Francois Buys
Auckland,AUK
Summary
Dynamic National Manager at Preston Hire with a proven track record in strategic planning and team leadership. Successfully expanded market share while enhancing operational efficiency and customer satisfaction. Expert in contract negotiation and relationship building, driving significant revenue growth through effective cross-functional collaboration and innovative problem-solving.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
National Manager
Preston Hire
Avondale, Auckland
11.2023 - Current
- Managed, supported, and grew business relationships with existing accounts, and developed strategies to increase sales and revenue.
- Collaborated with business development managers in the partner planning process to develop mutual performance objectives, financial targets, and critical milestones.
- Identified profitable business leads and built a pipeline of prospective customers.
- Provided analytical rationale to identify, develop, and implement activities within the allocated account base.
- Identified staff requirements and worked with the human resources department to initiate recruitment and training processes.
- Directed the acquisition of new accounts while maintaining excellent client retention rates through exceptional service delivery.
- Oversaw the expansion into new markets, identifying opportunities for growth, and maximizing profitability.
- Implemented cost-saving measures, reducing overall expenses without compromising quality or performance.
- Provided strong leadership to enhance team productivity and morale.
- Reviewed and analyzed reports, records, and directives to obtain data required for planning department activities.
- Executed appropriate staffing and budgetary plans to align with business forecasts.
- Evaluated hiring, firing, and promotion requests.
- Maintained positive customer relations by addressing problems head-on, and implementing successful corrective actions.
- Managed crisis situations, implementing contingency plans to minimize impact on operations.
- Interviewed prospective employees and provided input to HR on hiring decisions.
- Remained calm and professional in stressful circumstances and effectively diffused tense situations.
- Recruited and trained new employees to meet job requirements.
- Created and managed budgets for travel, training, and team-building activities.
- Worked closely with marketing teams to create effective campaigns that increased brand recognition nationwide.
- Established and maintained relationships with key stakeholders to support business objectives.
- Collaborated with senior management team on strategic initiatives designed to improve operational efficiency across the organization.
- Completed thorough opening, closing, and shift change functions to maintain operational standards each day.
- Assigned work and monitored performance of project personnel.
- Conducted regular reviews with regional managers to assess progress towards organizational goals.
- Monitored day-to-day operations of the national organization and identified areas of improvement.
- Conducted performance reviews and provided feedback to direct reports for career development.
- Resolved customer inquiries and complaints requiring management-level escalation.
- Implemented process improvements to increase operational efficiency and reduce costs.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors to secure favorable terms and pricing.
- Analyzed business performance data and forecasted business results for upper management.
- Established relationships with key customers at a national level and provided support as needed.
- Provided guidance to regional staff in resolving customer complaints and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Operations Manager
Preston Hire
Auckland
03.2022 - 11.2023
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures
- Empowered employees to take ownership of their responsibilities, leading to increased accountability and improved performance outcomes
- Conducted regular performance reviews, identifying areas for improvement and developing action plans to address them
- Led hiring, onboarding and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers
- Analyzed and reported on key performance metrics to senior management
- Facilitated smooth collaboration between departments through clear communication channels
- Managed budgets effectively, consistently delivering projects on-time and within financial constraints
- Identified and resolved unauthorized, unsafe, or ineffective practices
- Developed and implemented strategies to maximize customer satisfaction
- Handled staff training initiatives aimed at upskilling the workforce to meet dynamic industry demands
- Increased profit by streamlining operations
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to obtain best pricing and terms
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees and maintain excellent customer service
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for new organization
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit
Transport Operations Supervisor
Smith Cranes and Construction
Auckland
01.2022 - 03.2022
- Reviewed employee timesheets for accuracy and ensured timely submission of payroll information to finance department
- Streamlined communication between team members to ensure smooth operations across all aspects of the transportation process
- Selected appropriate equipment based on shipment needs, ensuring safe handling of goods while maintaining optimal utilization of resources
- Maintained thorough knowledge of industry regulations, staying up-to-date on changes that may impact company operations or require adjustments to procedures or policies
- Worked closely with personnel, customers, and contractors to resolve problems
- Maintained safe work environment and confirmed current compliance with OSHA and other governmental regulations
- Managed labor assignments and equipment allocations and met transportation, operations and production goals
Mechanical Supervisor/ Turitea Windfarm Phase 1
Smith Crane and Construction
Palmerston North, MWT
06.2020 - 12.2021
- Ensured quality control with meticulous inspection of completed work, addressing any discrepancies promptly
- Delegated team assignments, reviewed work and set schedules to maintain optimal coverage of all mechanical needs
- Reported on work progress to manager and incorporated feedback to maintain tight schedules
- Contributed to process improvement initiatives by offering valuable insights based on extensive field experience
- Oversaw training and mentoring of team of 30 mechanical service personnel
- Coordinated cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration between design, fabrication, assembly, testing, and installation departments
- Developed strong relationships with clients, vendors, and subcontractors to facilitate smooth project execution
- Enhanced team productivity through effective delegation of tasks and efficient scheduling of resources
- Conducted comprehensive risk assessments prior to commencing new work assignments, implementing appropriate mitigation strategies where required
- Worked effectively with other departments, vendors and regulators to achieve operational objectives
- Maintained adequate inventory of spare parts to prevent critical downtime
- Collaborated with leaders and employees to drive necessary change in mechanical operations
- Trained mechanical department personnel in procedures and safety requirements
- Maintained detailed records of all project activities for accurate reporting purposes and informed decisionmaking
- Streamlined workflow processes for improved operational efficiency, leading teams in various projects
- Supervised installation of different types of mechanical equipment, keeping work in line with drawings and specifications
- Closely monitored tooling inventory levels, proactively addressing shortages or damaged tools before they impacted project timelines or budgets
- Monitored and motivated employees, tracking and documenting activities, correcting problems and implementing improvement plans to boost quality of mechanical work
- Reduced downtime by quickly identifying and resolving mechanical issues in a timely manner
- Delivered successful projects on time and within budget through diligent planning and effective resource management
- Assisted engineering staff in the development of innovative solutions to complex mechanical challenges faced during project implementation
- Boosted safety standards by enforcing strict adherence to company policies and industry regulations
- Maintained open communication channels with stakeholders at all stages of the project lifecycle, fostering a collaborative work environment
- Protected workers and general public by enforcing strict safety practices
- Developed standard operating procedures to encourage consistency of work from team members and contractors
- Kept watchful eye on equipment inventories, optimizing work readiness and aligning supplies with specifications for each job
- Managed efficient teams of up to 30 employees
- Supervised team of installers and mechanics to complete work on time and to company standards
- Created and maintained daily and weekly reports for upper management
Operation Supervisor
Move Logistics/ Machinery Movers
Auckland
10.2015 - 06.2020
- Developed and executed a strategy for business growth, resulting in a significant increase in market share.
- Played an instrumental role in talent recruitment, development, and retention strategies, which resulted in building high-performing teams across the organization.
- Managed cross-functional teams to ensure seamless collaboration on key projects, enhancing overall performance.
- Provided strategic oversight on major projects, ensuring timely completion within budget constraints.
- Led successful organizational restructuring efforts, increasing efficiency while minimizing employee turnover.
- Successfully managed crisis situations, maintaining focus on priorities, while providing guidance for rapid resolution.
- Optimized resource allocation for improved operational efficiency and cost savings across departments.
- Instituted quality control measures to reduce errors and maintain high standards of service delivery.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers, securing favorable terms that contributed to long-term success and sustainability.
- Streamlined operations by implementing efficient processes and workflows, leading to increased productivity.
- Developed strong relationships with key stakeholders, facilitating effective communication channels for better decision-making processes.
- Continually assess internal and external factors impacting the business, adjusting strategies accordingly for sustained growth and success.
- Supervised operations staff and kept employees compliant with company policies and procedures.
- Managed inventory and supply chain operations to achieve timely and accurate delivery of goods and services.
- Established positive and effective communication among unit staff and organization leadership, reducing miscommunications and missed deadlines.
- Led the hiring, onboarding, and training of new hires to fulfill business requirements.
- Developed and maintained relationships with external vendors and suppliers.
- Analyzed and reported on key performance metrics to senior management.
- Identified and resolved unauthorized, unsafe, or ineffective practices.
- Developed and implemented strategies to maximize customer satisfaction.
- Increased profit by streamlining operations.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors and suppliers to obtain the best pricing and terms.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing, and customer account operations efficiently.
- Cultivated and strengthened lasting client relationships using strong issue resolution and dynamic communication skills.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections, and nurture relationships.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring, and training team members.
- Trained and guided team members to maintain high productivity and performance metrics.
- Handled problematic customers and clients to assist lower-level employees, and maintain excellent customer service.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Recruited, hired, and trained initial personnel, working to establish key internal functions, and outline the scope of positions for the new organization.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Reported issues to higher management with great detail.
- Negotiated price and service with customers and vendors to decrease expenses and increase profit.
- Identified and qualified customer needs, and negotiated and closed profitable projects with a high success rate.
- Tracked trends and suggested enhancements to both challenge and refine the company's product offerings.
- Updated and resolved incidents, and managed accessorial charges objectively while maximizing profit.
- Reduced operational risks while organizing data to forecast performance trends.
- Addressed customer concerns with suitable solutions.
- Identified areas of improvement within the organization's operational structure and developed actionable solutions accordingly.
- Guided employees on understanding and meeting changing customer needs and expectations.
Education
No Degree - Fitting And Turning (practical And Theory)
Westlake College
Cape Town02.2008
High School Diploma - English, Afrikaans, Science, Maths, Fitting and Turning, Technical Drawing, History, Geography
Oude Molen Technical High
Cape Town12.2000
Skills
- Team management
- Operations management
- Troubleshooting and problem resolution
- Documentation and reporting
- Strategic planning
- Operations planning
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Logistics operations management
- Logistics support services
- Cargo loading and handling
- Equipment decommissioning
- Positive attitude
- Teamwork
- Customer service
- Problem-solving
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Computer skills
- Organizational skills
- Team leadership
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Decision-making
- Problem resolution
- Relationship building
- Team building
- Task prioritization
- Scheduling and coordinating
- Managing operations and efficiency
- Recruitment and hiring
- Professionalism
- Good judgment
- Staff management
- Quality control
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
- Project management
- Budget management
- Customer relationship management
- Sales strategy
- Market expansion
- Performance analysis
- Operational efficiency
- Employee training
- Contract negotiation
- Risk assessment
- Process improvement
- Data analysis
- Issue resolution
- Staff recruitment
- Vendor management
- Reporting oversight
- Organizational improvement
- Staff training and development
Availability
4 weeks notice
Hobbies and Interests
- Cooking
- App Development
- Watching Movies and TV Shows
- Outdoor Recreation
- Gardening
- Camping
Languages
- English, Professional Working
- Afrikaans, Full Professional
Timeline
National Manager
Preston Hire
11.2023 - Current
Operations Manager
Preston Hire
03.2022 - 11.2023
Transport Operations Supervisor
Smith Cranes and Construction
01.2022 - 03.2022
Mechanical Supervisor/ Turitea Windfarm Phase 1
Smith Crane and Construction
06.2020 - 12.2021
Operation Supervisor
Move Logistics/ Machinery Movers
10.2015 - 06.2020
No Degree - Fitting And Turning (practical And Theory)
Westlake College
High School Diploma - English, Afrikaans, Science, Maths, Fitting and Turning, Technical Drawing, History, Geography
Oude Molen Technical High
Similar Profiles
Nick PapadopoulosNick Papadopoulos
National Assets & Logistics Manager at Preston HireNational Assets & Logistics Manager at Preston Hire
Mark NelsonMark Nelson
Rigger/Mobile Crane Operator at Preston HireRigger/Mobile Crane Operator at Preston Hire
Semi SukanatabuaSemi Sukanatabua
Crane Operator at Preston HireCrane Operator at Preston Hire