Ilse van Zyl
Summary
Results-driven professional with expertise in proactive leadership, budgeting acumen, and safety standards compliance. Demonstrates a strong track record in performance measurement, environmental impact assessment, and staff development, ensuring operational excellence and adherence to health and safety regulations. Skilled in people management, contract negotiation, and facilities management, with a proven ability to foster vendor relationships and deliver quality assurance. Adept at budgeting and forecasting while maintaining exceptional customer service standards. Committed to driving organisational success through strategic planning and continuous improvement initiatives.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1994
1994
years of post-secondary education
1
1
Certification
Work History
IFM General Services Manager
Sodexo
Johannesburg , South Africa
07.2021 - 04.2025
- Overseeing Soft Services including Catering, Cleaning, Hygiene and Pest Control at National contract.
- Manage, lead and support teams ensuring effective operations at all sites
- Manage 3rd party suppliers
- Ensure labour force planning is adequate and in relation to budget
- Regular client meetings to build working relationships and contract retention
- Financial management - budgeting, forecasting, costs containment, creditors and reporting
- Disciplinary and Industrial relations management
- Oversee matters relating to staff – training and development, salaries and leave management, labour disputes and terminations
- Effective stock control and rotation
- Site inspections and reporting on health and safety
- Improved service delivery by implementing efficient operational procedures.
- Conducted regular audits on facilities equipment ensuring compliance with regulatory standards.
- Established effective communication channels between departments to improve information flow and teamwork.
Operations Manager
Reef Caterers
09.2019 - 09.2020
- Overseeing Mediclinic Hospitals in the Tshwane Region
- Managed subordinates ensuring operational matters are resolved
- Manage, lead and support teams to ensure realization of goals
- Managed units to ensure profitability and sustainability
- Ensure unit costs and expenditure are managed and accounted for
- Ensure labour force planning is adequate and managed in relation to budget
- Ensure contractual obligations are met and manage contracts within the scope of the Service Level Agreement
- Manage and guide unit managers to achieve Press Ganey Score above 85% (Patient satisfaction score)
- Regular meetings with clients to ensure success of the contract and build working relationships with clients
- Continuously build good working relationships with clients
- Stock and cash auditing
- Disciplinary and Industrial relations management
Key Accounts Manager
Feedem Group
03.2018 - 08.2019
- Full risk contract management
- Financial management - budgeting, forecasting, costs containment, creditors and reporting
- Human resources - recruitment, upliftment of staff, wellness, disciplinary and industrial relations
- Customer service, relations, negotiations, and retention
- Facilitated monthly meetings with clients to address concerns, improving overall communication.
- Collaborated cross-functionally to streamline operational processes, enhancing efficiency and productivity.
- Presented product and service enhancements to existing customers for upselling opportunities.
- Mentored junior account managers, contributing positively towards team growth.
- HACCP and Food safety implementation and ensuring standards are maintained above 85%
- Networking with industry suppliers
- Aesthetic upliftment of business units within the group
- Identified new business opportunities and increased lead generation to grow profits.
District Manager
Feedem Group
09.2009 - 02.2018
- Company Overview: Corporate and Commercial Sector
- Managed multi-site operations to ensure seamless business continuity.
- Provided leadership for district-wide initiatives, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Achieved sales targets through effective team management.
- Implemented budget controls to minimise financial wastage.
- Financial management - budgeting, forecasting, costs containment, creditors and reporting
- Human resources - recruitment, training, wellness, disciplinary and industrial relations
- Customer service, relations, negotiations, and retention
- Monthly SLA meetings with clients
- Networking with industry suppliers
- Marketing – brand building and up selling of new products and services
- HACCP and Food safety implementation and ensuring standards are maintained above 85%
- Involved in tendering for new business
- Aesthetic upliftment of business units within the group
Project Manager
Feedem Pitseng
01.2004 - 01.2008
Catering Manager and Area Manager
Kagiso Khulani Supervision Food Services
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Corporate and commercial contracts managed under portfolio
Education
Matriculated - Afrikaans, English, Mathematics, Science, Biology, Home Economics
Hoërskool Vryburger
National Diploma - Food Service Management
Witwatersrand Technicon
South Africa 01.1994 - 01.1996
Skills
- Proactive leadership
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Safety standards compliance
- Performance measurement
- Environmental impact assessment
- Staff development
- People Management
- Contract negotiation
- Facilities management
- Vendor relationship management
- Business communication
- Health and Safety Compliance
- Customer Service
- Quality Assurance
Certification
· Authentic Leader Management
· Mentoring and Coaching for Leaders
· HACCP and Food Safety
· Professional Corporate Communication
· Art of Persuasion: Perceptions, Perspectives and Paradigms in Practice
· Change Management
· Emotional Intelligence
· Assertiveness
· Leadership Development
· Interview Skills
· Scotwork Negotiation
· Customer Service
· Train the Trainer
· Industrial Relations Disciplinary Hearings level 1 and 2
· Multi-unit Management
· Legal Liability for Supervisors
· Introduction and Intermediate Facilities Management Masterclass
· Chairing Disciplinary Enquiries
· POPIA awareness
· Developing and Managing Contracts and SLAs
Accomplishments
- I manage and retain profitable operations.
- Above average client retention whilst achieving favourable renegotiations of contracts.
- The contracts under my management are showcased when tendering for new business.
- Continuous upgrading of front of house offerings to ensure customer satisfaction.
- Increased customer participation within the contract directly related to exceptional quality, increased offerings and customer service.
- Streamlining back of house operations as to maximize profitability.
- Successful business turnaround in Full Risk contracts previously running at a loss.
- IFM Manager of the year - 1st Place 2022.
- IFM Manager of the year – 3rd Place 2023.
References
- Kurt Scholtz, 082 500 2403, Snr Operations Manager Sodexo
- Lenor Pieterse, 079 495 9613, Chief Operations Officer Reef Caterers
- Karina Pretorius, 082 569 8223, Former Operations Manager Feedem Group
- Sarah Kemp, +44 7830 344285, Former District Manager Feedem Group
- Adele van der Walt, 082 944 5617, Legal Advisor Feedem Group / Employee Relations
- Tiaan Boucher, 072 378 8020, HR Manager Feedem Group
Languages
Afrikaans
Fluent
English
Fluent
Timeline
IFM General Services Manager
Sodexo
07.2021 - 04.2025
Operations Manager
Reef Caterers
09.2019 - 09.2020
Key Accounts Manager
Feedem Group
03.2018 - 08.2019
District Manager
Feedem Group
09.2009 - 02.2018
Project Manager
Feedem Pitseng
01.2004 - 01.2008
Catering Manager and Area Manager
Kagiso Khulani Supervision Food Services
01.2000 - 01.2002
National Diploma - Food Service Management
Witwatersrand Technicon
01.1994 - 01.1996
Matriculated - Afrikaans, English, Mathematics, Science, Biology, Home Economics
Hoërskool Vryburger
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