Project Manager

Hungry Lion; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 500,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the quick service restaurant sector seeks a Project Manager to enhance operational efficiency and deliver strategic initiatives. The role involves leading enterprise-level projects, mapping processes, and developing business cases to support decision-making. Ideal candidates will possess a background in industrial engineering with strong leadership and analytical skills in a fast-paced environment.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8 years’ experience in project and process management.
• Strong track record in mapping operational processes.
• Proven ability to present investment-grade business cases.

Responsibilities

• Lead lifecycle of strategic projects including store optimisation.
• Map current and future-state processes to identify improvements.
• Develop detailed business cases for major projects.

Skills

Analytical skills

Project management

Process improvement

Leadership

Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering or related discipline

Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, PMP)

Tools

Visio

Lucidchart

Monday.com

MS Project

Job description

Role Purpose:

The Project Manager will lead enterprise-level initiatives aimed at enhancing operational efficiency and delivering strategic value across the business. This role is pivotal in mapping, analysing, and re-engineering end-to-end processes across key business functions — from in-store operations to supply chain — and in developing robust, evidence-based business cases to support executive decision-making. The ideal candidate will bring an industrial engineering background, with strong leadership in both project delivery and process design, within the context of the quick service restaurant (QSR) or retail environment and will be reporting to the Head of Project Management.

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead the full lifecycle of strategic projects, including initiatives such as store optimisation, digital transformation, logistics improvements, and customer journey enhancements
• Apply structured project management methodologies to ensure clear governance, timely delivery, and effective control of scope, cost, risk, and quality
• Work collaboratively with operations, finance, IT, supply chain, marketing, HR, and development teams to deliver cross-functional alignment and successful project outcomes
• Produce regular project reporting and facilitate steering committee (SteerCo) engagement.
  
  

Process Mapping & Continuous Improvement

• Lead the mapping of current-state (“as-is”) and future-state (“to-be”) processes across business units, including in-store operations, back-office support, and logistics functions
• Identify inefficiencies, manual workarounds, compliance gaps, and duplication of effort; design and implement improvements using lean methodologies and industrial engineering principles
• Standardise process documentation and support the creation and maintenance of standard operating procedures (SOPs) across the estate
• Promote a culture of continuous improvement through data-driven analysis and operational engagement.
  
  

Business Case Development

• Lead the development of detailed, financially sound business cases for major projects and investments
• Quantify tangible and intangible benefits, including cost savings, efficiency improvements, revenue uplift, and compliance risk reduction
• Collaborate with finance and relevant stakeholders to ensure assumptions are credible and outcomes measurable
• Present business cases to senior leadership and support the prioritisation and approval process
  
  

Minimum Requirements:

Education & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Engineering, Business Process Management, Operations Research, or a related discipline
• Project management certification (e.g. PRINCE2, APM PMQ, PMP or equivalent).
  
  

Experience

• Minimum of 8 years’ experience in project and process management, with at least 3 years in a QSR or retail environment
• Proven experience in mapping and improving operational processes across core business areas such as store operations, point of sale, inventory, and supply chain
• Strong track record in preparing and presenting investment-grade business cases for executive review
• Experience working across both strategic and operational teams, ideally in a fast-paced, multi-site environment.
  
  

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of QSR or retail operations, including in-store processes, compliance requirements, and systems integration
• Strong analytical, financial modelling, and business writing skills
• Proficiency with process mapping tools (e.g. Visio, Lucidchart) and project management platforms (e.g. Monday.com, MS Project)
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels
• Strategic thinking with a pragmatic, delivery-focused mindset.
  
  

Desirable Personal Attributes

• Customer- and operations-focused, with a practical approach to delivering value at scale
• Analytical, inquisitive, and results-driven
• Collaborative and resilient, with the ability to adapt to change and manage ambiguity
• Commercially astute, with a strong understanding of operational performance levers.
  
  

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS: Monday 14 July @ 10am

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