Operations Manager

LIONLEAD Real Estate is scaling from a founder led operation into a multi branch real estate group. We are building micro branches across Cape Town, each led by equity partners who think and operate like owners. As we grow, we need a Operations Manager to be the operational backbone of the business - someone who ensures the strategy gets executed, the systems get built, and the people are held accountable.

• Own the execution of LIONLEAD's strategic plan - translate vision into actionable project timelines with clear milestones and deadlines.
• Manage key projects (e.g., financial forecasting model, branch launches, franchise development) from initiation to completion.
• Run weekly/monthly strategy check ins with the CEO and branch managers to track progress against targets.
• Identify bottlenecks, flag risks early, and proactively solve problems before they escalate.

• Audit the entire business operation and document every process - from agent onboarding to commission payouts to lead management.
• Build a comprehensive SOP library that allows LIONLEAD to replicate its model across new branches consistently.
• Create operational playbooks for branch managers covering daily operations, agent management, tenant/landlord workflows, and compliance.
• Establish templates and systems that reduce dependency on any single person (including the CEO).

• Hold branch managers accountable to their KPIs - GCI targets, agent recruitment numbers, rental portfolio growth, and client satisfaction.
• Build and maintain dashboards/scorecards that give real time visibility into branch and agent performance.
• Conduct monthly performance reviews with branch managers and elevate underperformance to the CEO with recommendations.
• Ensure vesting milestones for equity partners are tracked and documented.

• Manage inbound franchise enquiries - respond, qualify, and schedule introductory meetings with the CEO.
• Sit in on franchise meetings to capture pain points, objections, and insights that can improve LIONLEAD's value proposition.
• Maintain a franchise prospect pipeline and follow up systematically.
• Support the CEO in preparing pitch materials, presentations, and proposals for prospective partners.

• Identify inefficiencies across the business and implement solutions - whether that's a new tool, a better process, or eliminating unnecessary steps.
• Research and recommend technology platforms (CRM, project management, accounting, communication) to professionalise operations.
• Act as the central coordination point between branches, ensuring information flows and nothing falls through the cracks.
• Build a culture of continuous improvement - if something can be done better, faster, or cheaper, find it and fix it.

• Highly organised with an obsessive attention to detail - nothing slips through your net.
• Strong project management skills - you can break a big vision into small, trackable deliverables.
• Comfortable holding people accountable, including senior stakeholders, without being abrasive.
• Excellent written and verbal communication - you can document a process, run a meeting, and write a professional email with equal skill.
• Self starter who thrives in ambiguity - you don't need a manual because you're the one writing it.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, and project management tools (Asana, or similar).