Head of Operations

Reference: JHB000045-TKC-1

Our client is a fast scaling business operating across renewable energy manufacturing, deployed asset and utility operations, and software. They are looking for a senior, evidence driven problem solver to report directly to the COO. This is an analytical and investigative role, with success measured by the number of complex, cross functional problems resolved without needing direct COO intervention.

Duties and Responsibilities

· Take ownership of complex, data heavy challenges that span multiple functions (Manufacturing, Service Delivery, Commercial Engineering, Assurance, Material Requirements Planning) and don't sit neatly under any single department head

· Track performance data across the business daily and escalate findings to leadership as well supported, cost quantified recommendations rather than raw alerts

· Validate proposed fixes on a small, controlled basis before recommending wider rollout

· Define and own the key performance indicators, thresholds, and warning triggers for each business area

· Determine baseline performance standards for equipment and sites in the field, build the monitoring and corrective action framework, and feed this into client savings reporting, handing over ownership once the system is proven

· Provide independent review of the financial and engineering assumptions behind new product concepts (for example solar or battery storage), testing whether projected returns hold up against realistic costs and performance

· Categorise the root causes behind returns and component swaps (for example batteries and inverters), attach a monetary value to each, and use this to decide whether to fix the issue or accept the cost

· Investigate recurring friction between teams, over quality, turnaround, or resource allocation, and build the business case for structural change (final decisions rest with senior leadership)

· Partner with department heads to implement agreed corrective actions under executive mandate, tracking progress through a recurring leadership review; escalate unresolved items upward

Desired Experience and Qualifications

· A quantitative degree (engineering, finance, or similar) with a proven record of senior level operational management

· 8 to 12 years' experience in an analytically intensive environment, such as operations, industrial engineering, manufacturing quality, management consulting, or techno economic modelling

· A demonstrated track record of root cause problem solving: using data (not opinion) to get to the bottom of messy operational issues and seeing the fix through to a measured result

· Ability to independently review and stress test financial and commercial viability models built by others (not required to build models from scratch)

· Strong hands on data skills (SQL, BI tools), comfortable interrogating large datasets directly rather than waiting on pulled reports

· Exposure to energy, utilities, telecoms, manufacturing, or another asset heavy service business is an advantage

· First principles thinker who defines and defends the right metrics, sees how changes ripple across systems, and earns influence without formal authority

· Clear communicator, low ego, self directed, and comfortable being proven wrong as evidence develops

Package and Remuneration

R 1 400 000 to R 1 500 000

Interested?

If you are interested in this opportunity, please apply via this advert link. If you wish to send your resume via email forward your CV to ***email_hidden***, insert the job title and copy the reference number in brackets in the subject line of your e-mail.

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 position.

R 1 400 000 - R 1 500 000 - Annually