Chief Operating Officer

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The Chief Operating Officer is responsible for overseeing the company's revenue-generating operations and driving the business's differentiation strategy in South Africa's competitive security market. The COO will work closely with the CEO and the leadership team to ensure operational excellence and innovation that delivers superior value to clients, directly impacting retention and profitability.

Key Attributes:

1. In-depth understanding of security operations, financial management, and strategic planning
2. Proven experience in security sector related executive leadership with strong skills to inspire and motivate specialised security teams
3. Advanced proficiency in security performance metrics and operational analytics
4. Strategic problem-solving abilities with capacity to anticipate threats and implement effective countermeasures
5. Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and manage growth within South Africa's evolving security landscape

Key Responsibilities:

1. Collaborate with the CEO to set and implement a distinctive strategic vision and long-term operational plans that differentiate services in the marketplace
2. Oversee daily security operations, ensuring they align with company goals, performance targets, and revenue objectives
3. Instil a culture of operational excellence and to provide high value to our customers
4. Drive the company's operational efficiency by identifying areas for process improvement and implementing security industry best practices
5. Directly manage key revenue-generating departments including:
6. National Operations Centre (NOC): Real-time monitoring and response coordination
7. Guarding Field Operations: Guard deployment, site security, and client-facing activities
8. Intelligence and Investigations: Threat assessment, due diligence, and specialised security services
9. Technical Services: Security technology deployment, maintenance, and innovation
10. Develop and control operational budgets with P&L responsibility, ensuring resources deliver maximum client value while maintaining profitability
11. Lead and develop high-performing teams across security specialisations, fostering a culture of excellence, accountability, and continuous improvement
12. Build and maintain strong relationships with high-value clients, security partners, and key stakeholders in the South African security ecosystem
13. Monitor operational performance using security-specific metrics, providing regular updates and forecasts to the executive team
14. Ensure compliance with South African regulatory requirements, Private Security Industry Regulatory Authority (PSIRA) standards, and international best practices
15. Partner with other executives to achieve revenue growth targets and establish market leadership

Key Qualifications and Experience

1. Preferable education: Bachelor's degree in business, security management, or related field; MBA or advanced degree; security industry certifications (CPP, PSP, or equivalent)
2. Experience:
3. Minimum of 10 years of security management experience, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership position
4. Proven track record of P&L responsibility and revenue growth in security operations
5. Demonstrated experience in South African security market or comparable high-risk environments
6. History of successful implementation of differentiated security service offerings
7. Technical Skills:
8. Proficiency with security operations management systems and technology
9. Experience with integrated security solutions including electronic security, manned guarding, and response protocols
10. Understanding of cybersecurity principles and their application to physical security operations
11. Data analysis capabilities for security trend identification and resource optimisation
12. Knowledge of emergency response coordination and crisis management

Application Process

Interested applicants meeting the above criteria are invited to submit a detailed CV to engelasc@gmail.com by not later than 30 April 2025.

Seniority level

Executive

Employment type

Full-time

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

Security and Investigations