Country Managing Director (MD) at Zola Electric

Position
Country Strategy Development and Implementation:

• Provide leadership in the development and implementation of the annual Country Operations Strategy and Business Plan, aligned to the overall Company Strategic Plan
• Cascade the overall company vision, goals, development strategies and key result areas (KRAs) in support of company, country and departmental strategy and business plans
• Provide leadership for the dissemination of company mission, vision and values  at the country level and direct the country programme and its staff in line with the annual Country Strategy
• Monitor business resources and strategy implementation on weekly basis and devise appropriate strategies and interventions to ensure alignment of the Country operations to corporate objectives
• Drive business and organisational growth aligned to the strategic intent of the overall company
• Increase market penetration and develop new routes to market to include channel partners, and agency agreement.

Leadership and Management of Country Operations:

• Provide strong, visible and inspirational leadership to Country Leadership Team, as well as the wider ZOLA Team thereby delivering bottom line business results
• Build a strong Leadership Team and functional areas, as well as core competencies of those teams
• Lead the Country management team in the resolution of operational problems on a day-to-day basis
• Lead the contribution towards new or innovative approaches to policy and operational issues
• Monitor operational risks through the management of a comprehensive risk framework to assess risks and devise risk mitigation plans

Finance Management Oversight:

• Provide oversight in financial management matters of the Country Operations, ensuring compliance with the overall company’s procedures and external best practice as well as donor and regulatory requirements
• Develop and effectively execute the Country resource allocation plan, using insights and a focus on opportunities, priorities and capabilities for business growth
• Analyse and evaluate P&L to drive performance, challenge spend and lead changes to deliver higher performance and value
• Monitor cash flow to ensure effective cash management and approve bank transfers in accordance with delegation of authority

People Management:

• Lead the development of a sustainable structure to support the operational requirements of the business
• Oversee the recruitment, development and retention of management and staff in collaboration with the Human Capital Department
• Manage the performance of direct reports, ensuring agreement of annual goals, measuring performance against agreed goals and dealing with areas of non-performance
• Act as custodian of succession plan development and implementation to support the growth of people within the organisation
• Lead, coach and mentor direct reports to foster personal growth and teamwork
• Manage the administration of direct reports through the approval of leave, subsistence and travel expenses
• Always oversee the management of documentation to ensure availability and ease of retrieval

Stakeholder Management:

• Lead the charge to ensure a happy customer base
• Engage with the Chief Operating Officer and Group  Executives on Country operational matters and in the provision of input into high level strategy
• Lead the weekly Core Team Meetings and monthly Performance Review Meetings
• Engage with Head of Departments and liaise with Group Executives and teams to address departmental problems, identify resolutions and make the necessary adjustments to the operating business model
• Lead the collaborative efforts across functions to understand and resolve operational problems on the ground
• Participate in Country Board Meetings and engage with shareholders and local chairpersons
• Act as the primary point of contact for senior interaction with government, tax authorities and industry organisations
• Identify technical experts who understand the country landscape and encourage engagements with the relevant stakeholders
• Liaise with external stakeholders  to resolve business issues which may  have been escalated by the business.

Requirements
Minimum Requirement:

• 12 to 15 years experience in a senior leadership role in a growing business of reasonable size
• Strong GM experience, P&L responsibility and orientation
• Sales, Marketing and Consumer-oriented
• Business building experience
• Government and Labour stakeholder engagement experience

Managerial and Technical Competencies:

• Knowledge of sales and marketing including different channels to market
• Understanding of the local business environment and channels
• Knowledge of the relevant legislation pertaining to the country
• Knowledge of financial principles
• Strategic management skills
• Leadership skills
• People management skills
• Risk management skills
• Relationship management skills
• Entrepreneurial
• Strategic thinker

Generic Competencies:

• Communication skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Analytical skills
• Networking skills
• Negotiating skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Planning & organizing skills
• Customer-focused
• Resilience
• Ethical
• Team player
• Work under pressure
• Self-motivated
• Assertive

Other information
Working Conditions:

• Required to travel locally and internationally
• Required to work extended hours