Director of Operations at Kontak Recruitment

• A US-based business group operating across four ventures, spanning cybersecurity, property management, and real estate investment, is looking for an exceptional operational leader based in South Africa. The group is growing rapidly, with plans to launch a startup studio, pursue acquisitions, and expand a multi-entity portfolio.
• You will work directly with the founder as a true right-hand operator, supporting the management and optimisation of multiple businesses while also helping to scope and evaluate future opportunities. This means moving fluidly between strategy and execution, across operations, people, process, reporting, hiring, and business problem-solving.
• You will not inherit a large support structure from day one. What you will get is real ownership, direct access to the founder, and the opportunity to help build something significant from the inside.
• The environment is entrepreneurial, fast-moving, and genuinely varied. No two days will look the same.

Minimum Requirements

• Proven experience in operational leadership, general management, chief of staff, commercial operations, or a similar multi-functional role
• Exposure to multi-entity, multi-division, or portfolio-style business environments
• Strong understanding of business operations, process improvement, and execution management
• Ability to read and interpret financial statements, P&Ls, and business performance reporting
• Experience supporting senior leadership, founders, or executives
• Excellent communication, coordination, and stakeholder management skills
• Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage shifting priorities
• Comfortable working remotely with international stakeholders

Preferred Requirements

• Experience in founder-led, entrepreneurial, investment, holding company, consulting, private equity, or high-growth environments
• Exposure to real estate, property management, business services, or technology businesses
• Experience helping to set up new ventures, teams, or operating structures
• Demonstrated ability to move between strategic input and practical execution

Key Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day operational support to the founder across multiple businesses
• Oversee and coordinate key business priorities across the portfolio
• Create structure, visibility, and accountability across business operations
• Support oversight of executives and key business leaders where applicable Assist with strategic planning and execution across multiple entities
• Identify operational inefficiencies and implement improved processes and controls
• Review and interpret financial and operational reporting to support business decisions
• Help assess new ventures, business ideas, and potential acquisition opportunities
• Coordinate hiring for key roles across the portfoliot
• Support the setup and operational grounding of a property management business
• Monitor implementation of systems, workflows, and accountability structures
• Assist with issue resolution across operations, finance, people, and administration
• Support the possible launch of a startup studio, including review of early-stage opportunities
• Serve as a commercially astute sounding board and execution partner to the founder