Senior Manager: Head of Operations

Motus Corporation; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 800 000 - 1 200 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading automotive mobility solutions provider in Johannesburg is seeking a strategic, results-driven Head of Operations. This role involves ensuring business efficiency, coordinating between teams, and overseeing financial performance. Ideal candidates will have extensive experience in operations management, leadership, and financial acumen. The role offers the opportunity to drive innovation and enhance operational processes in a dynamic environment.

Qualifications

• 5 – 10 years of experience in operations management.
• 5+ years of experience in Labour relations, OHAS and warehousing legislation.
• Ability to lead, motivate and manage large teams.

Responsibilities

• Ensure daily business efficiency and support long-term goals.
• Develop and track key performance indicators.
• Oversee budgets to maintain operations within budget constraints.

Skills

Leadership Skills

Analytical Thinking

Budget Management

Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Education

Bachelor’s degree in business administration/Operations Management

Tools

ERP Systems

Job description

Motus Aftermarket Parts is searching for a strategic, results-driven Head of Operations that will be responsible for the Alert Engine Parts, Afinta Parts & Diesel divisions. The purpose of this position is to ensure daily business efficiency while supporting long-term goals by turning executive strategies into action and addressing issues quickly. This role covers strategic planning and operational oversight, focusing on effective processes that meet organizational objectives. Their efforts directly impact performance by reducing costs, increasing output, satisfying customers, and driving innovation for competitiveness.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in business administration / Operations Management or related field (MBA)
• Experience in operations management or a related field (5 – 10 years +)
• Understanding of business operations processes, knowledge of IT systems and tools such as ERP, as well as knowledge of industry regulations and best practices.(5 years +)
• Experience in Labour relations, OHAS and regulated legislation to warehousing (5 years +)
• The ability to lead, motivate and manage large teams, as well as to make decisions and take responsibility for the outcome(5 – 7 years + )
• Financial Acumen in Budget Management and Capital Expenditure Planning (5 – 7 years +)

Key Performance Indicators includes, but not limited to: Performance Output

• Develop and track Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to measure operational success.
• Review metrics such as output, delivery times, and customer service metrics.
• Excellent organizational skills needed to coordinate complex activities.
• Effective time management, ensuring projects and daily operations deadlines are met.
• Oversees customer service and collaborates closely with customer-facing teams to resolve operational issues that affect customers.
• Formulation and successful implementation of operational projects

Financial Oversight, planning and Cost Control.

• Oversee budgets to ensure that operations are within budget constraints.
• Ability to interact with the finance department frequently. Collaborate on setting the operations budget, capital expenditures for new equipment, and evaluating the ROI of process improvements.
• Understand financial statements and cost drivers, and be able to allocate budgets, forecast expenses, and find cost‑saving opportunities.
• Analytical thinking to maintain profitability while running efficient operations.
• Ensures that the cost to serve ratios are optimized for profitability. This involves budgeting wisely and controlling operational expenses like labour, distribution, and overheads.
• Regularly review cost reports and find opportunities to cut unnecessary expenses.
• Negotiate better rates or terms with vendors.
• Review and negotiate long term financial commitments such as lease agreements and service contracts.

Audit and Compliance

• Develop and implement policies, procedures, and systems to improve overall organizational performance and profitability.
• Develop and maintain all Business Standard Operating Procedures.
• Ensure that all operations comply with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards.
• Review all Audit Requirements and Implement changes to align business compliance.
• Responsible for maintaining high service quality. This includes implementing quality control and upholding environmental and safety regulations in distribution facilities.
• Performs continuous risk assessments for potential challenges.
• Ensure all sites building compliance and regulatory services and checks have been done monthly / annually for insurance compliance.

Continuous Improvement Initiatives

• Analytical & Problem‑Solving Skills, analyze performance data to identify trends and spot problems or opportunities.
• Drive continuous improvement programs to enhance efficiency.
• Fostering a culture of ongoing optimization – encouraging teams to suggest improvements and stay agile in refining processes for better results.
• Monitor and measure the effectiveness of existing processes and systems and make necessary changes.
• Continuously improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization’s processes and systems.
• Quickly responding to market changes (like supply disruptions or shifts in customer demand) and embracing innovative technologies or processes that can improve the business.
• Creative thinking or out‑of‑the‑box thinking to find solutions to complex operational challenges.
• Long term strategic planning of facilities up to 10 years. Identifying facilities for closure and greenfield opportunities based on network analysis

Reporting and Communication

• Reporting and Communication: Communicate regularly with upper management (e.g. Executive, CEO, EXCO) about operational status, challenges, and achievements.
• Provide updates on how operations are performing relative to goals and may present proposals for capital investments or process changes.
• Clear communication ensures top leadership understands operational needs and outcomes.
• Monitor and analyze market trends, identify growth opportunities, and make recommendations to exco.
• Create and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders, including suppliers, customers, and regulatory bodies.
• Actively collaborate with other departments within the company to achieve overall business objectives. This collaboration ensures that the operations strategy is aligned with other functions like sales, marketing, finance, and HR, and that the organization moves forward cohesively.
• Collaborate closely with teams to synchronize warehouse output with demand to ensure warehouse output is sufficient to manage the uptick in orders.
• Contribute to operational insights to company‑wide strategies implementation and decision making.

Leadership and Management

• Lead large cross‑functional teams to achieve company objectives.
• Ability to analyse and understand the big picture and to develop and implement strategies to achieve organizational goals.
• Strong leadership, management, and decision‑making skills.
• The ability to analyse data, identify patterns and trends and make data‑driven decisions.
• The ability to identify problems, evaluate options, and implement solutions.
• The ability to respond quickly and effectively to changing conditions and latest information.
• Ability to think out of the box, come up with new ideas and find innovative solutions to problems

Knowledge

• Operations Management
• Budget Formulation, Control and Capital Expenditure
• Labour relations, OHAS, Regulatory Warehouse Legislation and Building Compliance.
• BSOP Development and Implementation
• Ongoing Optimization
• Reporting and Communication Skills; Stakeholder Engagement
• Leadership

Skills

• End to end understanding of warehousing and logistics.
• Understanding of cost drivers and capital requirements to run warehouses and implementation planning.
• Understanding of labour, OHAS and other legislation relating to warehouse compliance.
• Formulating and updating BSOP continuously to suit needs of business.
• Identify opportunities for optimization in processes.
• Report Preparation and Communication. Ability to build trust and foster long term mutually beneficial relationships.
• Ability to lead large cross functional teams.

Behavioral Attributes

• Analytical driven
• Attention to detail, Forward Thinker.
• Ability to extract necessary factual details to make decisions
• Detail -oriented and compliance driven.
• Out of the box thinker.
• Proactive communicator and negotiator.
• Strong leadership and organizational skills

About Motus Corporation

Motus is a multi‑national provider of automotive mobility solutions and vehicle products and services, delivering 77 years of steady growth and reliable value creation. Our leading market presence in South Africa is enhanced by selected international offerings in the United Kingdom, Australia, Asia and Southern and East Africa.

Motus employs over 20 000 people globally and is a diversified (non‑manufacturing) business in the automotive sector. Motus is South Africa’s leading automotive group, with unrivalled scale and scope across the automotive value chain.

Motus offers a differentiated value proposition to OEMs, customers and business partners with a business model that integrates our four business segments: Import and Distribution, Retail and Rental, Mobility Solutions and Aftermarket Parts, providing multiple customer touchpoints that support resilience and meet customers’ mobility needs across the vehicle ownership cycle.

Motus has long‑standing importer, distribution and retail partnerships with leading OEMs, representing some of the world’s most recognisable brands. We provide automotive manufacturers with a highly effective route‑to‑market and a vital link between the brand and the customer throughout the vehicle’s lifecycle. In addition, we provide accessories and aftermarket automotive parts for out‑of‑warranty vehicles and the Mobility Solutions segment sells value‑added products and services to customers, including non‑insurance and insurance products, consumer mobility solutions, and fleet services.