Assistant Manager jobs in South Africa

As Project Manager in the Office of the CEO, you will operate at the strategic core of the business — translating vision into execution.

This is not a traditional PM role; it’s a pivotal position designed for someone who thrives in dynamic, high-stakes environments, driving complex initiatives that cut across multiple departments and directly influence executive decision-making.

You’ll act as the connective tissue between leadership and delivery teams, ensuring that strategic objectives don’t just stay on paper — they happen.

Key Responsibilities:

• Drive Strategic Execution: Coordinate and manage high-impact projects that span across business functions, ensuring alignment with the CEO’s priorities and company strategy.
• Operational Excellence: Develop, track, and maintain detailed project plans, milestones, and deliverables — ensuring timelines and standards are met.
• Executive Reporting: Build and deliver concise dashboards and reports that provide the CEO and COO with visibility into progress, risks, and outcomes.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Facilitate collaboration across departments, fostering a culture of accountability and seamless communication.
• Risk & Issue Management: Anticipate challenges early, propose pragmatic solutions, and ensure issues are escalated appropriately.
• Leadership Support: Provide direct operational and strategic support to the CEO’s office — from managing special projects to preparing board presentations and executive briefs.
• Governance & Alignment: Maintain a centralized view of all executive-level initiatives, ensuring coherence across the organization’s strategic priorities.
• Meeting & Action Management: Lead project meetings, document key decisions, and ensure follow-up actions are executed to completion.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Project Management, or a related discipline (Postgraduate qualification preferred).
• 5+ years’ experience in project management or strategy execution, ideally within a corporate, consulting, or executive office environment.
• Proven record of successfully delivering multiple concurrent projects with precision and pace.
• Strong grasp of organizational dynamics, business operations, and strategic planning.
• Demonstrated experience interfacing with senior executives and managing stakeholder expectations.

Skills & Competencies:

• Exceptional organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication abilities, with the confidence to engage at executive level.
• High emotional intelligence and discretion when handling confidential information.
• Proficiency in project management tools such as Asana, Trello, MS Project, or Monday.com.
• Resilient, resourceful, and capable of thriving in a fast-changing, deadline-driven environment.
• Independent thinker with strong ownership and initiative.

What Success Looks Like:

• Projects are delivered on time, on scope, and on strategy.
• The CEO and executive team have clear visibility into organizational performance and priorities.
• Cross-departmental execution is streamlined and collaborative.
• The Office of the CEO operates with clarity, precision, and measurable impact.