Operations Manager - Southern Africa

Alfred H Knight Group; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 100 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading international inspection company is seeking an Operations Manager to oversee operations in Southern Africa from their Johannesburg office. The role involves managing various inspection sites, ensuring compliance with quality standards, and supporting operational staff through training and travel. Candidates should have a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience, preferably in metals and minerals surveying, coupled with strong management skills and the ability to travel extensively.

Benefits

Excellent salary and benefits package

Opportunity for diverse work environment

Qualifications

• 10 years minimum experience in commodity surveying specific to metals and minerals commodities.
• Must have own transport, valid driver's license and passport.
• Highly proficient in English and Afrikaans (Verbal and written).

Responsibilities

• Manage the quality of inspection work across the entire region.
• Ensure operational staff are trained and equipped.
• Act in a troubleshooting capacity for customer complaints.

Skills

Six Sigma

Lean

Management Experience

Process Improvement

Analysis Skills

Operations Management

Leadership Experience

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher

Tertiary scientific technical Chemical or Metallurgical Engineering qualification

Job description

JOB TITLE

Operations Manager - Southern Africa

WHAT IS ON OFFER

Alfred H Knight has an exciting opportunity for an Operations Manager to join the team in Johannesburg. The primary function of the Operations Manager is to manage the execution of the day-to-day operational services carried out across all AHK South Africa sites including but not limited to Richards Bay Johannesburg Rustenburg Lohatlha Steelpoort Durban Maputo Beira PortElizabeth Saldanha Lüderitz and Walvis Bay.

As Operations Manager the post holder will have to proactively manage highly diverse locations both remotely and in person through regular travel and site visits.

Ultimately the Operations Manager is responsible to the General Manager of South Africa for the service delivery of all inspection supervision and sampling operations carried out within this region.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES

To be successful at Alfred H Knight the incumbent will need to display the following :

Required Knowledge and Work Experience

Operational

• Manage the quality of inspection work (including sample preparation) carried out across the entire region through ensuring appropriate SOPs are followed to a high standard and that any failures in compliance are identified and corrected as required.
• Ensure all operational staff within the region have received the appropriate training and are equipped with the necessary skills needed to execute their work. Organise any additional internal or external training as required.
• Ensuring that the Site Managers / Foremen effectively manage their operations such that sampling work is processed at ports warehouses (and any other location) in a professional manner and in line with established SOPs AHK Group expectations and to the satisfaction of the client(s).
• Act in a troubleshooting capacity to resolve customer complaints relating to commercial discrepancies that derive from operational and technical shortcomings. Implement preventative measures having undertaken a root cause analysis of the complaint.
• In conjunction with the General Manager agree yearly KPIs to which each sites Head of Operations should adhere. This will include operational expenditure training and personnel KPIs.
• Ensure regular communication with all key operational staff within the Region as well as regular travel to each operation to maintain excellent internal working relationships.
• Identify equipment requirements and ensure site equipment is appropriately maintained on a routine basis to ensure technical compliance is maintained.

Other Responsibilities

• Commercially the post holder should attend any client meetings and / or conferences as instructed to support the Marketing Manager with new opportunities / projects in both current and new locations.
• Administratively the post holder will work in conjunction with Administration Managers both in the UK and Overseas to oversee surveyor job instructions daily updates report management and in-field IT systems. It will be the post holders responsibility to receive feedback from operational staff on how administration systems can be improved and streamlined.
• Support Group initiatives on global projects to implement technology solutions in-field across the AHK Group.
• Provide technical advice and support to all operations / sites within the Region. Work in conjunction with the International Technical Network and the UK Technical Team to ensure the correct procedures are carried out as addition to this support the UK Technical Team with initiatives aimed at improving the in-field execution of work globally.
• Ensure the Company's Health & Safety policy is applied effectively in areas under the Post Holders control and any non-conformances are brought to the attention of the General Manager.
• Human Resourcing : Arranging shift flexible or overtime working to meet the following contingencies : staff shortages as a consequence of leave illness holidays equipment malfunction / breakdown growth in work volumes re-prioritising of significant amounts of sampling work.
• Participate in annual Industrial Relations negotiations.

Essential

• Excellent proven personnel management capabilities
• Commitment to safe working practices
• Must have own transport valid drivers license and passport
• Capable of managing multiple tasks simultaneously
• Excellent organizational skills with proven team player qualities

Required Work Experience

• 10 years minimum experience in commodity surveying specific to metals and minerals commodities.

Required Qualifications

• Educated to Bachelors degree or higher.
• Tertiary scientific technical Chemical or Metallurgical Engineering qualification or similar is desirable.
• Knowledge of ISO 12743 and 10251 is desirable
• Experience of implementation of or compliance to ISO 17020 and / or 17025 is desirable

Required Languages

• Highly proficient in English and Afrikaans (Verbal and written)

Travel

• Be able to travel extensively both locally and to neighbouring countries at short notice

BENEFITS

We are offering an excellent opportunity with a salary and benefits package to match

Alfred H Knight is committed to creating a diverse & inclusive environment and hence welcomes applications from all sections of the community in line with our Employment Equity Plan.

Closing Date : 07 November 2025

Required Experience :

Manager

Key Skills

Six Sigma,Lean,Management Experience,Process Improvement,Microsoft Outlook,Analysis Skills,Warehouse Management System,Operations Management,Kaizen,Leadership Experience,Supervising Experience,Retail Management

Employment Type : Full-Time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1