Vice President Strategic Partnerships - Africa

OPITO; Gauteng; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,600,000; Full time

Job summary

OPITO is seeking a Vice President Strategic Partnerships - Africa to lead relationships, services and products across the Africa region and support registration growth. The role reports to the Director of Operations and requires driving growth through collaborations and market expansion.

The successful candidate will oversee regional Partners, manage budgets, engage with regulators, and liaise with global teams to develop new services and standards adoption, travel up to 50% as needed.

Qualifications

• Experience working across multiple African countries and knowledge of local regulators.
• Understanding of learning and development processes in the energy or resources sector.
• Appreciation of workplace learning and competency alignment to business goals.
• Familiar with current learning and development issues in the energy sector.
• Confident communicator with strong advocacy and influencing skills.
• Solid business case and ROI mindset for identifying opportunities and driving ROI.

Responsibilities

• Implement and monitor regional growth strategies and plans.
• Collaborate with regional and global teams to review strategic plans and make recommendations.
• Manage regional markets to identify opportunities for standard expansion.
• Identify product development opportunities with global and regional colleagues.
• Prepare operational plans, conduct quarterly reviews, maintain a healthy activity pipeline.
• Represent OPITO at industry events and forums and engage with stakeholders.

Skills

Experience across African countries

Learning & development in energy

Stakeholder management

Commercial awareness

Budget & financial management

MS Office proficiency

Job description

OUR MISSION

OPITO is committed to strategic growth and diversification, aiming to increase global adoption of its products and services to ensure continued provision of expertise and solutions to elevate safety, skills and competence across a global workforce in safety critical industries. Through technology and innovation, the organisation will develop pioneering solutions that leverage cutting-edge advancements. A focus on data-driven intelligence will enable OPITO to harness insights into global workforce and safety trends, ensuring informed decision-making. In alignment with social value principles and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, OPITO will enhance educational opportunities, promote inclusive career pathways, support economic growth, and drive industry innovation and infrastructure. Lastly, through business effectiveness, OPITO will implement targeted and measurable continuous improvement initiatives, ensuring operational excellence across all aspects of its operations.

COMPANY OVERVIEW

Operating for over 50 years, OPITO is an industry-led organisation, with regional centres of excellence in six key regions – Asia Pacific, Middle East & India, Africa, Europe, South America & North America – OPITO drives safety and competency improvements across a diverse range of industries.

We drive consistency and safety compliance across global standards and qualifications, creating workforce development solutions. OPITO is a global leader in workforce safety, leading the skills focused dialogue with international governments as our industry prepares to meet Net Zero targets. Each year, more than 500,000 people are trained to OPITO standards through one of over 250 OPITO approved centres operating across 50 countries globally.

OUR VALUES

At OPITO, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, dynamic, and engaging workplace where individuals can bring their authentic selves to work. We value diversity, collaboration, and a spirited approach to our mission, believing that a strong team is built on mutual respect, passion, and a shared commitment to excellence.

Guided by our core values, we are steadfast in our commitment to:

• Integrity – Acting with honesty and responsibility in all that we do.
• Collaboration – Working together to achieve common goals and drive success.
• Adaptability – Embracing change to stay ahead in a dynamic environment.
• Care – Prioritising the well-being and growth of our team, partners, and industry.

At OPITO, we don’t just talk about our values—we live by them, creating a workplace where passion, resilience, and a positive mindset thrive.

JOB PURPOSE

As Vice President Strategic Partnerships - Africa reporting to the Director of Operations, you will be responsible for developing relationships, services and products to grow and extend the OPITO brand and influence as well as support registration growth across the Africa region.

ROLE RESPONSIBILITIES

The main role function may include some or all of the following:

• Implementation of the agreed business growth strategies and plans
• Review with the regional and global teams the annual review of the strategic plan relating to the strategy and make recommendations
• To collaborate to drive the regional and international operations plan
• To manage the key regional markets to identify significant opportunities for standard expansion
• Work with global colleagues and regional associates, where required, to identify product development opportunities
• To prepare and collate the operational plan, carry out quarterly business reviews and to ensure a healthy pipeline of activities
• To represent OPITO at industry events and forums
• To identify opportunities and work with the relevant teams to ensure successful adoption of standards
• To manage the regional engagement and stakeholder management plan
• Supervision and management of regional Strategic Partnership Associates where appointed
• Assist with annual budget preparation with the Director of Operations
• Act as the key point of contact for regional customers
• Support the development of new services and products
• Research and amend growth plans for key markets, put these in place where they are missing
• Work with the operations team, be a responsible senior member of company management
• Work with the operations team and finance to develop commercial and/or advisory proposals.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES

ESSENTIAL

• Experience of working across multiple African countries and knowledge of local regulators
• Proven understanding of the learning and development processes in the energy or resources sector
• Appreciation of workplace learning and competency, and its alignment to business goals
• Familiar with contemporary issues relating to the learning and development environment in the Energy sector
• Confident communicator with strong business advocacy and influencing skills
• Able to identify and shape opportunities with stakeholders, using a solid business case and return on investment methodology
• Knowledge of key markets
• Ability to identify key stakeholders and influences
• Proven commercial awareness, including identifying and mitigating risks
• Excellent working knowledge of MS office
• Effective working knowledge of financial management systems – budget income and expenditure
• Strong organisational and time-management skills
• Good interpersonal and team working skills
• Self-starter and ability to work on own initiative
• Flexible and adaptable
• Working knowledge of databases and electronic data management
• Effective communication skills (both verbal and written, as well as skilled presenter)
• Appreciation of national, regional and international business nuances
• Able to work under pressure, with conflicting priorities and to meet agreed deadlines.

HEALTHY AND SAFETY

Main functions may include some or all of the following:

Complying with relevant Company Health and Safety policies and procedures

Managing and maintaining controlled documents relating to Industry Standards

Ensuring all Standards related processes and procedures are complied with at all times

Contributing to the annual review of Standards ISO related processes and procedures.

COMPLIANCE

OPITO have a number of policies and guidance documents available to all staff (such as Bribery & Corruption and Conflict of Interest) which provides guidance and confidence to all of our team in their day-to-day roles as well as helping them to comply with the relevant laws and best practice at all times. All employees are reasonably expected to familiarise themselves with, and understand/comply with, at all times, these requirements

GENERAL AND INTERFACES

Main functions may include some or all of the following:

• Regular and frequent travel within the region and other regions as required (Up to 50% of the time)
• Undertakes special projects as appropriate and fulfils other duties as may reasonably be required by the company, in line with the incumbent’s skills, knowledge, abilities and personal development opportunities
• Maintaining the company values and culture

Interfaces

Internal

CEO, CFO, Directors, SVP’s & VP’s

Co-ordinators, Administration Assistants, Technical Consultants, SP Support

Finance & Organisational Development team

Other team members

External

Executive Management (Major operators, training providers, industry supply chain)

Government, Regulators, National, Regional & International bodies

Technical/Training/HR Managers from energy industry companies

Suppliers