Business Operations Manager

As our Business Operations Manager, you will play a critical, cross functional role bridging facilities management, daily business operations, and financial administration. This is a dual reporting role where you will align closely across Facilities, Finance, and HR (Wellness) to keep our scaling organisation running smoothly, securely, and efficiently.

You will take full ownership of our day to day operations and facilities management for our Cape Town city centre office. This role encompasses everything from managing spatial environments, procurement, and supplier relationships to coordinating company insurance policies, maintaining rigorous asset registers, managing the COIDA compensation workplace fund, and driving strict budget compliance.

To be successful in this role, you must be a proactive, meticulous, and energetic individual who thrives in a multi faceted operational position. You are a natural problem solver who can work independently with little or no supervision, balancing hands on campus management with high level administrative, financial, and compliance responsibilities.

Day to Day Operations & Campus Management

• Ensure the efficient, safe, and effective day to day operations of our campus facilities.
• Coordinate maintenance, repairs, physical improvements, and office cleaning services to ensure a pristine, productive workspace.
• Manage office supplies, consumables, and snacks in line with predetermined operational budgets.
• Manage access control systems and parking allocations to safeguard our premises, employees, and visitors.
• Handle front of house duties, guest hosting, room bookings, and student query direction.

Financial & Compliance Administration

• Budget oversight: Manage, track, and work strictly within assigned facilities and operational budgets, identifying cost saving efficiencies.
• Asset register management: Build, maintain, and audit a comprehensive company asset register, overseeing equipment and furniture tracking across locations.
• Insurance coordination: Act as the operational point of contact for company insurance policies, managing renewals, updates, and asset coverage claims.
• COIDA management: Take full ownership of managing and administering the COIDA (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act) workplace fund, ensuring up to date compliance and accurate reporting.
• Health & Safety (H&S): Manage statutory compliance, enforce workplace safety policies, and serve as the primary champion for health and safety regulations.
• Vendor management: Onboard new vendors, ensuring all required documents are received and contracts are signed; update and maintain the data periodically.
• Petty cash and credit cards: Manage the spend on Facilities company credit card, and retain receipts for expenses made via the card or petty cash to provide to Finance.

Equipment Management & Tech Support

• Procure and manage company and employee devices, tracking life cycles and allocation.
• Manage relationships with IT providers to troubleshoot employee device issues and maintain remote access/safeguarding of company laptops.
• Act as the point of contact for user management and access control across company platforms (including Password Management, Zoom, Google Workspace).

Stakeholder & Workspace Provider Relations

• Act as the primary point of contact between our organisation, building management, and landlords across locations.
• Foster highly productive, cost effective working relationships with all third party operations and facilities suppliers.
• Support the CEO and internal teams with co working space setups, cross campus shifts, and localized logistics.

Logistics & Culture Support

• Arrange domestic and international travel, accommodation, transfers, and logistics for executive and non executive employees.
• Partner with Division Leads and the Wellness/PeopleOps teams to coordinate onsite culture events, team building activities, and employee wellness initiatives.

• At least 3 years' experience in an office management, facilities management, or business operations role.
• Proven experience managing operational budgets, company asset registers, and workplace insurance setups.
• Strong knowledge of South African compliance frameworks, specifically Health & Safety regulations and COIDA fund administration.
• High proficiency in using Google Suite (Gmail, G Drive, Docs, Sheets, Google Meet).
• Exceptional organisational, planning, and time management skills, with a track record of executing multiple tasks on short timelines.
• A fast learner with meticulous attention to detail who does not let important details slip through the cracks.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills alongside proven stakeholder management experience.

• An academic qualification or degree in Business Management, Finance, Operations, or a related field.
• Prior operational experience within a high growth company or tech startup.
• Prior experience reporting into senior management or navigating a dual reporting matrix structure.
• An interest in the future of education, online learning, and edtech scaleups.

• This role is hybrid and requires you to be in the office in Cape Town city centre 2-3 days a week, so candidates must be based in Cape Town and able to commute.
• Parking is provided.
• The role requires a hands on approach and may occasionally involve physical tasks such as coordinating the movement of office furniture or assembling office elements.
• Flexible & remote working: We are a remote friendly organisation and offer flexible work options.