Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Film, TV, Video Production, Live Events, Post-Production & AI

SUMMARY:
Our client in the Film, TV, Video Production, Live Events, Post-Production & AI sector requires a COO, Sandton

POSITION INFO:
Operational Right Hand to the CEO | AI-Fluent | Data-Driven | Systems-Focused Salary: R55,000 - R65,000 CTC The ideal candidate must be exceptionally sharp, confident, commercially minded, and highly accountable. They should be comfortable making independent decisions, managing people firmly, addressing underperformance, driving accountability across departments, and taking ownership of problems rather than simply escalating them. This role requires strong analytical and systems capabilities. Advanced Excel, data analysis, management reporting, systems thinking, AI, and automation form an important part of the position. The successful candidate will be able to consolidate information from multiple areas of the business, interrogate data effectively, identify trends and issues, and convert findings into clear management insights and actionable recommendations. Industry experience within film, television, advertising, creative agencies, events, media, or other fast-paced project-based environments will be advantageous. However, exceptional candidates from other sectors with strong and transferable operational leadership experience will also be considered. Industry Film, TV, Video Production, Live Events, Post-Production & AI This is a hands-on Chief Operating Officer role, not a traditional administrative Operations Manager position. We require an operational leader who will become the CEO's trusted right hand by: Connecting people, projects, systems, and departments Resolving bottlenecks before they escalate Driving accountability and execution Ensuring business priorities are delivered consistently The role spans: Production operations Resource planning People management Recruitment Sales accountability SOP development Data analytics and reporting Financial and commercial insight Workflow design Continuous improvement initiatives The successful candidate must be equally comfortable operating strategically and managing execution in the detail. AI Fluency: A Core Requirement AI sits at the centre of how the business intends to scale. The successful candidate must be genuinely fluent in: AI tools and platforms AI agents No-code automation Workflow integration AI-assisted business systems They should naturally ask: \"Can this be automated, simplified, measured, or made smarter?\" This individual must also maintain exceptional system discipline, including: Clean, accurate data Consistent naming conventions Clear ownership and accountability Documentation and version control Testing and quality assurance Reliable follow-through We are seeking someone who uses AI to drive measurable operational leverage, not merely experiment with new tools. Key Responsibilities 1. Company Operations & Accountability Own the smooth day-to-day running of the business. Keep business priorities visible and on track. Identify operational bottlenecks early. Drive execution and accountability across teams. Build a culture of ownership, urgency, and responsibility. 2. Production Traffic & Resource Management Oversee multiple productions and deadlines simultaneously. Monitor capacity planning and resource allocation. Identify scheduling conflicts before they impact delivery. Improve visibility and utilisation across teams. Ensure effective handovers between departments. 3. People, Performance & HR Define roles, responsibilities, KPIs, and performance standards. Conduct performance management processes. Address underperformance and disciplinary matters. Support organisational planning and workforce development. Build a high-performance culture. 4. Recruitment & Onboarding Identify hiring requirements alongside the CEO. Assist with recruitment and candidate assessment. Participate in interviews for key roles. Design structured onboarding programmes. Continuously evaluate team structure and staffing requirements. 5. Systems, SOPs, AI & Automation Improve workflows across Monday.com and related systems. Develop practical and adopted SOPs. Implement automation opportunities and AI-enabled workflows. Use AI for reporting, workflow routing, QA, recruitment, and administration. Ensure data accuracy, system discipline, and quality control. Evaluate new technologies and adopt those generating measurable value. 6. Data, Analytics, Excel & Commercial Intelligence Drive a data-led management culture. Build advanced dashboards and reporting tools. Develop sophisticated spreadsheet models. Analyse large datasets and multiple information sources. Present insights clearly and concisely. Provide financial and commercial analysis relating to: Budgets vs actuals Labour utilisation Resource allocation Cost trends Operational efficiency 7. Sales Oversight Monitor sales activity, pipelines, and follow-up processes. Improve sales accountability and reporting. Ensure opportunities progress effectively. Strengthen collaboration between Sales and Production. Provide concise sales reporting to the CEO. 8. Cross-Department Coordination Connect Sales, Pre-Production, Production, Post-Production, Delivery, and Finance. Improve communication and workflow handovers. Reduce duplication, rework, and information gaps. Ensure project learnings are captured and implemented. 9. Management Reporting & Business Improvement Create weekly and monthly management reports. Analyse trends, root causes, and business risks. Identify opportunities to improve: Profitability Resource utilisation Delivery performance Turnaround times Help develop the operating structure required for growth. Ideal Background Strong preference will be given to candidates from: Film and television production Commercial production Advertising and creative agencies Marketing agencies Events and experiential agencies Broadcast and media Post-production, animation, and VFX Content studios and social media agencies PR and communications Design and branding environments The key requirement is experience operating successfully within fast-moving, deadline-driven, project-based businesses. Minimum Requirements At least 7 years' management experience Minimum 3 years in senior management or operational leadership Relevant qualification in Business, Management, Finance, Operations, or a related field advantageous MBA or advanced qualification beneficial Proven operational leadership experience Strong people management capability Advanced Excel and spreadsheet modelling skills Strong analytical, numerical, and commercial capability Experience improving systems, processes, reporting, and accountability structures Hands-on experience with workflow tools, automation platforms, and AI technologies What We Are Looking For Proactive Identifies issues before being asked and closes loops effectively. Meticulous Maintains exceptional standards around detail, data accuracy, documentation, and deadlines. Analytical Transforms complex information into actionable insight. Financially Minded Understands the commercial impact of operational decisions. AI-Forward Actively leverages AI and automation to improve outcomes. Accountable Takes ownership of outcomes and drives accountability in others. Direct but Constructive Comfortable handling difficult conversations professionally. Structured, Not Bureaucratic Creates clarity and discipline without slowing execution. Commercial Prioritises decisions that improve profitability, efficiency, service levels, or growth. Calm Under Pressure Performs effectively in dynamic, changing environments. Entrepreneurial Thinks beyond the boundaries of a traditional job description. What Success Looks Like Within the first 6 to 12 months: Reduced operational escalations to the CEO Improved accountability and deadline management Stronger recruitment and onboarding processes Better cross-functional coordination AI and automation embedded into daily operations Reliable reporting and management dashboards Data-driven decision-making across the business Cleaner systems and fewer preventable errors A scalable operating structure that supports future growth Potential KPIs On-time project delivery Overdue task reduction Resource utilisation Capacity visibility Staff performance review completion Recruitment turnaround time SOP adoption rates Pipeline hygiene and sales follow-up compliance Reduction in preventable rework Reduction in CEO escalations Reporting accuracy and timeliness Cost optimisation and operational efficiency Measurable impact of AI and automation initiatives Who This Role Is Not For This role is not suited to someone who: Requires constant direction Avoids difficult conversations Is weak with numbers or spreadsheets Treats systems and data casually Resists AI adoption and automation Operates as a coordinator rather than a builder, analyst, and operator Apply online or Email CV to