Operations Manager at Hire Resolve

Job Description

• A leading social impact and community development organisation is looking for an experienced Operations Manager with strong experience in executive leadership, programme management, stakeholder engagement, governance, and operational strategy to join their team in Johannesburg. This role will be responsible for driving operational excellence across a large-scale organisation focused on sustainable community development, education, leadership development, and social impact initiatives. The successful candidate will provide strategic support to executive leadership while overseeing programmes, partnerships, financial governance, and organisational performance.

Responsibilities:

• Lead the operational execution of the organisation's strategic objectives and annual priorities.
• Translate strategic goals into measurable programmes and operational outcomes.
• Oversee the planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of organisational programmes and initiatives.
• Drive operational efficiency, innovation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure alignment between programmes, strategic priorities, and community impact objectives.
• Prepare executive and board-level reports.
• Manage the successful delivery of programmes and special projects within budget and agreed timelines.
• Develop systems to measure programme effectiveness and organisational impact.
• Identify opportunities to expand and improve programme sustainability.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with government departments, educational institutions, NGOs, community organisations, traditional leadership structures, corporate partners, donors, sponsors, and international stakeholders.
• Lead sponsorship acquisition, sponsorship management, and partnership development initiatives.
• Represent the organisation at stakeholder engagements, conferences, and public forums.
• Oversee budgeting, financial planning, governance, procurement, compliance, and risk management processes.
• Support internal and external audit requirements.
• Lead, mentor, and develop a multidisciplinary team.
• Foster a high-performance, collaborative, and values-driven organisational culture.
• Oversee performance management, succession planning, and employee development.
• Design and implement leadership development programmes for beneficiaries and alumni.
• Establish and grow an alumni engagement network.
• Develop mentorship, coaching, and leadership pipeline initiatives.
• Build relationships with regional and international partners to enhance programme impact.

Requirements:

• Non-negotiable: Master's Degree in Business Administration, Leadership Studies, Public Administration, Development Studies, Social Sciences, or a related field.
• MBA advantageous.
• Project or Programme Management certification advantageous.
• Minimum of 8–10 years' senior leadership experience.
• Proven experience managing large-scale programmes and operations.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, partnership management, and relationship-building experience.
• Demonstrated governance, financial management, and compliance experience.
• Experience within the NGO, Foundation, CSI, Development, Public Sector, or Education sectors.
• Sponsorship development and sponsorship management experience is highly advantageous.
• Strong understanding of South Africa's education sector and community development landscape.
• Experience engaging with government departments, educational institutions, community structures, and traditional leadership.
• Knowledge of scholarship, bursary, alumni, or leadership development programmes is advantageous.
• Understanding of youth development, sport development, arts and culture initiatives, and community-based programmes.
• Knowledge of media, public relations, and stakeholder communications.
• Strong strategic thinking, leadership, and operational execution skills.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and interpersonal skills.
• High emotional intelligence, diplomacy, cultural awareness, and political astuteness.
• Strong decision-making, organisational, and problem-solving abilities.
• Passion for education, leadership development, community upliftment, and sustainable social impact.