Operations Manager | Decentralized at Food For Education

About the Role

Reporting to the Senior Business Operations Manager, the Operations Manager is in charge of the value chain activities from production planning, production, quality assurance, food safety, logistics, and school management in the Decentralized Operations. This role also entails preparing strategies and plans for the growth of the production facilities, capacities, and capabilities in line with the overall Organization's objectives.

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Team Leadership:

• Provide leadership to the operations team in a manner fit to fulfill the organization's objectives and in line with the code of practice.
• Manage team performance to ensure that the key Organization objectives under business operations are achieved.
• Manage individual performance for direct reports and sub-level reports through appropriate performance management systems and assessments.
• Take leadership in resolving any disciplinary or team dynamics issues that may arise in collaboration with the People Team.
• Ensure that there is effective communication between the team members by implementing effective communication policies and procedures.
• Ensure that there is effective communication between the operations department and other departments.
• Lead recruitment of Program Coordinators and Program Associates.
• Ensure that all Production Facility staff are compliant with respect to government regulations with regard to Operations.
• Actively engage in upskilling the team to foster continuous improvement.

Operations Production, Planning and Execution:

• Take the lead in the formulation of operational action plans and execution of the key business strategic goals, i.e. creating plans for expansion and scaling in different Regions.
• Measure and report on activities and achievements of the Department in a timely manner.
• Manage the production capacities for all production centers to match existing and planned demand.
• Ensure that the kitchens are always available and capable of meeting the daily demand, i.e. ensure that they are fully stocked, sufficiently staffed, and have all production inputs.
• Prepare operationalization work plans for the launch of new production facilities.
• Manage all other functions of the production facilities.

Financial Management and Planning:

• Develop strategies to improve efficiency in all the processes, i.e. planning, production, and logistics.
• Manage and implement controls recommended by the finance team to optimize cost per meal.
• Work with the team to ensure preparation and review of the operations monthly dashboard across all our production facilities.

Inventory Management:

• Put in place sufficient systems, measures, and controls to ensure that the kitchens are adequately stocked.
• Manage stock movements and account for stock usage across all the production facilities.
• Review the stock movement and stock inventory in our production facilities.
• Oversee the central sourcing and supply chain of production and quality assurance items to our kitchens.

Quality Management:

• Have overall responsibility of ensuring that the quality of the products from the production facilities meets and exceeds customer requirements.
• Prepare performance metrics to measure Quality Performance.
• Monitor, Manage, and Report on Quality Performance Metrics (QPMs).
• Lead in the development and management of a Quality Management System.
• Lead in identifying, investigating, and resolving customer complaints or negative feedback.

Leadership:

• Provide overall leadership of the business unit to ensure that the team is committed to the company’s objectives.
• Regularly update management on operations status and prepare reports and presentations.
• Participate in management meetings and contribute in ideation and decision-making to help fashion the business direction.
• Ensure that the business operations remain compliant in line with the government, clients, regulators, and local authorities requirements.
• Ensure compliance with the organization’s policies and procedures, and act as a champion for its culture and values.
• Any other duties or roles that may be added to you.

Desired Candidate Profile

• A bachelor’s degree in any business-related field.
• 5+ years of experience in an operational leadership role in production operations and a proven track record in operations planning, execution, follow-up, and reporting. 
• The ideal candidate should have well-developed business acumen, strategic thinking, and an efficiency mindset.
• Exceptional leadership and team management abilities.
• Experience in manufacturing, specifically food manufacturing is a huge plus.
• Experience working in a high-performing, fast-changing scale-up environment
• Ability to collaborate with people at all levels to organize, plan, and achieve the company's operational goals.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Able to exercise sound judgment.

Deadline: 15th  July 2024