Operations Manager

Role Summary The Operations Manager will lead all operational delivery across The Company's building and civil operations—driving on-time, on-budget, high-quality execution as the business scales from R55M to R400M revenue (FY2026–FY2029). Own end-to-end delivery from contract handover to practical completion, across multi-provincial operations with 10–20+ concurrent projects. This role sits on the Management Committee (ManCo) and helps build the operational infrastructure, capabilities and quality systems needed for sustainable scale. Minimum Requirements Bachelor's degree in construction management, Civil Engineering, or related (essential) 10–15 years construction experience, including 5+ years in senior operational leadership Proven delivery across multiple concurrent projects (R20M–R100M+) Track record scaling construction operations in a growth environment (preferably 2x+ revenue growth) Demonstrated experience in leading site teams; operational systems/processes/quality frameworks; large complex projects (R50M+, 12–24 months); senior client management; contract/risk; HSE compliance; subcontractor/supplier management; resource/capacity planning CIDB grading & construction regulatory environment knowledge Advantageous: Professional registration (Pr.CM / Pr.CPM / Pr. Eng / Pr. Tech.Eng); building + civil experience; multi-provincial/regional ops; education/government/institutional construction sector exposure What You'll Be Responsible For Strategic (Board / Manco Level) Drive ops strategy aligned to growth targets (R55M R125M FY2027 R250M FY2028 R400M FY2029) Build capacity from 8–10 concurrent projects to 25–30+; implement scalable systems/processes/quality frameworks for R400M operations Provide input to Business Development on capacity planning, bidding decisions, project selection Lead CIDB grading advancement strategy (currently 7GB PE, targeting 8GB+) Drive multi-provincial expansion with consistent delivery standards; build the operational leadership team; champion SHEQ culture and operational innovation Delivery & Project Portfolio Leadership Oversee all active projects to deliver on time / on budget / on quality across building and civil portfolios Run weekly/monthly project reviews (progress, cost, risk, client satisfaction); ensure strong handover from Business Development to site teams Implement project governance (stage gates, reporting, escalation, lessons learned) and track operational KPIs Partner with Commercial Manager (variations/claims/disputes) and Financial Director (cost control, cash flow, profitability) Manage resource allocation (plant/equipment/key people/subcontractors) and senior client relationships for major projects (R50M+) Enforce SHEQ policies; manage subcontractor/supplier performance and operational risk across portfolio Execution & Compliance Approve programs/method statements/resource plans; approve major procurement/subcontractor/supplier decisions Conduct regular site visits (minimum 2–3 days per week) to verify progress, quality and safety compliance Resolve escalated site issues; approve progress claims; ensure compliance with CIDB, NHBRC and construction regulations Ensure project documentation completion; lead practical completion & defects liability; manage plant/equipment strategy and operational reporting to ExCo/Board Skills & Competencies Systems-thinking ops leadership; strong technical construction knowledge (building/civil/MEPF); strong commercial acumen Exceptional people leadership; project management expertise; senior client relationship management; strong decision-making and communication Quality & safety mindset; tech proficiency (Buildsmart, CCS, MS Project, BIM, ERP/digital tools); entrepreneurial mindset; resilience in high-pressure growth environments Performance Expectations (KPIS) Project delivery: 85% on-time; 90% achieve/exceed target margin; 2% defects value at practical completion; client satisfaction 8.5/10 Safety & compliance: zero fatalities/LTIs; LTIFR 1.0 per 200,000 hours; 100% statutory compliance; SHEQ audit scores 85% Financial: gross margin target 8–12% (mix dependent); forecast vs actual final cost variance 3%; payment cycle 60 days; recover 80% valid claims/variations Growth & capacity: meet revenue targets (FY2027 R125M, FY2028 R250M, FY2029 R400M); capacity utilisation 75–85%; achieve 8GB by Q4 FY2027; provide capacity assessments for 90% tenders within 48 hours Team & operational excellence: 15% turnover (Contracts/Site Managers); 100% direct reports with development plans and quarterly reviews; embed 4+ major operational processes annually; lessons learned documented for 100% of projects >R20M