Director of Operations, Africa at Protege Professionals

Job Responsibilities

• Identify and negotiate local partnerships (joint venture or other) with companies that can provide basic services (logistics, other, manufacturing space, land, etc).
• Work with an international strategic operations consultant and the organisation’s staff to set up a financial model as well as a detailed plan to implement and scale up operations.
• Hire and manage local manufacturing teams and coordinate all personnel-related matters from onboarding, training, day-to-day operations, etc.
• Successfully build operations to scale.
• Setting strategic goals and making decisions for operational activities to drive the overall growth and profitability of the company.
• Planning and monitoring the day-to-day operations to ensure efficient and effective functioning.
• Supervising and managing staff from different departments to ensure seamless collaboration and coordination.
• Evaluating the efficiency of existing business procedures and implementing improvements to optimise productivity.
• Managing the procurement process and ensuring the timely delivery of services and products.
• Reviewing financial information to make informed decisions and enhance profitability.
• Developing long-term operational strategies and aligning them with the broader business objectives.
• Establishing and maintaining metrics and standards to measure the company’s overall efficiency and effectiveness.
• Communicating policies and directives to managers and staff and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
• Identifying ways to enhance customer service and satisfaction, ensuring a positive experience for clients.
• Managing risks effectively and implementing measures to mitigate potential threats.

Experience and Education

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Finance, or engineering, Operations preferred.
• At least 7 years experience in manufacturing operations including oversight of supply chain, logistics, and manufacturing.
• Proven experience and track record of setting up new production operations and scaling such over at least 3 year period.
• It is sufficient to have been part of the process in a senior role (even if not having overall responsibility for it) with key learnings and understanding.
• A solid understanding of lean / Six Sigma or other TQM systems is an advantage.
• Having worked for an international company is a big plus.
• Having worked in a regulated industry (food, healthcare, etc) is also a plus.
• Fluency in English both written and spoken is essential.

Key Competencies & Skills:

• Business intelligence acumen and financial capabilities.
• Strong presentation, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Proven people management and leadership skills.
• Superior oral and written communication skills.