Chief Operating Officer at TheJobMag

They are seeking for a candidate who shares our passion for the mission and values of our Company, and is willing to act as an ambassador for the Company in both public and in private.

The COO will report into the company’s founder and CEO, and develop a close working relationship with the VP of Farming, Financial Controller and external stakeholders.  Direct reports to the COO will include Corporate Administration, Human Resources, Security, Procurement and Logistics. Specific duties include, but will not be limited to:

Organizational Development

• Systems and Process Development: Refine org structure and reporting requirements to enhance transparency, improve decision-making/approval and communication, and create a robust and scalable company. Develop processes for management, effective execution and communication of work within and across teams.  
• Strategic Planning: Develop and implement an annual strategic-planning process, resulting in well-defined organizational goals that are tracked and reported on quarterly.

o    Make quarterly adjustments informed by execution and leanings. 

o   Lead and coach the operational team, so that middle management learn to think analytically and effectively move from goal setting to execution success.

• Reporting and Accountability: Design, implement, and achieve successful adoption of a system-wide dashboard that captures and reflect strategic and tactical goals, results, and next steps in a timely manner, improving transparency, accountability and results.  Improve and streamline review budget approval process, with success measured by CEO time spent improved accuracy and reduced waste.
• Policy Handbook: Develop and maintain a simple, clear and structured Policy Handbook and Human Resources Manual for the organization, aligned to the employment laws of Nigeria.
• Internal Communications:  Formalize regular internal communications across the organization.
• Recruiting and Retention:  Streamline and improve recruiting, hiring, on boarding processes to improve outcomes and reduce turnover.  Standardize employee contracts and separation agreements.
• Performance Management: Implement system to accurately track employee time reporting to managers and HR.  Lead the development and roll out of performance management processes and tools across the organization.  
• Professional Development:  Lead the development of relevant content for quarterly management training, with success measured by increased staff productivity and morale and reduced employee turnover.

Operations

• Equipment management:  Optimize maintenance and operation of company-owned transportation assets, reducing operating expense and down time and improving on time transportation for our employees and delivery of our products.
• Construction Projects: Own management of construction projects (warehouse, staff housing, land clearing and road), with success measured against execution and delivery of project on-time and on-budget
• Security: Enhance relationships with police and security contractor, with success measured by a reduction in the number of issues and improved safety for our employees and property.

Business Development

• Community Relations:  Oversee relocation of squatters on our Company land, with success measured by on-budget, on-time, and limited damage to standing within community. Create a non-profit arm of our Company to receive grants for the purpose of capacity building with smallholder farmers.
• Government Relations: Develop and strengthen relationships with off-takers, distributors and traders of Company products, with success measured by # and strength of relationships.
• Marketing & Sales: Develop and maintain a periodic reporting of market overview and competitive analysis, including business and operational implications; manage sun-dried tomato project, resulting in relationships developed in year 1 and sales in year 2
• Distribution:  Develop, refine, and manage Company distribution channels and planning process, measured by effect on margin, timeliness, availability and overall reach.

Distinguishing Capabilities

• A start-up personality:  entrepreneurial, ambitious, independent, resourceful, structured thinker with an attention to detail, goal-oriented, flexible and able to deal well with setbacks - with patience, a sense of humor and high sense of drive and urgency to achieve our vision.
• Excellent interpersonal and relationship management skills to work effectively with others. Able to work with a wide range of people and personalities across the organization, from farm workers to the CEO – all coming from a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
• Ability to manage multiple projects in a fast paced environment and to remain graceful under pressure.
• Willingness to take ownership and accountability of project timeline and results.
• Exceptional attention to detail and high quality deliverable outputs.
• Ability to effectively communicate timelines and project progress with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ability to develop and implement a process by which work gets planned, managed and communicated across the organization with clear accountability.
• A demonstrated passion for social enterprise in Africa
• Exceptional written communication skills and with experience in writing compelling messages that communicate clearly, confidently, and precisely.
• Strong presentations skills, including excellent oral communication skills; passion to make yourself understood in an engaging and pleasant way at all times.

Minimum Qualifications and Proficiencies:

• Bachelors Degree (minimum) in Business, Economics, Engineering or similar from a recognized university with a GPA of 3.4 or higher (or a second class upper if educated at Nigerian university).
• Proficiency in Excel, Project, PowerPoint and Word
• 8 years of professional work experience, with at least 3 years in a senior management role at a manufacturing or production company, with project management experience.

Desired Qualifications:

• Masters degree (or higher) in Business Administration (MBA), Economics, Marketing, or similar
• Fluency in Hausa