Operations Director

OttoBauthentic; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 400 000 - 500 000; Full time

Job summary

A national construction firm is seeking an Operations Director to lead end-to-end operational management across construction projects in South Africa. This strategic role encompasses overseeing budgets, ensuring compliance with safety standards, and driving operational efficiency. The ideal candidate will have significant experience in financial management and project oversight, along with a degree in a relevant field. This role offers a market-related salary and requires frequent travel across provinces.

Responsibilities

• Provide overall leadership and direction to all construction operations across multiple provinces.
• Oversee simultaneous projects of varying scale and complexity.
• Ensure consistent delivery standards across regions and sites.
• Drive operational efficiency and continuous improvement.
• Lead and develop senior operational staff.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Risk management

Project oversight

Education

Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or Project Management

MBA or similar commercial qualification advantageous

Job description

Job Specification

Operations Director – Construction

Industry

Construction / Infrastructure / Property Development

Reports To

Managing Director / Chief Executive Officer / Board of Directors

Location

National role – South Africa (Frequent travel across provinces required)

Role Purpose

The Operations Director is responsible for end-to-end operational leadership across all construction projects nationally. This role ensures projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to quality standards, while maintaining strong financial discipline, commercial oversight, and compliance with tender and contractual requirements. The role is both strategic and hands‑on, with accountability for profitability, operational efficiency, risk management, and performance across multiple sites and provinces.

Key Responsibilities – Operational Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and direction to all construction operations across multiple provinces.
• Oversee simultaneous projects of varying scale and complexity.
• Ensure consistent delivery standards across regions and sites.
• Drive operational efficiency, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs.

Key Responsibilities – Financial & Commercial Management

• Full accountability for project financial performance including budgets, cash flow, margins, and P&L.
• Review and approve project budgets, forecasts, and cost reports.
• Monitor variances and implement corrective actions.
• Ensure accurate financial reporting with Finance.
• Support pricing strategies to ensure profitability.

Key Responsibilities – Tendering & Contracts

• Full oversight of the end-to-end tender process.
• Review tender pricing, commercial viability, and risk.
• Approve tender submissions.
• Ensure alignment between tender commitments and execution.
• Oversee contract compliance, variations, claims, and disputes.

Key Responsibilities – Project Oversight

• Oversee planning, scheduling, and execution across all projects.
• Ensure adherence to timelines and specifications.
• Identify and mitigate project risks.
• Conduct regular project and site reviews.

Key Responsibilities – People & Leadership

• Lead and develop senior operational staff.
• Build high‑performance, accountable teams.
• Drive succession planning and skills development.
• Promote a strong culture of accountability and safety.

Key Responsibilities – Compliance & Safety

• Ensure compliance with Health & Safety legislation and construction regulations.
• Enforce safety standards across all sites.
• Manage operational risk and audits.

Key Responsibilities – Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with clients, consultants, subcontractors, and suppliers.
• Represent the company at senior client and industry engagements.

Qualifications

• Degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Quantity Surveying, or Project Management.
• MBA or similar commercial qualification advantageous.

Experience

• 10–15 years’ experience in construction.
• Senior operational leadership experience.
• Proven multi‑project, multi‑province management.
• Strong P&L and financial management background.
• Extensive tendering and contract experience.

Technical & Commercial Competencies

• Advanced understanding of cost control, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Strong grasp of construction contracts (JBCC, NEC, FIDIC).
• Ability to interpret financial and operational reports.
• Strong risk management capability.

Leadership Attributes

• Strategic yet hands‑on.
• Commercially astute.
• Decisive and resilient.
• Strong communicator at all levels.
• High integrity and governance‑focused.

Key Performance Indicators

• Project delivery performance.
• Operational profitability.
• Budget and cost control.
• Tender success rate.
• Safety and compliance performance.
• Team performance and retention.

Remuneration

Market related salary