Profit Center Head - Africa

Job Title: Head – Profit Center Head Africa

Role Summary:

We are looking for a seasoned manufacturing leader to head production operations across our processing units with full ownership of the Profit & Loss account. This role demands a sharp business mind with deep domain experience in ginning, spinning, or textile production. The ideal candidate will be hands-on with operations and equally adept at driving commercial performance, delivering output that is lean, cost-effective, and profit-centric.

Key Responsibilities:

Production & Operations Leadership:

• Lead and oversee daily production activities across multiple ginning or spinning facilities to ensure optimal plant utilization and output.
• Plan and execute production targets in alignment with market demand and inventory strategy.
• Drive throughput, minimize wastage, and improve yield efficiencies across stages – from raw intake to final output.
• Ensure robust maintenance practices to reduce downtime and increase asset utilization.
• Implement manufacturing best practices, automation, and digital tools for operational efficiency.

P&L Ownership:

• Own the full P&L for the operations unit, driving top-line growth and bottom-line improvements.
• Develop cost control strategies and manage input-output ratios, energy consumption, and labour efficiency to meet profitability targets.
• Monitor key financial metrics: conversion cost per bale, overhead absorption, and working capital utilization.
• Collaborate with procurement, logistics, and commercial teams to align sourcing, production, and sales with financial goals.

Strategic & Commercial Alignment:

• Act as a strategic partner to the business head in driving growth strategy and operational scale-up.
• Lead capex planning and execution for capacity expansion or modernization.
• Leverage market intelligence and production data to proactively manage price volatility and operational risks.

Team & Leadership:

• Build and lead high-performing production teams with a strong culture of accountability and ownership.
• Develop and upskill plant leadership teams to meet future operational demands.
• Drive a safety-first, performance-driven work culture at the plants.

Key Requirements:

• Education:

  Bachelor’s in Mechanical/Textile/Production Engineering; MBA is preferred.

• Experience:

  15+ years in manufacturing (ginning/spinning) with at least 5 years in a leadership role with P&L responsibility.
• Strong knowledge of plant operations, machinery (ginning/spinning), procurement cycles, and yield optimization.
• Proven ability to lead multi-site production setups with measurable cost and performance outcomes.
• Sharp financial acumen with understanding of cost accounting, margin management, and cash flow control.
• Hands-on, execution-oriented leader with a business mindset.

What’s in it for You:

• Leadership role with end-to-end ownership of production and profitability.
• Opportunity to shape the future of a growing business with national/global presence.
• Performance-driven culture with autonomy to execute and lead from the front.

Olam is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, nationality, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants are requested to complete all required steps in the application process including providing a resume/CV in order to be considered for open roles.