About the position
Operations Manager
Specialized & Contract Cleaning Services
Location: KwaZulu-Natal (national travel required)
Reports to: Managing Director
Industry: Industrial Services — Specialized & Contract Cleaning
Sectors Serviced: Petrochemical, Food & Beverage, Industrial, FMCG
Employment Type: Permanent, Full-Time
About the Company
We are a specialist services company delivering high-standard specialized and contract cleaning solutions to blue-chip clients across the petrochemical, food & beverage, industrial, and FMCG sectors. Our reputation is built on operational excellence, uncompromising safety standards, technical depth, and long-term client partnerships grounded in consistent, reliable delivery.
The Role
We are looking for a hands-on, driven Operations Manager to take full ownership of our operations function. Reporting directly to the Managing Director, you will lead the planning, execution, and continuous improvement of all specialized and contract cleaning operations nationally. This is a senior leadership role for someone who thrives on building strong teams, executing with discipline, and growing client relationships through technical credibility and reliable delivery.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership & Planning
- Take full accountability for the planning, scheduling, and execution of all specialized and contract cleaning operations nationally.
- Develop and maintain robust operational plans, resource allocation models, and execution schedules to ensure on-time, on-spec delivery.
- Drive continuous improvement in productivity, methodology, and turnaround times.
Team & People Management
- Lead, mentor, and develop site supervisors, team leaders, and operational staff.
- Build a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, ownership, and safety.
- Manage recruitment, training, performance, and succession across the operations function.
Customer Liaison & Relationship Building
- Act as the senior operational point of contact for key clients across petrochem, food & beverage, industrial, and FMCG sectors.
- Build trust through visible engagement, technical understanding, and consistent delivery.
- Conduct site visits, client reviews, and contract performance meetings nationally.
- Identify opportunities to grow existing contracts and contribute to new business development.
Technical Execution
- Apply sound technical knowledge of industrial cleaning chemicals, dosing, and application methods.
- Oversee selection, deployment, and maintenance of specialized equipment (high-pressure, vacuum, confined space, surface preparation, etc.).
- Ensure correct methodology and chemistry are matched to each contract, sector, and task.
SHEQ Leadership
- Champion a strong SHEQ culture across all sites and teams; lead by example.
- Ensure full compliance with the OHS Act, ISO standards, client SHEQ requirements, and internal policies.
- Drive risk assessments, method statements, incident investigations, and corrective actions.
- Maintain compliance with sector-specific standards (e.g. food safety / HACCP for F&B and FMCG sites; petrochemical site permit-to-work systems).
Financial Management
- Own contract-level P&L: budgeting, cost control, labour and consumable management, and margin protection.
- Review contract profitability, identify leakage, and implement corrective measures.
- Support quoting, scoping, and pricing of new and renewed contracts.
Minimum Requirements
- Qualification: A relevant tertiary qualification — Chemical Engineering, Industrial Chemistry, Mechanical Engineering, Production / Operations Management, or a related technical discipline. Strong technical qualifications combined with relevant industry experience will be considered.
- Experience: 5–8 years in an operations or operations management role within the services sector, with clear emphasis on specialized cleaning and/or contract cleaning.
- Proven track record managing multi-site operations and field-based teams.
- Demonstrable experience servicing clients in petrochemical, food & beverage, industrial, and/or FMCG environments.
- Strong working knowledge of industrial chemicals, specialized cleaning equipment, and execution methodologies.
- Solid grasp of contract financial management, costing, and margin control.
- In-depth SHEQ knowledge (OHS Act; ISO [Phone Number Removed]; advantageous; HACCP / food-safety exposure beneficial).
- Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel nationally on a regular basis.
Attributes We're Looking For
- A genuine self-starter who takes initiative without being prompted.
- Strong planner and disciplined executor; turns plans into delivered results.
- Confident communicator across the floor, the boardroom, and the client site.
- Builds trust with clients quickly and sustains long-term relationships.
- Resilient, mobile, and comfortable operating across diverse sites and environments.
- Leads from the front and sets the standard for the team.
What We Offer
- A senior leadership role with full ownership of the operations function.
- Direct line to the Managing Director and a real seat at the table on strategic decisions.
- Market-related package commensurate with experience.
- The opportunity to shape and grow a critical part of the business.
We are committed to locating the ideal job for you, so we kindly advise against paying for this service. There are no costs associated with securing employment with us.
Desired Skills:
- SHEQ
- operations manager
- industrial
