IT Operations Manager – Johannesburg

About the role

An established international manufacturing group is looking for an experienced IT Operations Manager to lead day‑to‑day IT delivery across multiple sites in South Africa. Reporting to the Group IT Manager, you will act as the operational second‑in‑command, ensuring reliable infrastructure, service management and technical support.

Key responsibilities

• Oversee the daily operation of the Group IT function across geographically dispersed locations.
• Manage IT infrastructure, networks, cloud environments and enterprise systems to maximise availability and performance.
• Drive IT service delivery and provide high‑level user support.
• Lead, coach and develop a team of site‑based IT Technicians.
• Manage external vendors, service providers and Service Level Agreements.
• Coordinate infrastructure upgrades, system implementations and business‑improvement projects.
• Ensure compliance with IT governance, audit, cybersecurity, disaster recovery and business continuity requirements.
• Monitor operational performance, control budgets and identify continuous‑improvement opportunities.
• Partner with business stakeholders to align technology services with operational needs.

Required profile

• Degree or National Diploma in IT, Computer Science, Information Systems or related field.
• Microsoft certification (e.g., Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows Server) and ITIL Foundation certification.
• 8–10 years of experience in enterprise IT environments.
• 3–5 years of experience managing technical teams and leading IT operations.
• Proven track record managing IT across multi‑site, geographically dispersed environments.
• Experience in manufacturing, industrial, forestry, mining or similar sectors is a plus.

Required skills

• Microsoft 365
• Azure cloud services
• Windows Server
• Active Directory
• Enterprise networking
• Cloud infrastructure management
• IT Service Management (ITSM)

What we offer

• Competitive total cash compensation up to R970 000 per year.
• Opportunity to lead a critical function within a global manufacturing organisation.
• Professional development and leadership growth.