Johannesburg: Chief Operations Officer

Chief Operationg Office Johannesburg,South Africa (Head Office) Full time Drive the engine. Shape sustainable growth. If you’re ready to move from senior operations leadership into an enterprise?wide mandate, this role gives you the platform to optimise strategy, people, and performance across a national logistics group. About the Role As Chief Operations Officer (COO) you’ll collaborate with the CEO and Executive team to translate vision into operational reality. You’ll lead cross functional teams, streamline end to end processes, and embed data driven decision making that lifts productivity, lowers cost, and positions the business for long?term, sustainable growth in the transport and aviation logistics sector. What You’ll Lead Operational Strategy & Execution – Craft and implement short- and long-range operational plans that drive organisational objectives. Process Optimisation – Identify inefficiencies and champion continuous?improvement initiatives that improve throughput, quality, and cost effectiveness. Financial & Risk Management – Align budgets to strategy, oversee cash, cost, and revenue controls, and mitigate operational risk to ensure business continuity. Business Analytics – Establish data dashboards, analyse performance trends, and present actionable insights to the Executive team. Regulatory & Compliance Governance – Ensure full adherence to transport, aviation, labour, and BBBEE regulations; own policy creation and audit readiness. Customer & Partner Relationships – Negotiate and manage key supplier and client agreements, driving service excellence and retention. Talent & Culture – Build an inclusive, high performance culture, setting clear KPIs, mentoring leaders, and fostering values based behaviour enterprise wide. What You Bring Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Finance, or equivalent (MBA preferred). 10years’ senior operational leadership in the transport or logistics industry ; at least 5 years in an executive?level role. Demonstrated mastery of supply chain, finance, and customer?service disciplines. Proven success leading multi?site teams and large scale change initiatives. Advanced data, financial analytics, and Microsoft Office proficiency. Strong negotiation, project management, and critical thinking skills. Experience in aviation and road freight highly advantageous. What Success Looks Like Operational KPIs met or exceeded across cost, quality, and service metrics. A culture of accountability, inclusivity, and continuous improvement flourishes. Robust, data driven processes minimise risk and maximise profitability. Stakeholders—customers, suppliers, regulators—rate the organisation as a trusted, responsive partner. What Awaits You A seat at the executive table to influence national logistics strategy. Autonomy to modernise operations with next generation technology and best practice. The chance to mentor emerging leaders and leave a legacy of operational excellence.