General Manager

JOB DESCRIPTION: GENERAL MANAGER – HERMANUS CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES (HCFS)

Location: Hermanus, Western Cape
Employment Type: Full-time
Reports To: HCFS Management Committee (Board)

WHO WE ARE

Hermanus Child and Family Services (HCFS) is a practical, community-rooted non-profit organisation dedicated to protecting vulnerable children, supporting families in crisis, and helping build a stronger, safer local community. Our work includes early childhood development, child abuse prevention, statutory child protection, foster care support, therapeutic and reunification programmes, and ongoing family outreach.

We’re not a big corporate entity. We’re a relatively small team doing the gritty, deeply human work of helping children and families find stability, safety, and belonging. We get involved, we show up, and we put people first.

THE ROLE

We’re looking for a practical, people-oriented General Manager who thrives on solving problems, connecting with people, and making things work on the ground.

This role is about leadership that’s visible and involved—from budgeting to building maintenance, from supporting ECD teachers to meeting with concerned parents. You’ll manage daily operations, oversee staff, handle finances, and build relationships with everyone from funders to ECD parents to government officials.

You will need to understand what it takes to run a place that deals with big human challenges. You’ll be the anchor that keeps our work stable, efficient, and accountable—so our care teams can focus on what they do best.

WHAT YOU’LL DO

Lead day-to-day operations:

  • Keep things running smoothly across programmes, properties, and teams.
  • Support the staff in practical ways—clear roadblocks, boost morale, solve problems, and get stuck in where needed.
  • Create space for regular interaction, reflective supervision, and idea-sharing with senior social work staff, offering stimulation, encouragement, and mental health care support to help them stay energised and effective in their roles.
  • Work with ECD centre coordinators and foster home staff to ensure a warm, safe, and well-organised environment for young children.

Be the point person for parents and the community:

  • Communicate clearly, address concerns, and build trust with ECD parents and community members.
  • Help strengthen parent involvement at ECDs through meetings and feedback sessions.
  • Be present in the community—visible, approachable, and ready to listen.

Oversee finances and compliance:

  • Draft and manage budgets, track spending, and report clearly to the board and donors.
  • Ensure we meet all legal and compliance requirements (DSD, NPO Directorate, SARS, etc.).
  • Maintain good relationships with funders, including donor reporting and grant writing.

Keep the organisation on track:

  • Manage staff recruitment, performance reviews, and HR compliance.
  • Maintain and improve physical spaces (ECD facilities, foster homes, offices, etc.).
  • Ensure health and safety standards are met across all operations.

Lead fundraising and visibility efforts:

  • Coordinate community fundraising events and campaigns.
  • Build relationships with local businesses, partners, and donors.
  • Oversee marketing and communication efforts, including social media and newsletters.

Support the Board:

  • Keep the board informed with regular reporting, updates, and strategic input.
  • Attend meetings and contribute to long-term planning and policy development.

WHO YOU ARE

  • You care about children, community, and fairness—and you’re ready to do something about it.
  • You’re the kind of person who sees something that needs doing and does it.
  • You enjoy working with a team, but you’re also comfortable taking responsibility.
  • You’ve got people skills—you listen well, speak clearly, and build trust across boundaries.
  • You’re comfortable managing money, logistics, staff, and systems—but you know they all exist to serve people.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS NEEDED

  • At least 5 years of experience managing people, operations, or projects—ideally in a non-profit, school, or community organisation.
  • Strong financial and admin skills (budgeting, reporting, compliance).
  • Confident using word-processing and spreadsheet applications, and basic digital design tools (bonus if you’re social media savvy).
  • Fluent in English. Afrikaans and/or isiXhosa would be a strong advantage.
  • Valid driver’s licence and access to transport preferred.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT

You’ll work from our office in Mount Pleasant, Hermanus, and regularly visit our ECD centres, foster homes, and other sites. This is a practical, community-facing job.

REMUNERATION

This is a full-time role. Salary will be discussed during the interview process and will depend on experience and qualifications.

Applications:

Applications close on Friday the 2nd of May 2025.

To apply for this post, please download and complete the HCFS application form, available as an MSWord document or PDF document, and send it to info@hcfs.org.za

Only applications on the prescribed form will be considered.