Senior Operations Manager

Recruiter:

Network Recruitment

Job Ref:

NES026279/Julia

Date posted:

Wednesday, May 27, 2026

Location:

Polokwane, South Africa

SUMMARY:

An established and fast-growing organisation within the built environment is seeking a high-impact Senior Operations Manager to lead a critical operational turnaround and drive sustainable performance. This role is suited to a hands-on, execution-focused leader who thrives in structuring environments, improving efficiency, and delivering measurable results across multiple sites and operational functions.

POSITION INFO:

Company and Job Description:

Our client operates across the construction, civil, mechanical, and electrical sectors, delivering complex projects in dynamic environments. The business is entering a phase of operational transformation and growth, requiring a strong leader to introduce structure, accountability, and performance discipline.
This is not a maintenance role - it is a strategic and operational leadership position focused on stabilising operations, implementing systems, and driving performance improvement across the organisation. The successful candidate will work closely with executive leadership and take full ownership of operational delivery across projects and departments.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversee and manage day-to-day operations across multiple sites and departments
Lead and structure teams including site managers, supervisors, and department heads
Implement and enforce robust reporting systems (weekly and monthly)
Drive productivity, efficiency, and project delivery performance
Establish and manage KPIs, dashboards, and measurable outputs
Oversee project execution across construction, mechanical, and electrical environments
Manage budgets, cost control, procurement, and resource allocation
Identify operational inefficiencies and implement corrective action plans
Ensure compliance with OHS regulations, labour legislation, and statutory requirements
Coordinate planning, scheduling, logistics, and site establishment processes
Provide structured operational reports to executive leadership
Support business growth through scalable operational strategies
Drive organisational change and manage resistance effectively

Job Experience & Skills Required (Ideal Candidate Profile):

Minimum Requirements:

Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent) in Operations Management, Business Management, Engineering, Construction Management, or related field
Minimum 8–10 years’ experience in a senior operations management role
Proven experience within construction, civil, mechanical, and/or electrical environments
Demonstrated ability to implement operational systems and drive structured performance
Strong financial, commercial, and operational acumen
Proven ability to manage multiple sites, teams, and deadlines
Advanced reporting, planning, organisational, and leadership skills

Advantageous:

Qualifications in Leadership or Project Management
Knowledge of Lean Six Sigma or similar continuous improvement methodologies

Ideal Candidate Profile:

Highly structured, disciplined, and results-driven
Strong focus on accountability, reporting, and measurable outcomes
Hands-on, practical, and execution-focused leader
Strong problem-solving ability with a proactive mindset
Able to optimise operations without unnecessary resource expansion
Strong leadership presence with the ability to lead change and transformation
Decisive, professional, and performance-driven

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply directly.
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If you have not had any response in two weeks, please consider the vacancy application unsuccessful. Your profile will be kept on our database for any other suitable roles/positions.

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