Office Manager: Gqeberha

Zutari: Co-creating an engineered impact.

Zutari is a well-established, management-owned engineering firm with almost 90 years' experience. As human-centred engineering consultants and advisors, we are trusted by our clients, business partners, communities and other stakeholders across Africa.

We co-create engineering solutions that have a positive impact and improve people's lives. Zutari values inclusion and recognises the importance of a diverse, talented workforce, believing that people need other people to succeed.

What kind of talent do we pursue?

We employ people with the right attitude and a positive mindset, who are motivated by doing the right thing, getting things done and share a sense of urgency. People who have an impact in our teams and broader community. People who think differently and connect with those around them to co-create new opportunities and leave a meaningful legacy.

About the Role:

As Office Leader you will be responsible for providing strategic direction, creating a safe and vibrant employee experience, driving operational excellence, and ensuring high performance of delivery to our clients. As the representative of Zutari in the office location and surrounding area, the Office Leader will lead a team to deliver transformative projects and shape sustainable infrastructure.

Role responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Develop, update, and implement an Office specific Business Plan for profitable growth and market expansion with the relevant Zutari business units.
• Provide strategic direction required to maintain, grow, and broaden talent and eminence.
• Provide strategic leadership within the office enabling collaboration across the Zutari business through supporting group-wide initiatives.
• Drive sustainable revenue growth and profitability while maintaining operational excellence within the office.

Leadership and Culture:

• Provide leadership to the Office to foster a culture of collaboration and professional growth.
• Create a safe and vibrant Office environment that will be the foundation of our employee experience.
• Ensure alignment and communication to deliver on Zutari's priorities.

Operational & Financial Management, Project Delivery and Resource management

• Oversee day-to-day operations,
• Drive financial performance to meet revenue and profitability targets. Optimize resource allocation and capital utilization for maximum returns.
• Ensure monthly Office targets are met and that progress is reported on to relevant executive and management committees.
• Act as a liaison between different teams, facilitating seamless communication and workflow.
• Ensure the successful delivery of all projects in alignment with Zutari’s methodology, emphasizing timeliness, quality, risk management, financial performance, and scope management.
• Ensure operational efficiency of office resources, including workspace, technology, and project-related tools

Business development and client relations

• Generate revenue through creating and nurturing strong client relationships and winning work through proposals, tenders and repeat work.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with clients and key stakeholders in the region to understand their needs and deliver tailored solutions.
• Lead client engagement initiatives to drive satisfaction and loyalty, identifying opportunities for business development.

Eminence

• Maintain relationships with academia, industry and professional bodies, and other stakeholders in the Office location.

Quality Control, Compliance and Risk Management:

• Ensure that all office operations comply with legal and regulatory requirements.
• Understand and implement Zutari’s risk management tools and processes to identify, assess, and mitigate potential risks in office projects.
• Maintain comprehensive project risk documentation and ensure proper risk controls are in place

People Management

• Foster a positive office working environment, encouraging collaboration, communication, employee well-being, promoting diversity, equity and inclusion
• Lead, mentor, and manage a diverse team of engineers within the office location/region
• Ensure that regular performance evaluations are conducted in the office location, regular and constructive feedback is provided, and ensure individual development plans for team members are in place
• Manage performance issues ensuring appropriate support and corrective actions are in place
• Develop and maintain succession plans, including strategies to transfer key skills and knowledge to junior team members for continued growth and success

Qualification:

• BEng, BSc or BTech in any engineering discipline
• Professional Registration with ECSA
• Management related qualification
• Project Management qualification

Experience   

• Minimum 10 years’ experience in engineering, with at least 3 years in a leadership or management role.

Skills

• Project Management experience managing complex or multi-disciplinary projects
• Communication skills - Ability to engage effectively with management and employees at all levels. Excellent verbal and written communication skills to advocate for financial initiatives.
• Analytical Skills- Ability to interpret financial/business performance data to derive actions and inform decision-making
• Presentation and Facilitation skills: ability to present/facilitate discussions with internal and external stakeholders
• Leadership & Team Management: Experience in leading and mentoring teams, fostering collaboration, and driving high performance.

Competencies

• Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to effectively engage with stakeholders (senior management, clients, partners, other business units) and manage expectations throughout the project lifecycle.
• Customer-Centric Approach: Understanding client needs and ensuring that engineering solutions align with customer expectations and business requirements
• Strategic Thinking - ability to develop and align business activities to the overall organizational objectives.
• Commercial Acumen - Strong understanding of the broader business environment, market dynamics, and the company’s financial goals. Able to translate technical solutions into business value, ensuring alignment with commercial objectives
• Problem-Solving - Ability to identify issues, analyse complex project situations, and develop effective solutions to optimize business performance.
• Ethical compliance - Demonstrate honesty and transparency in all dealings, adhering to ethical standards, ensuring compliance with regulations, and taking responsibility for actions to maintain trust and uphold the organization’s reputation.
• Team Development: Ability to mentor, coach, and guide teams, fostering a collaborative environment for both technical and personal growth.
• Conflict Resolution: Skilled in managing interpersonal conflicts within teams and resolving issues effectively to maintain a harmonious working environment

We believe that a diverse workforce is key to our business success.  We seek the best people for our jobs based on their skills, qualifications, and experience.  We embrace the principle of equal opportunity in employment and work towards eliminating all forms of unlawful discrimination in our employment practices. In support of diversity and the equal opportunity principle, preference will be given to individuals from designated groups in South Africa.