Chief Operating Officer

JOB LOCATION:- EAST AFRICA

About the Company

This organization is one of East Africa’s largest diversified industrial conglomerates, headquartered in Arusha, Tanzania. With a workforce of over 8,500 people (65% women), it operates across multiple divisions:

• Health Division:

  Medical devices, mosquito nets (LLIN & polyester), sanitary products.

• Packaging Division:

  WPP woven, flexible packaging, non-woven, PP multifilament.

• Textiles & Garments Division:

  Integrated textile & garment manufacturing.

• Agriculture Division:

  Agro-products, ropes & twines, agri-input solutions.

• Recycling Division:

  PET & plastics recycling, circular economy initiatives.

• Other Units:

  Raw materials, transport, assets, and miscellaneous income streams.

The Group COO will be instrumental in driving operational excellence, organizational discipline, and sustainable growth across all divisions.

About the Role

The Group COO will be instrumental in driving operational excellence, organizational discipline, and sustainable growth across all divisions.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Leadership:

• Translate the Group vision and 5-year strategic plan into actionable operating plans.
• Drive synergies between divisions (e.g., recycling → packaging → textiles).
• Support diversification initiatives and market expansion into Africa, Middle East & beyond.

• Operations & Execution:

• Oversee day-to-day performance of all divisions, ensuring efficiency, quality, and delivery.
• Establish robust KPIs, dashboards, and reporting systems.
• Implement ERP systems, digital tools, and process automation.
• Drive lean manufacturing, cost optimization, and productivity improvement.

• People & Culture:

• Build and mentor a strong leadership team (Divisional Heads).
• Introduce performance management frameworks (KRAs/KPIs, appraisals, incentives).
• Nurture a values-driven culture rooted in empowerment, accountability, and continuous improvement.

• Governance & Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with local & international regulations (labor, tax, environmental).
• Implement strong internal controls, audit systems, and risk management frameworks.
• Partner with Group CFO on financial discipline and working-capital optimization.

• Growth & Innovation:

• Lead capacity expansions, plant upgrades, and new product introductions.
• Strengthen export strategies for packaging, garments, and health products.
• Position the organization as a leader in sustainability and circular economy.

Qualifications

• Experience: 15–20 years in manufacturing/FMCG/industrial groups, with 5–7 years in a Group COO/Divisional CEO role.
• Industry Knowledge: Exposure to textiles, packaging, agriculture, or recycling preferred.
• Scale: Proven track record managing operations with 5,000+ employees and multiple factories/sites.
• Leadership: Strong people leadership; ability to manage diverse divisions under one umbrella.
• Global Mindset: International exposure (ideally Africa/Asia); adept at multicultural environments.
• Education: Degree in Engineering/Business/Operations Management (MBA preferred).
• Traits: Execution-driven, disciplined, hands-on; blends entrepreneurial agility with corporate systems.

Pay range and compensation package

• Competitive C-suite compensation (salary + performance bonus).
• Expat benefits (housing, car, etc.).
• Opportunity to lead one of Africa’s most impactful manufacturing groups.
• High-visibility role with a direct path to Group CEO succession planning.

Equal Opportunity Statement

We are committed to diversity and inclusivity in our hiring practices.

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