Operations Director - Ilifa Lethu

Our Common Home; Cape Town; Presencial; ZAR 1.000.000 - 1.400.000; Jornada completa

Descripción de la vacante

Ilifa Lethu, a South African organisation within the Our Common Home network, is seeking an Operations Director to become the Executive Director's operational partner. The role builds the organisational backbone with financial stewardship, governance and compliance, people operations, systems and disciplined planning to enable sustainable growth.

The position leads budgeting, board coordination, policy compliance, contract management, data protection and external service coordination while

Formación

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, operations, governance or a related field; a postgraduate or professional qualification is advantageous.
• At least 8 years’ relevant experience with responsibility for organisational operations, finance, governance or business management; experience in a small, growing or evolving organisation preferred.
• Strong track record of building or improving systems, policies, processes and operating routines, not just maintaining existing structures.
• Experience with budgets, financial controls and external finance providers is essential.
• Experience with grant-funded or donor-restricted budgets in civil society, foundations, research or similar organisations is advantageous.
• Strong financial management capability: budgets, management accounts, cash flow, controls and audit readiness; translate financial data into practical decisions.
• Broad operational judgement with systems mindset and confidence in fit-for-purpose digital tools and processes.
• Understanding of South African NPC/NPO governance and compliance; experience with boards and external advisers.

Responsabilidades

• Finance and resource stewardship: Lead budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow management; produce monthly finance packs and oversee procurement controls and grant reporting.
• Governance, compliance and risk: Manage governance calendar and board cycle; maintain registers and coordinate advisers; address key risks early.
• Systems and operating rhythm: Review tools and processes; establish routines for planning, reporting, approvals and document management; oversee IT, data protection and insurance arrangements.
• People and organisational capacity: Build HR processes; advise on structure and workforce planning; promote accountability, care and high performance.
• Organisational planning and executive support: Translate leadership decisions into actions; provide concise recommendations to the Executive Director; support organisation-wide planning.

Conocimientos

Financial management

Governance

Strategic planning

Stakeholder management

People leadership

Analytical skills

Communication

Risk management

Educación

Relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, operations, governance, law, management

Postgraduate or professional qualification advantageous

Herramientas

Budgeting software

ERP systems

MS Office

Grant management tools

Descripción del empleo

Ilifa Lethu is a South African organisation working to build broad public support for climate and

environmental action by connecting it to what people care about most: dignity, livelihoods, safety,

reliable services, community stability and the future we leave behind. It combines research, audience

insight, narrative strategy and partnerships, and is now moving from research and organisational set-upinto programme development and delivery.

Ilifa Lethu is an independent, locally led member of the global Our Common Home (OCH) network. The network provides shared learning, expertise and support, while local entities shape strategy and

delivery for their own context. Ilifa Lethu has a small, growing team and a newly established board, and is now strengthening the systems and capabilities needed for its next phase. Its culture values delivery, trust, openness, good judgement and getting things done.

Purpose

The Operations Director is a senior leadership role and the Executive Director's key operational partner. The role builds the organisational backbone that allows Ilifa Lethu to grow well: financial stewardship, governance and compliance, people operations, systems, risk management and disciplined internal planning. The aim is enough structure and control for the organisation to be credible and well run, without unnecessary bureaucracy.

Responsibilities

• Finance and resource stewardship: Lead annual budgeting, forecasting and cash-flow management with the Executive Director and external finance partner. Produce a clear monthly finance pack, maintain proportionate payment, procurement and approval controls, and oversee audit readiness, statutory submissions and grant financial reporting.
• Governance, compliance and risk: Run the governance calendar and board cycle as fuller governance responsibility moves to the board. Maintain statutory, policy, contract, compliance and risk registers, coordinate legal and specialist advisers, and ensure key organisational risks are identified and addressed early.
• Systems and operating rhythm: Review current tools and processes and introduce systems that are simple, scalable and fit for purpose. Establish clear routines for planning, reporting, approvals, decision-making and document management, and oversee external service providers, IT, data protection and insurance arrangements.
• People and organisational capacity: Build practical HR processes covering recruitment, onboarding, contracts, payroll inputs, leave and performance. Advise the Executive Director on structure, workforce planning and ways of working, and support a culture of accountability, care and high performance.
• Organisational planning and executive support: Turn leadership decisions into clear actions, resolve routine operational matters and bring the Executive Director concise recommendations where judgement or escalation is required. Contribute to organisation-wide planning and help the leadership team maintain focus and delivery.

Requirements

Qualifications & experience

• A relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, operations, governance, law, management or a related field. A postgraduate or professional qualification is advantageous.
• At least 8 years’ relevant experience, including meaningful responsibility for organisational operations, finance, governance or business management. Experience in a small, growing or evolving organisation is strongly preferred.
• A strong track record of building or improving systems, policies, processes and operating routines, rather than only maintaining established structures.
• Experience working with budgets, financial controls and external finance providers is essential.
• Experience with grant-funded or donor-restricted budgets in civil society, foundations, research or other purpose-led organisations is advantageous.
• Strong financial management capability: confident with budgets, management accounts, cash flow, controls and audit readiness, and able to translate financial information into practical decisions.
• Broad operational judgement and a systems mindset, including confidence assessing and improving fit-for-purpose digital tools and processes.
• Sound understanding of South African NPC/NPO governance and compliance, with experience working effectively with boards and external advisers such as accountants, auditors, lawyers and HR providers.
• Strong analytical and communication skills; able to turn complex information into clear recommendations, reports and decisions.
• Highly organised, calm and dependable; able to prioritise competing demands and consistently see matters through to closure.
• Strong relationship-building skills and the confidence to work across a small team, a board, external partners and a wider international network.
• High integrity and discretion, with proportionate judgement: raises risks early, challenges constructively and balances sound controls with speed and simplicity.

Contact [e-mail] with the subject line Operations Director if you have any queries.

For more information about the OCHnetwork, visit https://ourcommonhome.ch/en/

Please consider your application unsuccessful if you have not heard from us by 14 November 2026.