Operations Manager

OttoBauthentic; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 900,000 - 1,500,000; Full time

Job summary

OttoBauthentic leads a strategic expansion program across a large retail network, driving growth and a high-performance culture aligned with global brand standards.

The role focuses on scaling operations, strengthening leadership capability, and ensuring strong financial performance and continuous improvement of systems across the business.

Qualifications

• Experience in strategic leadership and growth management.
• Ability to drive financial performance, commercial oversight, and margins.
• Proven track record in operational excellence and field performance.
• Strong people, culture and leadership development capabilities.
• Experience with expansion and opening new stores.
• Experience with systems, innovation and continuous improvement.
• Ability to align stakeholders and cross-functional teams.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a large-scale store network (80+ stores) and lead expansion initiatives.
• Build a high-performance culture aligned with global brand standards.
• Scale operations locally and internationally while strengthening leadership capability.
• Ensure reliable operational systems and continuous improvement.

Job description

The position oversees a large-scale network (80+ stores), leads expansion initiatives, and builds a high-performance culture aligned with global brand standards. It plays a critical role in scaling operations locally and internationally while strengthening leadership capability and operational systems.

Strategic Leadership & Growth

Financial Performance & Commercial Oversight

Operational Excellence & Field Performance

People, Culture & Leadership Development

Expansion & New Store Openings

Systems, Innovation & Continuous Improvement

Stakeholder & Cross-Functional Alignment

Key Performance Indicators:

• Same-store sales growth (6%+ annually)
• EBITDA and margin targets
• ROIC (?33% on store EBITDA)
• Successful rollout of 15-20 new stores annually
• Food quality and operational audit scores (>85%)
• Customer experience metrics (GES, complaints within KPI)
• Staff and management turnover targets
• Leadership bench strength and talent pipeline