Operations Manager - Chemical Industry

West Coast Personnel; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

West Coast Personnel seeks an experienced Operations Manager to lead a complex warehouse and industrial operation in the chemical sector. You will oversee daily operations, budgets, compliance and service delivery to meet client SLAs.

The ideal candidate has a degree in business or operations management, at least 3 years in a senior role, strong leadership, and a track record of continuous improvement and cost control.

Qualifications

• Grade 12 / Matric completed.
• Degree in Business, Operations Management or related field.
• Proven experience as an operations manager or in a senior operational role.
• Minimum 3 years' chemical industry experience highly advantageous.
• Strong warehouse and inventory management experience.
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial management experience.
• Strong staff leadership and client management skills.
• Sound knowledge of operational risk, compliance and SHE requirements.
• Strong commercial, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• MS Office proficiency.
• Valid Code 08 driver's licence.
• Syspro and/or Pastel experience advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations to meet productivity, profitability and service targets.
• Manage budgets, forecasting, costs, invoicing, claims and SLA profitability.
• Oversee warehouse, stock control, cycle counts and inventory accuracy.
• Handle technical queries, SOPs and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with SHE, SHERQ, ISO, legal and audit requirements.
• Lead incident management, drills and investigations.
• Build strong client and supplier relationships and ensure SLA compliance.
• Review costings, quotations and assist with business development.
• Lead staff, manage performance, attendance, and disciplinary processes.
• Compile and present operational reports and performance statistics.

Skills

Operations Management

Chemical Industry

Warehouse & Inventory Management

Financial Management

Staff Leadership

Client & SLA Management

SHERQ / SHE

Risk Management

Business Development

Project Costing

Continuous Improvement

Root Cause Analysis

Education

Grade 12 / Matric

Degree in Business, Operations Management or related field

Tools

Syspro

Pastel

Job description

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily operations and ensure productivity, profitability and service delivery targets are achieved.
• Manage operational budgets, forecasting, costs, invoicing, claims and SLA profitability.
• Oversee warehouse, stock control, cycle counts and inventory discrepancies.
• Manage technical queries, SOPs and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Ensure compliance with SHE, SHERQ, ISO, legal, licensing and audit requirements.
• Manage incidents, spills, emergency drills and incident investigations.
• Build and maintain strong client and supplier relationships and ensure SLA compliance.
• Review costings, quotations and assist with business development and market growth.
• Lead staff, manage performance, training, absenteeism, overtime and disciplinary processes.
• Compile and present operational reports and performance statistics.

Minimum Requirements

• Grade 12 / Matric.
• Degree in Business, Operations Management or related field.
• Proven experience as an operations Manager or similar senior operational role.
• Minimum 3 years' chemical industry experience highly advantageous.
• Strong warehouse and inventory management experience.
• Budgeting, forecasting and financial management experience.
• Strong staff leadership and client management skills.
• Sound knowledge of operational risk, compliance and SHE requirements.
• Strong commercial, analytical and problem-solving ability.
• MS Office proficiency.
• Valid Code 08 driver's licence.
• Syspro and/or Pastel experience advantageous.

Key Skills

• Operations Management
• Chemical Industry
• Warehouse & Inventory Management
• Financial Management
• Staff Leadership
• Client & SLA Management
• SHERQ / SHE
• Risk Management
• Business Development
• Project Costing
• Continuous Improvement
• Root Cause Analysis

Ideal Candidate

This position would suit an experienced operations professional who has managed a complex warehouse, distribution, technical or industrial operation, ideally specifically within the chemical sector.

The successful candidate must be equally comfortable reviewing budgets and profitability, walking through a warehouse checking operational compliance, handling a client escalation, chairing an incident investigation and managing senior staff.