Chief Operations Officer

SUMMARY:
Our client, a diversified organisation with strong international associations and expanding national and African interests, is seeking a highly dynamic, strategic, and performance-driven Chief Operations Officer to lead its Training and Development business.
This role presents a clear succession opportunity into a Managing Director position.
The organisation operates across human capital development, with additional interests in agriculture, finance and accounting, wealth creation, and human resources.

POSITION INFO:

Role Purpose

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a strategic plan to expand the academy within South Africa and into Africa by 2028
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities and strategic partnerships
• Monitor industry trends and competitor activity to guide decision-making
• Analyse South African and African markets to identify current and future skills gaps and training opportunities

Operational Management

• Oversee day-to-day academy operations, ensuring efficient delivery of training programmes
• Implement policies and procedures to maintain high training and service standards
• Manage budgets, financial performance, and resource allocation

Learning & Development

• Design and implement an employee learning and development framework aligned to business and marketing strategy
• Develop engaging learning solutions including e-learning, instructor-led, blended learning, and on-the-job training
• Lead the design and rollout of blended learning programmes
• Identify and implement appropriate learning technologies (LMS, authoring tools, and digital platforms)
• Continuously review and update curriculum to meet evolving business and market needs

Business Development

• Build and maintain relationships with government bodies, corporate clients, SETAs, and educational institutions
• Develop and execute marketing and sales strategies to attract and retain clients
• Represent the academy at industry events, conferences, and networking platforms
• Drive strategic sales plans across South African and African markets
• Implement pricing strategies that balance sales growth and gross profit

Team Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and develop a high-performing team of employees and trainers
• Foster an inclusive, innovative, and high-performance culture
• Conduct performance reviews and provide ongoing feedback
• Facilitate career development discussions and individual development plans
• Partner with HR and leadership to deliver talent development, succession planning, and leadership programmes

Quality Assurance

• Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements and industry standards
• Implement quality assurance processes to improve training effectiveness
• Collect and analyse client and learner feedback to drive continuous improvement

Stakeholder Communication

• Maintain clear and consistent communication with all stakeholders on academy progress and outcomes
• Build and sustain partnerships with external stakeholders, including training providers and educational institutions

Innovation in Learning

• Champion innovation to enhance learning and career development outcomes
• Identify and leverage AI-driven learning opportunities to improve programme delivery and impact

Expansion Planning

• Conduct market research to identify African expansion opportunities
• Develop and implement a phased expansion strategy, including new training centres and local partnerships
• Monitor expansion performance and adapt strategies where required
• Assist with establishing operational presence in African markets

Customer & Sales Management

• Build and lead high-performing sales teams
• Ensure exceptional customer service and long-term client relationships
• Deliver comprehensive product and service training to distributors and customers
• Lead marketing teams to maximise promotional effectiveness
• Implement succession planning and continuous development within sales and marketing teams

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Education, or related field (Master’s preferred)
• Proven senior leadership experience, preferably within education or training
• Strong strategic planning and business development capability
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
• Proven ability to lead, inspire, and develop diverse teams
• Knowledge of South African and African training markets (advantageous)

Personal Attributes

• Visionary and strategic thinker
• Results-driven with strong growth focus
• Adaptable, resilient, and commercially astute
• Committed to continuous learning and professional development