Plant Head - Soap & Detergents Manufacturing

Role Overview:

We are seeking a seasoned manufacturing leader to serve as the Plant Head for our Soap and Detergents facility in Ethiopia. In this high-impact role, you will oversee the entire manufacturing value chain, ensuring operational excellence, cost efficiency, and strict adherence to quality standards in a fast-paced FMCG environment. You will work closely with regional supply chain heads, procurement teams, and local government stakeholders to ensure seamless production cycles.

Your leadership will directly influence the company's market competitiveness by optimizing output, driving process innovations, and fostering a culture of safety and high performance across the shop floor, ultimately ensuring our products reach consumers with consistent quality and reliability.

Key Responsibilities:

- Direct all plant operations, including production planning, maintenance, and quality assurance, to ensure production targets are met within budget and on schedule.

- Implement lean manufacturing and continuous improvement methodologies to reduce waste, optimize raw material consumption, and improve overall equipment effectiveness (OEE).

- Manage the end-to-end P&L of the manufacturing unit, focusing on cost control, inventory management, and capital expenditure planning to drive bottom-line growth.

- Lead, mentor, and develop a diverse cross-functional team, fostering a culture of accountability, safety, and technical excellence to ensure high employee retention and productivity.

- Ensure full compliance with local regulatory standards, environmental health and safety (EHS) protocols, and international quality certifications to maintain the facility's license to operate.

- Collaborate with the supply chain and procurement departments to streamline the inbound logistics of raw materials and the outbound distribution of finished goods, ensuring zero stock-outs.

Required Skillset:

- Demonstrated expertise in managing large-scale soap and detergent manufacturing plants, with a deep understanding of chemical processing, saponification, and packaging technologies.

- Proven ability to lead complex operations in challenging geographical environments, showing high adaptability to local cultural and business landscapes.

- Exceptional strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with a track record of turning around underperforming units or scaling production capacity in high-growth markets.

- Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of influencing senior stakeholders and managing diverse workforces across multiple levels of the organization.

- A degree in Chemical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or a related field, ideally complemented by an MBA or advanced management certification from a premier institute.

- Ability to thrive in an on-site, high-pressure environment, maintaining composure and focus while navigating supply chain volatility and operational bottlenecks.