Chief Operating Officer

SUMMARY:
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Transformation | Modernisation | Turnaround | Revenue Growth

Gijima Staffing Solutions is headhunting for an exceptional Chief Operating Officer (COO) on behalf of a leading South African State-Owned Entity undergoing a significant transformation and modernisation journey.

This is not a traditional COO appointment.
Our client is seeking a visionary, commercially astute and execution-focused executive to drive organisational turnaround, accelerate transformation, modernise operations and position the organisation for long-term sustainability and growth. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer and Board, the successful candidate will play a pivotal role in shaping the future direction of the organisation and delivering measurable business outcomes.

POSITION INFO:
The Opportunity The organisation is at a critical point in its journey and requires a leader who can build on existing transformation initiatives, accelerate execution and create momentum across the business. The successful candidate will be expected to hit the ground running and lead the organisation into its next phase of performance, innovation and growth. Key areas of focus will include: Leading organisational transformation and modernisation across the business. Driving visible and immediate improvements in customer service delivery and turnaround times. Accelerating digital transformation initiatives and ensuring operational alignment with technology-enabled change. Identifying and addressing revenue leakages while implementing innovative revenue-generation strategies. Strengthening operational performance, accountability and execution discipline across multiple divisions. Driving the organisation's sustainability agenda and supporting long-term commercial viability. Leading significant recapitalisation and infrastructure renewal programmes, including a large-scale laboratory recapitalisation initiative. Building high-performing teams and fostering a culture that embraces innovation, accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement. The Ideal Candidate We are interested in speaking with accomplished executives who can demonstrate: A proven track record of organisational turnaround and transformation. Experience The ability to lead organisations through significant change while maintaining operational stability and performance. Strong business development, revenue growth and commercial leadership capability. Experience driving strategic initiatives from concept through execution and delivery. Exceptional people leadership skills with the ability to influence established teams and drive culture change. Extensive experience in project execution, innovation, transformation and operational improvement. Minimum Requirements Master's Degree (NQF Level 9) in Leadership, Business Management or a related field. Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Science or a related STEM discipline. Minimum 15 years' relevant business management or similar leadership experience. Minimum 5 years' senior management experience. Minimum 5 years' executive management experience. Proven track record in developing, negotiating and executing local and international business strategies. Demonstrated success leading portfolios within a medium-sized revenue-generating organisation. Proven experience managing organisational turnaround and transformation programmes. Advanced project management capabilities, including resource optimisation, innovation and culture change initiatives. Highly Advantageous Engineering, Science or other STEM-based leadership experience. Experience within technical, engineering, scientific, quality, standards, testing, certification or conformity assessment environments. Exposure to Public Private Partnerships, project financing, capital raising and major recapitalisation programmes. Strong knowledge of governance, compliance and regulatory frameworks applicable to public-sector entities. Leadership Profile The successful individual will be a transformational leader who combines strategic vision with strong execution capability. They will be innovative, results-oriented and capable of stabilising, modernising and moving an organisation forward while delivering tangible improvements in customer experience, operational performance and financial sustainability.