Head of Operations at Proten

Location: 9th Mile, Enugu
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Summary

• Our client is seeking an experienced Head of Operations to lead and integrate all plant operations, including Production, Supply Chain, Quality, Engineering & Maintenance, Warehousing, Logistics, HSE, and Facilities.
• The role will ensure operational excellence, cost efficiency, product quality, customer service, and sustainable business growth by aligning demand, production capacity, inventory, procurement, maintenance, and business objectives.

Key Responsibilities
Operational Leadership:

• Lead manufacturing and plant operations to achieveproduction, quality, cost, safety, and service targets.
• Optimize utilization of people, equipment, materials, and plant capacity.
• Drive operational excellence, productivity, Lean practices, and continuous improvement.

Planning & Supply Chain:

• Oversee production planning, inventory management, logistics, and supply chain coordination.
• Lead the Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) process to align demand, supply, inventory, capacity, and procurement.
• Ensure timely availability of raw materials and finished goods to meet customer requirements.

Engineering, Quality & HSE:

• Ensure equipment reliability through effective preventive and corrective maintenance programs.
• Drive compliance with quality, regulatory, environmental, and HSE requirements.
• Promote a culture of zero harm, operational discipline, and continuous improvement.

Performance & Operational Governance:

• Lead daily and weekly operational performance reviews covering production, safety, quality, maintenance, inventory, and customer service.
• Establish and monitor operational KPIs, dashboards, and performance reports.
• Drive timely closure of actions arising from operational reviews, audits, and S&OP meetings.
• Present operational performance and recommendations to senior management.

Cost & Business Performance:

• Manage operational budgets and drive cost optimization initiatives.
• Improve productivity, reduce waste, and maximize asset utilization.
• Support plant profitability and overall business objectives.

Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Lead, coach, and develop multidisciplinary operational teams.
• Foster collaboration acrossOperations, Sales, Finance, Procurement, HR, and Customer Experience.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on accountability, execution, and results.

Facilities & Infrastructure:

• Oversee plant facilities, utilities, buildings, and infrastructure.
• Ensure the availability and reliability of critical utilities, includingpower, water, and waste management systems.
• Coordinate facility improvement, refurbishment, and infrastructure projects.
• Ensure facilities comply with relevant safety, quality, environmental, and regulatory standards.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Industrial Chemistry, or a related field.
• MBA or Master's Degree is an advantage.
• Professional certifications such as Lean Six Sigma, PMP, APICS/CSCP, NEBOSH, or equivalent are desirable.
• Minimum 10 years' manufacturing experience, including at least 5 years in a senior operations leadership role.
• Proven experience managing multi-functional manufacturing operations.
• Experience in FMCG, manufacturing, chemical, or industrial operationsis preferred.
• Strong knowledge of production planning, supply chain, inventory management, maintenance, quality, HSE, and operational excellence.
• Experience with ERP and operational analytics tools such as Odoo, SAP, or Power BI is an advantage.

Key Competencies:

• Manufacturing Operations | Production Planning | S&OP | Supply Chain Management | Lean Manufacturing | Continuous Improvement | Cost Optimization | Quality & HSE | Asset & Facilities Management | Budget Management | Leadership & People Management | Operational Analytics | Stakeholder Management.