Job Description

SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 89,000 employees, we operate a network of more than 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

To manage, lead and grow the Northern Cape site by ensuring safe, compliant and efficient inspection, sampling and sample-preparation operations, while supporting business development, client retention, revenue growth and the SGS management system.

Operational leadership

• Plan, organise and control all Northern Cape site operations, including field sampling, inspection, sample preparation, dispatch, reporting support and site administration.

• Schedule personnel, vehicles, equipment and tools to meet client requirements safely, efficiently and within agreed turnaround times.

• Manage daily operational performance, productivity, overtime, turnaround time, service quality and adherence to work instructions.

• Ensure adequate manpower, equipment, consumables, PPE, vehicles and site resources are available for efficient operations.

• Support site supervisors, the HSE coordinator and quality coordinator in resolving operational, safety and quality issues.

• Maintain effective communication between the site, Regional Manager, HOD of Trade, clients and support functions.

Technical, quality and safety control

• Implement and maintain technical procedures, operational procedures, sampling instructions, sample-preparation controls and inspection requirements.

• Ensure all work complies with SGS policies, the SGS Code of Integrity, QHSE requirements, client instructions and applicable South African legislation.

• Apply the Check Status process and Stop Work Authority whenever risks are not clearly controlled or understood.

• Monitor quality control, data integrity, equipment condition, calibration status, traceability, chain of custody and sample security.

• Record the basis for opinions and interpretations, and ensure these are only issued by designated authorised personnel.

• Participate in Operational Integrity projects, safety campaigns, audits, investigations and corrective actions.

People management

• Lead, coach and monitor staff performance, discipline, attendance, training needs, competency records and safe work behaviour.

• Ensure new and existing staff are trained and competent for sampling, inspection, sample preparation, reporting support and safety-critical activities.

• Promote a professional, client-focused, ethical and accountable site culture.

Financial and administrative control

• Manage petty cash usage, site assets, consumables, stock usage, overtime and other controllable site costs.

• Provide monthly workload, opportunity, cost and operational performance updates to management.

• Support complaint, claim, nonconformance and improvement-request investigations with facts, records and corrective actions.

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & REGIONAL GROWTH

• Build and maintain a Northern Cape client pipeline covering existing clients, potential clients, mining operations, stockyards, sidings, logistics providers and related commodity stakeholders.

• Conduct planned client visits and technical engagements to understand upcoming work, pain points, service gaps, tender opportunities and competitor activity.

• Identify opportunities to grow inspection, sampling, sample preparation, moisture, size, quality, stockpile, vessel/rail/truck and related trade services where applicable.

• Support the Regional Manager with quotations, proposals, tenders, pricing inputs, scope definition, method statements and service-level discussions.

• Maintain a simple opportunity register showing client, commodity, service need, value estimate, probability, next action and expected close date.

• Track lost work, client complaints, turnaround issues and market feedback, and propose actions to retain or win business.

• Represent SGS professionally in the region and strengthen confidence in the site through reliable delivery, technical support and rapid issue resolution.

• Report monthly on business development activity, revenue risk, new leads, upcoming projects, cross-selling opportunities and support required from management.

Qualifications

QUALIFICATIONS

Education and training

• Matric / Grade 12.

• Sampling, inspection, laboratory, mineral processing, logistics or other relevant technical qualification is preferred.

• SHE / HSE knowledge and practical risk-assessment training.

• ISO/IEC 17025 awareness or VLC SANAS ISO 17025 course, where applicable to the site scope.

• Valid Code B driver’s licence required due to site travel and client visits.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years management or supervisory experience in inspection, sampling, sample preparation, mining, minerals, trade, logistics or a related operational environment.

• Experience scheduling staff, vehicles, shifts, equipment and site resources.

• Experience with safety, quality, client communication, operational reporting and complaint resolution.

• Experience in business development, client relationship management, quotations, proposals or revenue growth is strongly preferred.

• Practical knowledge of bulk commodity sampling and sample preparation is essential.

REQUIRED SKILLS

Leadership and operational skills

• Ability to lead teams, allocate work, monitor performance and hold staff accountable.

• Strong planning, scheduling, prioritisation and resource-control capability.

• Ability to solve operational problems quickly while protecting safety, quality and client service.

• Strong understanding of sampling, inspection, sample preparation, chain of custody and field controls.

Commercial and business development skills

• Client relationship management, professional communication and confidence in client-facing discussions.

• Ability to identify opportunities, prepare basic commercial inputs, support proposals and follow up leads.

• Commercial awareness of revenue, margin, cost control, overtime, utilisation and service profitability.

• Ability to prepare monthly revenue, opportunity and operational performance updates.

Quality, safety and compliance skills

• Practical HSE risk management, Stop Work Authority, incident reporting and corrective-action follow-up.

• Understanding of quality systems, document control, equipment status, traceability, nonconformances and data integrity.

Communication and personal competencies

• Good written and verbal English communication skills.

• Numeracy and calculation capability for operational, commercial and technical checks.

• Computer literacy, including Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and basic operational reporting.

• Delivers results, adapts to change, acts ethically and maintains confidentiality.