Executive to CEO | SAST

The Executive Assistant to the CEO will serve as a trusted strategic, operational, and delivery partner, enabling the CEO to translate commercial, organisational, and social-impact ambitions into practical, executable outcomes. In addition to providing high-level executive support within a complex rail-engineering and infrastructure environment, the role carries a significant responsibility for launching, coordinating, and managing Corporate Social Investment (CSI) and sustainability initiatives through the CEO’s family trust.

The position requires advanced business acumen, outstanding project delivery capability, and strong collegiate and stakeholder engagement skills, combined with a deep sense of purpose, discretion, and resilience in fast-moving and high-pressure environments.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Executive & Strategic Support

• Act as a trusted right-hand partner to the CEO, providing high-level executive, operational, and strategic support.
• Proactively manage the CEO’s priorities across commercial, governance, operational, and social-impact initiatives.
• Anticipate decision points, risks, and opportunities, preparing concise briefings, analysis, and recommendations.
• Support strategic planning, board processes, and executive decision-making.

2. Project Coordination Delivery

• Coordinate cross-functional initiatives spanning operations, finance, procurement, legal, and external advisors.
• Track strategic projects, milestones, and deliverables, ensuring accountability and timely execution.
• Prepare action trackers, progress reports, and executive summaries for the CEO.
• Drive follow-through on agreed actions across multiple, parallel workstreams.

3. Stakeholder & Relationship Management

• Act as a central coordination point between the CEO and internal teams, clients, regulators, funders, suppliers, and advisors.
• Build and maintain strong, collegiate working relationships across all levels of the organisation.
• Support the CEO in managing sensitive and high-stakes stakeholder engagements.
• Represent the CEO in selected internal and external forums when required.

4. CSI, Foundation & Sustainability Initiatives

A core component of this role is the establishment, coordination, and ongoing management of CSI and sustainability projects under the Family Trust, with a focus on long-term community upliftment and environmental stewardship in the Karoo.

Key responsibilities include:

• Supporting the CEO in launching and operationalising the Foundation as an effective and credible social-impact vehicle.
• Designing, coordinating, and managing CSI initiatives serving underprivileged communities in the Karoo, including education, skills development, health, livelihoods, and community resilience.
• Developing and coordinating sustainable eco-tourism and conservation-oriented projects, aligned with the preservation, celebration, and economic regeneration of the Karoo.
• Managing project planning, timelines, budgets, partners, and reporting for foundation initiatives.
• Coordinating relationships with community leaders, NGOs, donors, advisors, regulators, and service providers.
• Ensuring CSI projects are aligned with sound governance, impact measurement, and long-term sustainability principles.
• Preparing progress reports, impact summaries, and briefing materials for the CEO and relevant stakeholders.

This element of the role requires a balance of commercial discipline, empathy, cultural sensitivity, and purpose-driven leadership.

5. Commercial, Analytical & Organisational Support

• Assist with preparation of commercial documents, presentations, and briefing packs.
• Conduct high-level research, analysis, and synthesis to support strategic and social-impact decisions.
• Apply sound judgement in prioritisation, problem-solving, and execution.
• Manage complex diaries, travel, and logistics across business and foundation activities.
• Drive improvements in executive and organisational efficiency through structured systems and processes.
• Maintain absolute confidentiality and governance discipline at all times.

Requirements

KEY SKILLS & CAPABILITIES

• Strong technical, analytical, and conceptual capabilities, with the ability to translate complexity into clear action.
• Advanced business acumen with a strong execution bias.
• Proven project management and delivery capability across commercial and social-impact initiatives.
• Exceptional organisational, prioritisation, and coordination skills.
• Highly developed interpersonal, stakeholder-engagement, and communication abilities.
• Calm, level-headed, and solutions-oriented in high-pressure environments.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills at executive level.

EXPERIENCE & QUALIFICATIONS

• 8-10+ years’ experience in a senior Executive Assistant, Chief of Staff, or equivalent role supporting C-suite leadership.
• Experience in complex, project-driven environments (engineering, infrastructure, manufacturing, private equity, or similar) advantageous.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating multi-stakeholder projects, preferably including CSI, foundation, or community-based initiatives.
• Exposure to board, trust, donor, or governance environments beneficial.
• Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Relevant tertiary qualification in business, commerce, management, development studies, or related field preferred.