Regional Operations Manager

Brambles; Cape Town; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Job summary

Brambles in Cape Town seeks an experienced Regional Operations Manager to lead multiple plants, ensuring safe, efficient, cost-effective operations that meet customer expectations. You will develop regional strategies, drive performance, and build high-performing teams.

The role requires a strong track record in manufacturing leadership, cost management, and continuous improvement, with hands-on coaching of plant leaders, and a focus on safety, quality, and reliability across the region.

Qualifications

• BSc/B Tech Engineering required.
• 5+ years in senior management leading teams in large-scale manufacturing.
• Experience implementing Lean, TPM and Six Sigma.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen.

Responsibilities

• Lead regional operations to deliver safe, efficient, cost-effective, and customer-focused performance across multiple plants.
• Develop and execute regional operational strategies aligned to business objectives and supply chain goals.
• Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives across the region.
• Coach and develop Regional Operations and Plant Leadership teams to build a high-performance culture.
• Manage budgets, resources and capital investments to support growth and efficiency.

Skills

People Management

Computer literacy

Operational

Production

Commercial

Six Sigma

LEAN

Operational Metrics

Education

BSc/B Tech Engineering

Job description

Description

Key Responsibilities May Include:

• Ensure all operational activities within the region fully comply with health, safety, and quality standards, as well as operational procedures to drive regulatory adherence and risk mitigation.
• Drive customer satisfaction by ensuring plants consistently meet service and quality standards, and foster a culture of operational excellence and continuous improvement.
• Provide leadership and oversight to ensure plants have the appropriate resources and focus to consistently deliver on KPIs, meeting customer satisfaction and operational goals.
• Continuously improve operational performance in key areas such as health and safety, cost management, product quality, customer satisfaction, and sustainability.
• Analyze and track regional cost trends, identifying opportunities for cost efficiency and ensuring that financial performance aligns with budget targets.
• Lead and implement cost‑saving initiatives by recommending, analyzing, and executing efficiency improvements across the region.
• Actively contribute to the development and execution of the regional supply chain strategy, working closely with cross‑functional teams to drive operational consistency and improvement.
• Lead and mentor plant management teams, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, fostering a collaborative work environment, and supporting professional development.

Position Purpose

Lead and manage regional operations to deliver safe, efficient, cost‑effective, and customer‑focused performance. Drive operational excellence across multiple plants, develop high‑performing teams, and ensure the achievement of business, financial, and strategic objectives.

Key Accountabilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and execute regional operational strategies aligned to business objectives.
• Contribute to the development of supply chain and operational strategies.
• Drive continuous improvement, productivity, and operational excellence initiatives.

Team and People Leadership

• Lead, coach, and develop Regional Operations and Plant Leadership teams to build a high‑performance culture.
• Create an environment of accountability, engagement, collaboration, and continuous learning.
• Develop talent pipelines, succession plans, and workforce capabilities to meet current and future business needs.
• Drive performance management processes that enable clear objectives, regular feedback, and high levels of employee performance.
• Lead employee and industrial relations activities, maintaining constructive relationships with employees, unions, and employee representatives.
• Build empowered frontline teams with clear ownership for safety, quality, service, cost and operational performance.

Safety, Risk & Compliance

• Champion a Zero Harm culture and ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Fulfil legal health and safety responsibilities, including statutory accountability.
• Ensure compliance with all company policies, labour legislation and regulatory requirements.
• Maintain effective risk, security and asset management controls.

Operations Management

• Lead the performance of multiple plants and service centres within the region.
• Strong focus on productivity improvements through engineering and maintenance best practise
• Ensure the efficient management of plant operations, maintenance, quality and engineering.
• Ensure customer requirements are consistently met through reliable operational performance.
• Lead the implementation of operational excellence best practises through effective change management

Financial & Resource Management

• Develop and manage the regional operating budget.
• Control operational costs and manage budget variances.
• Ensure optimal availability and utilisation of hire equipment, raw materials and assets.
• Evaluate and manage capital investment projects to support future growth and efficiency.

Industrial Relations

• Maintain constructive relationships with employees, trade unions and employee representatives.
• Lead labour negotiations and manage industrial relations matters.
• Ensure discipline, grievance and employee relations processes are fairly and consistently applied.

Supplier & Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships.
• Ensure procurement practices support operational requirements and best practice standards.
• Engage effectively with internal and external stakeholders to achieve business objectives.

Customer Service Excellence

• Ensure operational performance consistently meets customer expectations.
• Drive improvements in service, quality and responsiveness.
• Support the development of solutions that enhance customer satisfaction and operational performance.

Asset & Infrastructure Management

• Ensure effective maintenance and utilisation of plant equipment and facilities.
• Identify and support new facility and property development opportunities.
• Protect and optimise company assets across the region.

Key Requirements

• BSc/B Tech Engineering
• Production / Operations Management/Supply Chain
• Experience gained in large scale manufacturing/operational environment·
• At least 5 years at senior management level leading teams·
• Strong Commercial and financial acumen·
• Experience in implementing world class manufacturing tools and techniques like Lean, TPM, Six Sigma

Skills and Knowledge

• People Management
• Computer literacy
• Operational
• Production
• Commercial
• Six Sigma
• LEAN
• Operational Metrics

Remote Type

Not Remote

Skills to succeed in the role

Changement de direction, Coaching, Collaboration, Conscience de soi, Direction inclusive, Établissement des priorités, Feedback, Leading Customer Centric Teams, Mentorat, Motiver les équipes, Pensée disruptive

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, and we are committed to developing a diverse workforce in which everyone is treated fairly, with respect, and has the opportunity to contribute to business success while realizing his or her potential. This means harnessing the unique skills and experience that each individual brings and we do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, status as a veteran and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.