Senior Organisation Design & Workforce Optimisation Specialist

NOW RECRUITING: Senior Organisation Design & Workforce Optimisation Specialist - 6 Month Contract - Eastern Cape

Location: Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha)

Are you a seasoned specialist with a proven track record in organisational transformation, workforce optimisation, industrial engineering, and business process re-engineering?

6 Month Contract position

We are seeking an experienced professional to lead the design, validation, and implementation of staffing norms across complex academic and non-academic environments. This is a unique opportunity to influence organisational effectiveness, workforce planning, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability within a large, knowledge-based institution.

Key Responsibilities

• Design and implement evidence-based staffing models and workforce frameworks
• Conduct workload, capacity, and resource optimisation analyses
• Lead organisation design and restructuring initiatives
• Facilitate stakeholder engagement across executive leadership, operational teams, and organised labour
• Drive business process re-engineering projects to improve efficiency, accountability, and service delivery
• Develop sustainable operating models aligned to strategic and financial objectives

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 10–15 years' experience in Organisational Development, Industrial Engineering, Workforce Optimisation, or Operational Design
• 5–7 years' experience leading large-scale organisational transformation initiatives
• Demonstrated expertise in staffing norms, capacity modelling, process improvement, and operational redesign
• Strong understanding of complex, regulated, and unionised environments
• Proven ability to balance operational excellence, stakeholder engagement, and change management

Qualifications

• Postgraduate qualification in Industrial Engineering, Operations Research, Systems Engineering, or equivalent
• Master's or Doctoral qualification highly advantageous
• Certification in Lean, Six Sigma, Business Process Re-engineering, or related methodologies preferred

What We're Looking For

• Strategic thinker with exceptional analytical capability
• Strong facilitator and relationship builder
• Evidence-based decision maker
• Credibility with executives, professionals, and technical stakeholders
• Proven record of delivering measurable organisational improvements

Applications must include evidence of successfully implemented staffing models, workforce optimisation initiatives, organisational redesign projects, or business process improvement programmes.

If you have the expertise to transform organisations through innovative workforce and operational design, we would love to hear from you.

#IndustrialEngineering #OrganisationalDevelopment #WorkforcePlanning #BusinessProcessImprovement #OperationalExcellence #LeanSixSigma #ChangeManagement #Leadership #HigherEducation #Transformation #StaffingModels #ProcessEngineering

How to Apply

Please apply directly via this job board or email your CV to ***email_hidden***

Important Information

Surgo (Pty) Ltd will consider all applications in terms of its Employment Equity (EE) and is committed to maintaining diversity in its appointments. Surgo (Pty) Ltd therefore also encourages people with disabilities and from other diverse backgrounds to apply.

Due to the high volume of applications, should you not receive feedback within three months of submission, please consider your application unsuccessful. We encourage you to reapply for future opportunities.

Surgo (Pty) Ltd does not charge any application fees.

Your CV will be kept on our database for future opportunities. Should you prefer that we do not retain your details, please contact: ***email_hidden***