Head of Operations at Summit Recruitment and Search

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver a 3–5 year operations strategy, covering capacity, investment and capability for growth
• Lead the planning process that turns sales forecasts into production, purchasing and stock plans, working with Sales and Finance
• Improve efficiency, yield, milk conversion and waste through Lean and Kaizen
• Lead purchasing of milk, ingredients and packaging, and build strong relationships with farmers and suppliers
• Own food safety and quality, keeping us certified to ISO 22000 and HACCP and compliant with KEBS and the Kenya Dairy Board
• Run a planned maintenance programme and manage utilities: boilers, refrigeration, water and power
• Deliver on time and in full (OTIF) to customers, distributors and our own stores
• Lead a zero-harm safety culture and compliance with OSHA and NEMA
• Deliver cost of goods, gross margin and operations budget targets
• Build, coach and develop a strong leadership team, with succession for key roles

Key Qualifications

• A degree in Food Science or Technology, Dairy Technology, Engineering, Supply Chain or a related field. An MBA or postgraduate qualification is an advantage
• At least 10 years in operations, manufacturing or supply chain, including 5 or more years in senior management leading several functions
• Food manufacturing experience, ideally in dairy or FMCG
• Strong leadership skills
• A record of measurable gains in cost, efficiency, quality and service
• Strong knowledge of Lean or Six Sigma, HACCP, and ISO 22000 or FSSC 22000
• Experience with budgets, investment business cases and ERP systems; strong Excel skills
• A strategic, data-driven leader with high integrity, who builds trust with teams, suppliers and customers