Job Description

Junior Operations Manager

Location: Lansdowne, Cape Town
Salary: From R30,000 per month, dependent on experience
Employment Type: Permanent
Reporting To: Directors

About the Company

Our client is an established Cape Town-based organisation operating within the fire protection, fire detection and life-safety services industry

The business provides specialised fire protection solutions and related services to commercial, industrial and other clients, operating in an environment where safety, regulatory compliance, service delivery and operational efficiency are critical.

With approximately 66 employees, the company has an established operational structure while remaining sufficiently hands-on for senior management and the Directors to be closely involved in the day-to-day running of the business.

The company is seeking a capable and practically minded Junior Operations Manager who can work directly with the Directors and assist in driving operational performance across the organisation.

The Role

The Junior Operations Manager will play an important role in coordinating and overseeing the company's daily operational activities.

This is a hands-on operational management position rather than a purely administrative role. The successful candidate will need to be comfortable working across different areas of the business, managing people, resolving operational problems and ensuring that work is completed efficiently and to the required standard.

Reporting directly to the Directors, the Junior Operations Manager will act as an important link between management and operational employees and will assist in ensuring that management decisions are effectively implemented throughout the business.

The position would suit an experienced operational professional who is organised, assertive and comfortable taking responsibility in a busy working environment.

Key Responsibilities

Operational Management

• Assist the Directors with the day-to-day management of business operations.
• Coordinate operational activities to ensure work is completed efficiently and according to company requirements.
• Monitor workflows, workloads and operational priorities.
• Ensure operational resources are appropriately allocated.
• Identify operational bottlenecks and implement practical solutions.
• Assist with improving operational processes, systems and procedures.
• Ensure instructions and operational requirements from the Directors are implemented effectively.
• Maintain visibility across ongoing operational activities and escalate significant concerns when required.

Staff Management & Coordination

• Assist with supervising and coordinating operational employees.
• Ensure employees understand their responsibilities, priorities and expected standards.
• Monitor attendance, productivity and general operational discipline.
• Address day-to-day staff and operational issues professionally and promptly.
• Assist management in maintaining accountability throughout the operational team.
• Support the Directors in ensuring company policies and procedures are consistently followed.
• Help create a structured, professional and performance-driven working environment.

Service Delivery

• Monitor operational performance and ensure agreed service standards are maintained.
• Assist in coordinating jobs, projects, installations, maintenance or service-related activities where applicable.
• Ensure operational deadlines and commitments are achieved.
• Follow up on outstanding work and ensure matters are brought through to completion.
• Liaise with relevant departments to resolve service delivery problems.
• Ensure operational issues affecting customers are escalated and resolved quickly.

Planning & Resource Coordination

• Assist with daily and weekly operational planning.
• Coordinate employees, vehicles, equipment and other operational resources where required.
• Assist in ensuring teams have the information and resources necessary to perform their duties.
• Monitor operational requirements and anticipate potential resource constraints.
• Support management with scheduling and prioritisation.

Health, Safety & Compliance

Given the nature of the industry, the successful candidate will be expected to maintain a strong focus on safety, compliance and operational standards

Responsibilities will include:

• Supporting adherence to company health and safety procedures.
• Ensuring operational employees follow required safety practices.
• Assisting with maintaining appropriate operational and compliance documentation.
• Identifying operational risks and reporting these to the Directors.
• Promoting a culture of accountability, safety and professional conduct.

Reporting & Management Support

• Provide regular operational feedback to the Directors.
• Prepare or contribute to operational reports where required.
• Monitor agreed operational KPIs and performance measures.
• Highlight recurring operational problems and recommend improvements.
• Assist the Directors with operational projects and initiatives.
• Follow through on management decisions and ensure agreed actions are completed.

Minimum Requirements

• Minimum 5 years' experience in an operational environment.
• Proven experience coordinating or supervising employees and operational activities.
• Previous exposure to an Operations Supervisor, Operations Coordinator, Operations Manager, Site Manager, Service Manager, Branch Operations or similar role would be advantageous.
• Strong understanding of day-to-day operational processes and workflow management.
• Demonstrated ability to manage employees and maintain accountability.
• Strong planning, organisation and problem-solving abilities.
• Ability to manage several operational priorities simultaneously.
• Comfortable reporting directly to business owners, Directors or senior management.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Computer literate and comfortable working with operational reports and business systems.

Experience gained within fire protection, security, technical services, facilities management, construction, engineering, maintenance, installations or another operationally intensive service environment would be particularly advantageous.

Personal Attributes

The successful candidate will need to be:

• Mature and professionally confident
• Assertive without being unnecessarily confrontational
• Highly organised
• Practical and solutions-driven
• Comfortable managing different personalities
• Able to maintain professional boundaries
• Calm under pressure
• Accountable and dependable
• Strong enough to address poor performance or operational problems when necessary
• Comfortable making decisions within their level of authority
• Able to work independently without requiring constant supervision
• Respectful of reporting structures and management decisions
• Focused on completing tasks rather than simply identifying problems
• Able to maintain confidentiality when working closely with the Directors

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate will have at least five years of solid operational experience, including responsibility for coordinating people, workloads and day-to-day business activities.

They should have reached a stage in their career where they are comfortable taking ownership, dealing with staff and operational challenges and communicating directly with senior management.

This position requires someone who enjoys being involved in the operation, understands how to get people and processes working together and is prepared to step in when problems need to be resolved.

The successful candidate will work closely with the Directors and therefore needs to demonstrate maturity, sound judgement, discretion, reliability and a strong sense of accountability

Remuneration

From R30,000 per month, with the final package dependent on the successful candidate's experience, operational background and suitability for the position.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is an excellent opportunity for an experienced operational professional who is ready to take on broader management responsibility within an established Cape Town business.

The position offers significant exposure to the company's Directors and the opportunity to become an integral part of the operational management of a growing, technically focused organisation.