with capital projects and building systems is required
• Proven ability to translate strategy into site-level execution

Responsibilities

• Oversee approved capex and maintenance projects to budget, scope and quality.
• Roll out national standards, SOPs and templates across precincts.
• Provide consolidated portfolio reporting on capex, performance and compliance.
• Monitor risk, governance, and compliance; escalate issues.
• Manage service providers and contractor performance against SLAs.

Skills

Capex management

Operations oversight

Reporting & analytics

Stakeholder engagement

Contract management

Education

Facilities Management qualification

Engineering diploma (Mechanical or Electrical)

Tools

MyBuildings

Capex Tracker

Job description

Ability Executive Recruitment | Full time

National Operations Specialist (EE role)

Centurion, South Africa | Posted on 11/09/2026

The National Operations Specialist supports the National Operations Manager by taking ownership of execution oversight across the property portfolio, creating capacity for the National Operations Manager to focus on strategic planning, budgeting and stakeholder management. While the National Operations Manager is accountable for setting portfolio strategy, approving budgets and setting operational standards, this role is accountable for ensuring those plans, budgets and standards are executed consistently and to quality at site level, working alongside — not in place of — the site-based Operations Manager who retains full operational accountability for their precinct. The role carries technical sign-off responsibility on capital expenditure project milestones and quality, monitors operational and compliance performance across all precincts, and consolidates portfolio-level reporting. As a developmental, portfolio-facing role, it is also intended to build the breadth of technical, financial and operational exposure required to prepare the incumbent for future National Operations Manager succession.

Capex Execution Oversight

Ensures approved capital expenditure and major maintenance projects are executed on-site to approved budget, programme and quality standard.

• Monitors execution of approved capex and maintenance projects against approved budget, scope and timeline; escalates material variances to the National Operations Manager.
• Conducts site verification and provides technical sign-off on capex project milestones (design compliance, quality of workmanship, practical completion) prior to certification for payment.
• Consolidates capex spend tracking across the portfolio and maintains an accurate national capex execution schedule.
• Provides execution-level input (site condition assessments, completed project data) into the National Operations Manager's 5-year Asset Life Cycle plan.
• Coordinates with site Operations Managers, contractors and appointed professionals on execution matters, in support of — and without displacing — the Operations Manager's day-to-day site accountability.

Operational Execution & Standardisation

Drives consistent, on-the-ground execution of the operational standards, policies and procedures set by the National Operations Manager.

• Rolls out and monitors precinct-level adherence to national operational standards, SOPs and templates.
• Provides hands-on execution support to Operations Managers implementing new operational or capex initiatives.
• Identifies execution-level inconsistencies or inefficiencies across sites and recommends corrective action to the National Operations Manager.
• Project manages ad-hoc, portfolio-level execution initiatives as directed by the National Operations Manager.

Reporting & Insights

Maintains accurate, timeous operational and capex execution reporting across the portfolio to support strategic decision-making.

• Consolidates precinct-level data into standardized national reporting (capex progress, compliance, building and equipment performance).
• Monitors operational systems and dashboards (e.g. MyBuildings, capex tracker) to ensure data integrity.
• Provides the National Operations Manager with execution-level insights and early warning of risks or variances.

Risk, Compliance & Governance

Executes the portfolio's risk and compliance monitoring program at site level.

• Conducts regular site inspections for internal compliance and performance requirements.
• Tracks audit finding remediation (OHS Act, SANS, NBR, insurance risk) across all sites and reports on progress to ensure timeous resolution.
• Verifies site-level compliance with policies designed by the National Operations Manager and escalates non-compliance.

Service Provider & Contract Execution

Monitors service provider and contractor performance in the execution of works against agreed terms.

• Monitors SLA and contractor performance on-site against execution KPIs negotiated by the National Operations Manager, reporting deviations.
• Escalates underperformance to the National Operations Manager for contractual action.

Builds cross-portfolio, strategic and financial capability through structured exposure, in preparation for future portfolio-level roles.

• Gains structured exposure to strategic planning, budget preparation and stakeholder engagement processes led by the National Operations Manager.
• Participates in cross-precinct projects to build breadth of asset and portfolio knowledge beyond a single site.
• Undertakes structured rotation or shadowing across precincts as agreed with the National Operations Manager, as part of an individual development.

Requirements

• Technical diploma (Mechanical or Electrical Engineering) or equivalent Facilities Management qualification.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in a Facilities Management or Property Operations environment, including direct exposure to capital project execution and building technical systems.