Operations Manager

Zetes; Johannesburg; In loco; ZAR 1.200.000 - 1.800.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

Zetes South Africa seeks an Operations Manager to coordinate and improve operational delivery across the Business Solutions Group (BSG), combining leadership with hands‑on execution to ensure reliable customer delivery, governance, and scalable ways of working.

The role reports to the MD and leads the BSG Technical Lead, with responsibility for planning, budgeting, performance reviews and ensuring alignment of commercial and operational priorities. A pragmatic, hands‑on leader is preferred.

Competenze

• Degree in Engineering, IT, Supply Chain, or Business Management or related field.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary technical and operational teams.
• Strong track record in improving delivery governance and organisational performance.

Mansioni

• Lead and coordinate the South African operational functions within scope.
• Translate business strategy into operating plans, priorities and outcomes.
• Drive governance, KPI management, capacity planning and continuous improvement.
• Oversee delivery governance including planning, reviews, escalations and release readiness.
• Guide presales activities with operational input such as estimation and statements of work.
• Improve utilisation, productivity and delivery quality.
• Maintain strong customer engagement on delivery performance and value realization.
• Build an accountable, collaborative operating culture and develop team leads.

Conoscenze

Operational planning

Delivery governance

Resource management

Stakeholder management

Continuous improvement

Cross-functional collaboration

Risk management

Formazione

Degree in Engineering/IT/SC/Business

Descrizione del lavoro

The Operations Manager is responsible for coordinating and improving operational delivery across Zetes South Africa, with primary accountability for the Business Solutions Group (BSG)

The role combines operational leadership with hands-on execution to ensure reliable customer delivery, strong technical governance, effective resource planning, service quality, profitability, compliance and scalable ways of working.

A BSG Technical Lead reports to the Operations Manager and acts as the key technical counterpart within BSG. Developers, analysts and the infrastructure team report through the BSG Technical Lead, who provides day‑to‑day technical direction, coordination and escalation support. The Project Managers/Implementation Consultants, Business Consultants, Customer Service Team will report directly to the Operations Manager

The ideal candidate is a pragmatic, hands‑on leader who works closely with teams, removes barriers, strengthens accountability and translates priorities into disciplined execution.

Responsibilities:

1. Operational Leadership and Execution

• Lead and coordinate the South African operational functions within scope, ensuring alignment with business priorities and customer commitments.
• Translate business strategy into clear operating plans, priorities, ownership and measurable outcomes.
• Drive operational maturity through governance, KPI management, capacity planning and continuous improvement.
• Contribute to business planning, budgeting, organisational design and operational performance reviews.
• Balance delivery quality, commercial pragmatism, risk, compliance and profitability.

2. Business Solutions Group Delivery

• Lead the BSG delivery organisation and establish clear priorities across consulting, projects, implementation, support and managed services.
• Work with Sales, Customer Success and other stakeholders to align solution commitments, delivery capacity and customer expectations.
• Own delivery governance, including planning, reviews, escalations, quality gates, release readiness and lessons learned.
• Guide presales activities where operational input is required, including solution design, estimation, resource planning and Statements of Work.
• Improve utilisation, productivity, planning accuracy, delivery predictability and execution quality.
• Maintain strong customer engagement on delivery performance, risks, corrective actions and value realisation.

3. BSG Technical Leadership Model

• Lead and support the BSG Technical Lead as the principal technical coordination point for BSG.
• Ensure that developers, analysts and the infrastructure team are managed through the BSG Technical Lead, with clear priorities, standards and escalation paths.
• Use the BSG Technical Lead as the Operations Manager’s key technical counterpart for architecture, technical quality, release readiness, incident resolution and capability development.
• Maintain clear separation between operational accountability and technical authority while ensuring close collaboration and timely decision‑making.
• Ensure technical risks, dependencies, resource constraints and quality concerns are visible and addressed early.

4. IT Infrastructure and Internal Technology Operations

• Ensure the reliability, security and performance of internal IT infrastructure and workplace technology.
• Oversee service levels, user support, networks, servers, lifecycle management and operational resilience through the BSG Technical Lead.
• Strengthen governance across cybersecurity, disaster recovery, access control, incident management, documentation and change control.
• Standardise and stabilise technology environments across the business.
• Monitor and improve system availability, service responsiveness and user satisfaction.

5. Financial and Performance Management

• Manage operational budgets, cost control, resource forecasts and performance within the approved scope.
• Drive performance against financial, customer and operational targets.
• Monitor KPIs including project delivery, service levels, resource utilisation, backlog, system availability, customer satisfaction and margin performance.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, investment decisions and continuous cost optimisation.
• Provide concise and reliable operational reporting to management.

6. Governance, Risk, Compliance and Service Quality

• Ensure adherence to agreed operational processes, standards, controls and governance.
• Maintain effective controls across operational risk, information security, business continuity and service quality.
• Manage major incidents, escalations, recovery actions and root‑cause follow‑up.
• Support audits, remediation plans and the implementation of Group policies.
• Promote disciplined documentation, change control and decision tracking.

7. People Leadership and Capability Development

• Build an accountable, collaborative and execution‑focused operating culture.
• Lead, coach and develop the BSG Technical Lead and other team leads within scope.
• Clarify roles, responsibilities, decision rights and escalation paths.
• Strengthen workforce planning, skills development, succession coverage and knowledge transfer.
• Encourage continuous improvement, constructive challenge and cross‑team collaboration.

8. Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with the Managing Director, Sales, Finance, HR, Customer Success and Group stakeholders.
• Ensure strong alignment between commercial commitments and operational delivery capacity.
• Support a controlled transition from sales and solution design into implementation and support.
• Coordinate with manufacturing, quality, HSE, finance and other functions where operational dependencies exist, without assuming direct line management.
• Align local operational practices with Zetes standards, governance and strategic direction.

9. Second‑Phase Scope: Supply Chain, Procurement and Logistics

• Once the BSG organisation is stable and subject to a formal management decision, the Operations Manager’s scope may expand to include supply chain, procurement and logistics. Any transfer should be supported by an agreed mandate, organisation structure, handover plan, KPIs, controls and appropriately assigned resources.

Qualifications & Experience Required:

• Degree or equivalent professional qualification in Engineering, IT, Supply Chain, Business Management or a related field.
• 8-12 years of progressive experience in operations, service delivery, technology delivery or a related environment, including management responsibility.
• Proven experience leading multidisciplinary technical and operational teams.
• Strong track record in improving delivery governance, execution discipline and organisational performance.
• Experience in B2B technology, supply chain solutions, SaaS, managed services or industrial environments is preferred.
• Experience working with technical leads or similar delegated technical leadership structures is advantageous.

Core Competencies:

• Operational planning and disciplined execution
• Programme, project and delivery governance
• Resource and capacity management
• IT infrastructure and service operations
• Financial acumen and cost control
• Risk, compliance and business continuity
• Customer and stakeholder management
• Continuous improvement and problem‑solving