The Deputy Head of Manufacturing supports the Head of Operations in overseeing full-scale plant operations across refinery, soap, and detergent production units. The role ensures seamless production execution, operational discipline, quality compliance, maintenance coordination, and resource optimization. This position is responsible for production planning, monitoring KPIs, minimizing stock variances, and driving efficiency improvements and cost-saving initiatives across the manufacturing processes. The role requires strong technical knowledge, leadership capability, and experience in multi-product manufacturing environments.
Key Responsibilities
Production & Operations Leadership
- Supervise and coordinate daily operations across refinery, soap, and detergent production lines.
- Ensure production targets are achieved while maintaining quality, safety, and cost efficiency.
- Monitor and optimize process parameters to maintain consistent product quality and operational stability.
- Support capacity planning, production scheduling, and raw material utilization.
- Oversee shift operations, manpower planning, and workforce productivity.
Stock Variance & Material Accountability
- Lead stock monitoring processes for raw materials, work-in-progress (WIP), and finished goods.
- Review and validate daily, weekly, and monthly stock variance reports.
- Conduct root-cause analysis for deviations and implement corrective and preventive actions.
- Strengthen internal controls to improve material balance accuracy from input to output.
- Coordinate with supply chain, warehouse, and finance teams for accurate reporting and reconciliation.
Efficiency, Performance Improvement & Optimization
- Monitor key operational KPIs: yield, recovery, OEE, energy usage, batch cycle time, and productivity.
- Identify gaps in processes and drive continuous improvement projects (Lean, Six Sigma, TPM).
- Reduce manufacturing losses, improve throughput, and enhance overall plant performance.
- Implement digital monitoring systems and support automation initiatives.
Maintenance Coordination
- Collaborate with maintenance teams to ensure preventive, predictive, and breakdown maintenance is executed on time.
- Minimize unplanned downtime and ensure equipment reliability and availability.
- Participate in shutdown planning, execution, and post-analysis.
- Ensure all equipment and utilities comply with operational and safety standards.
Quality, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure all products meet internal quality specifications and industry regulatory standards.
- Support the implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
- Conduct regular audits on process quality, hygiene, safety, and housekeeping.
- Promote a strong culture of safety, discipline, and compliance across the plant.
Reporting & Documentation
- Prepare and review daily, weekly, and monthly production performance reports.
- Present variance analysis, efficiency metrics, downtime reports, and improvement updates to management.
- Ensure timely and accurate documentation of process records, deviations, and compliance reports.
- Analyze trends and recommend data-driven solutions for process improvement.
Cost Reduction & Continuous Improvement
- Identify cost-saving opportunities across raw materials, utilities, manpower, and process optimization.
- Lead cross-functional cost reduction and waste minimization projects.
- Implement process automation and productivity enhancement initiatives.
- Benchmark processes with industry standards to ensure competitive manufacturing costs.
Leadership & Team Development
- Mentor production managers, supervisors, and operators to build technical competency.
- Drive training programs focused on safety, quality, process improvement, and equipment handling.
- Promote a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement.
Requirements
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- 8–10+ years of experience in manufacturing operations, preferably in Refinery, Soap, Detergent, or Process Chemical industries.
- Strong technical understanding of refining operations, saponification, detergent processing, filling & packaging lines.
- Proven expertise in production planning, process control, stock variance management, and efficiency improvement.
- Familiarity with Lean, TPM, Six Sigma, and continuous improvement methodologies.
- Experience working with CMMS, ERP, and manufacturing analytics systems.
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Role Summary
- The Sales & Marketing Head – Home & Personal Care (CRT Head) will lead the commercial agenda for this fast-emerging category, owning the P&L and driving both growth and profitability.
- This is a business-building role requiring a hands-on, entrepreneurial leader with strong grounding in sales execution, category development, and marketing strategy. The ideal candidate will expand our client market footprint, strengthen distribution, shape an innovation pipeline, and build a motivated team to scale the category sustainably.
Key Responsibilities
Business Development & Category Leadership
- Define and execute the go-to-market strategy for the Home & Personal Care (HPC) category, aligned to our client growth and profitability goals.
- Drive category expansion through market development, portfolio rationalization, and targeted innovation.
- Identify and unlock new business opportunities, channels, and customer partnerships.
- Own the category P&L — balancing growth, cost efficiency, and brand investment.
Route-to-Market & Sales Excellence
- Lead and develop the sales organization to expand coverage in both General Trade (GT) and Modern Trade (MT).
- Design and optimize RTM models suited for HPC products — including van sales, direct distribution, and digital ordering.
- Strengthen distributor capability and alignment to category priorities.
- Establish strong sales governance, forecasting accuracy, and performance visibility through digital tools and dashboards.
Brand & Marketing Development
- Build the marketing roadmap for HPC brands — spanning detergents, soaps, and emerging categories.
- Drive brand positioning, pricing, and communication strategies that resonate with consumers and trade.
- Lead cross-functional innovation initiatives (NPDs, packaging, communication) with R&D, Production, and Supply Chain.
- Champion digital marketing and e-commerce presence to build awareness and trial.
Trade Marketing & Channel Activation
- Oversee trade marketing strategy — from price-pack architecture and visibility plans to promotional calendars.
- Ensure consistent brand execution across channels with a focus on conversion and loyalty.
- Track trade marketing ROI and continuously optimize spend allocation.
Cross-Functional Leadership & Collaboration
- Partner with Production, Finance, and Transformation Office to ensure alignment between commercial plans and operational capacity.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain for demand forecasting, inventory management, and service level improvement.
- Influence across departments to accelerate decision-making and remove barriers to growth.
Team Leadership & Capability Building
- Lead, coach, and inspire a young and ambitious sales & marketing team.
- Instill a high-performance culture driven by accountability, speed, and collaboration.
- Build commercial and digital capabilities within the team (CRM, BI tools, e-commerce).
Ideal Candidate Profile
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field; MBA preferred.
Experience:
- 10–15 years of FMCG commercial experience, including at least 5 years in senior sales or marketing leadership.
- Proven record in developing and scaling a new or emerging category — ideally in Home, Personal Care, or related FMCG sectors.
- Strong exposure to both General Trade and Modern Trade, with understanding of Kenyan and East African markets.
- Experience integrating marketing strategy with sales execution, and managing innovation pipelines.
- Demonstrated success in business development, team building, and cross-functional influence.
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