About the Opportunity:

Our client is a well-established and diversified industrial group with multiple manufacturing and business operations across East Africa. The organization is seeking an accomplished Chief Operating Officer (COO) to provide strategic and operational leadership across its group companies, driving business growth, operational excellence, and organizational transformation. This is a high-impact executive leadership role responsible for overseeing multiple business units, leading senior management teams, and ensuring the successful execution of the group's long-term business strategy.

Key Responsibilities:

- Provide strategic leadership across multiple manufacturing and business units.

- Translate corporate strategy into executable operational plans and measurable business outcomes.

- Drive operational excellence by improving productivity, profitability, quality, and efficiency across all group companies.

- Lead large-scale business transformation initiatives including digitalization, ERP implementation, process automation, and operational restructuring.

- Develop and monitor Group KPIs, dashboards, and performance management systems.

- Optimize manufacturing operations using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.

- Lead capacity expansion projects, plant modernization, and capital investment initiatives.

- Collaborate with business heads to achieve revenue, EBITDA, profitability, and operational targets.

- Identify new business opportunities, market expansion initiatives, and strategic growth projects.

- Build and mentor high-performing leadership teams while fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

- Strengthen governance, compliance, risk management, and operational controls across the organization.

- Represent the organization with key stakeholders including customers, government authorities, investors, and strategic partners.

Candidate Profile:

The ideal candidate should be a dynamic and execution-oriented business leader with extensive experience managing large, diversified industrial or manufacturing operations.

Experience:

- 1520 years of progressive leadership experience within manufacturing, industrial, engineering, FMCG, or diversified business groups.

- Proven experience leading multi-site operations with large employee strength.

- Experience managing multiple business units or companies under a group structure.

- Strong exposure to business transformation, operational excellence, and strategic planning.

- International exposure, preferably in emerging markets, will be an added advantage.

Educational Qualification:

- Bachelor's Degree in Engineering, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related discipline.

- MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification preferred.

Key Competencies:

- Strategic Business Leadership

- Operational Excellence

- Manufacturing & Supply Chain Management

- Business Transformation

- ERP Implementation & Digitalization

- Financial & Commercial Acumen

- Change Management

- Leadership Development

- Performance Management

- Lean Manufacturing & Continuous Improvement

- Corporate Governance

- Stakeholder Management

- Cross-functional Leadership

Desired Leadership Traits:

- Highly execution-driven with strong business acumen.

- Hands-on leader capable of driving organizational change.

- Commercially focused with excellent decision-making abilities.

- Strong interpersonal and influencing skills.

- Ability to lead multicultural teams across multiple locations.

- Results-oriented with exceptional problem-solving capabilities.

Compensation & Benefits:

A highly competitive executive compensation package will be offered, including:

- Attractive C-suite salary

- Performance-based incentives

- Expatriate benefits (including accommodation, company vehicle, medical insurance, annual leave travel, and other applicable benefits)

- Opportunity to lead a diversified and rapidly growing industrial group with significant regional presence.