Operations Manager Industrial Refrigeration

Network Finance; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Network Finance is seeking an experienced Operations Manager for an established engineering and manufacturing organisation. You will be responsible for the efficient delivery and optimisation of day-to-day operations, leading multidisciplinary teams, and driving performance improvements to meet quality, safety and customer expectations.

You will collaborate with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to implement process improvements, manage resources, and support strategic objectives,

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management or a related field.
• Proven experience in Operations Management, preferably within engineering/manufacturing settings.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong planning, workflow optimisation and resource management.
• Proven experience with performance management and KPIs.
• Experience implementing process improvements and SOPs.
• Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement exposure advantageous.
• Budgeting, cost control and resource allocation experience.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills.
• Ability to work on-site in South Africa.

Responsibilities

• Oversee day-to-day operational activities across engineering and manufacturing.
• Plan, organise and optimise workflows to improve productivity, efficiency and delivery.
• Lead multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing and support teams.
• Manage staff performance, development, training and workforce planning.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs and reporting systems.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and standardise processes, procedures and operating systems.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies.
• Manage resource allocation to deliver projects and operations.
• Support budget preparation, cost control and operational financial management.
• Monitor costs and identify opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with quality, health, safety and company standards.
• Coordinate activities between engineering, production, procurement, quality and other functions.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure customer requirements are translated into effective operational delivery.
• Support senior management with strategic planning and implementation of business initiatives.
• Drive a culture of accountability, initiative, integrity, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Ensure on-site operations align with policies and strategic objectives.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic planning

Operational excellence

KPIs & metrics

Lean Six Sigma

Budgeting

Communication

Team management

Problem solving

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management

Job description

A well-established and growing engineering and manufacturing organisation is seeking an experienced Operations Manager to take responsibility for the efficient delivery and optimisation of day-to-day operations.

This is a key leadership position for a commercially minded and technically strong professional who can manage multidisciplinary teams, improve operational performance, optimise resources and ensure that quality, safety and customer expectations are consistently achieved.

The successful candidate will work closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams to drive operational excellence, implement process improvements and support the organisation's strategic objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee and manage day-to-day operational activities across the engineering and manufacturing environment.
• Plan, organise and optimise operational workflows to improve productivity, efficiency and delivery.
• Lead and coordinate multidisciplinary engineering, manufacturing and support teams.
• Manage staff performance, development, training and workforce planning.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs, performance metrics and reporting systems.
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
• Develop and standardise processes, procedures and operating systems.
• Apply Lean, Six Sigma or other process improvement methodologies where appropriate.
• Manage resource allocation to ensure projects and operational requirements are delivered effectively.
• Support budget preparation, cost control and operational financial management.
• Monitor operational costs and identify opportunities to improve profitability and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with relevant quality, health, safety and company standards.
• Identify, investigate and resolve operational challenges and bottlenecks.
• Coordinate activities between engineering, production, procurement, quality, projects and other business functions.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Ensure customer requirements are understood and translated into effective operational delivery.
• Support senior management with strategic planning and implementation of business initiatives.
• Drive a culture of accountability, initiative, integrity, teamwork and continuous improvement.
• Ensure operational activities are aligned with company policies, procedures and strategic objectives.

Minimum Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, Operations Management or a related field.
• Proven experience in Operations Management, preferably within an engineering, manufacturing or technical services environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing multidisciplinary teams.
• Strong understanding of operational planning, workflow optimisation and resource management.
• Proven experience with performance management and operational KPIs.
• Experience implementing process improvements and standardised operating procedures.
• Knowledge of Lean, Six Sigma or continuous improvement methodologies would be advantageous.
• Sound understanding of budgeting, cost control and resource allocation.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent leadership, communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and make sound decisions under pressure.
• Strong customer and service-orientated approach.
• Good understanding of quality and safety requirements within an engineering or manufacturing environment.
• Ability and willingness to work on-site in South Africa.