National Operations Head

About the role

The National Operations Head will lead the end‑to‑end delivery of a nationwide internship programme, ensuring that 15 000 young South Africans are placed, supported and paid on time across all nine provinces.

Key responsibilities

• Own the placement engine from matching interns to workplaces, through short‑listing, interviews, offers and contracting.
• Design and manage the attendance operating model, including weekly registers and wellness escalation handling.
• Oversee monthly stipend processing, ensuring all employer submissions are complete and exceptions cleared before each run.
• Chair the weekly Delivery OpsCo and coordinate the operating model to keep provincial processes consistent.
• Lead three national function heads and five provincial heads, monitoring capacity, performance and compliance with the Workplace‑Based Learning Programme Agreement Regulations.
• Maintain evidence bases such as placement records, attendance logs, dispute registers and site‑suspension decisions.

Required profile

• National Qualifications Framework Level 7 (Bachelor’s degree) in operations, programme management, business or a related field – preferred but not mandatory.
• At least 8 years of operations or programme‑management experience, with a minimum of 3 years in a senior or management role.
• Proven track record running large‑scale, multi‑site programmes, preferably internships, learnerships or youth‑employment initiatives.
• Experience leading managers across multiple provinces or sites.
• Valid Code B driver’s licence, willingness to travel nationally and right to work in South Africa.

Required skills