Chief Operating Officer – ZSE Listed – “Join the HQ team and enhance your career”

Dec 5, 2023 | Interviewing, Senior Managerial & Executive Positions

Job Overview: 

Reporting to the Group CEO and the Board of Directors, the COO is a key member of the executive team and has the prime responsibility of supervising and monitoring the Group’s day- to-day administrative and operational functions. The COO essentially plays a crucial role in ensuring that the Group’s business operations run efficiently and effectively with the objective of attaining the Group’s set operational strategic goals and the Group’s sustainable growth. 

The job requires excellent human skills, problem solving skills and a high level of motivation to attain set objectives. 

Responsibilities Include: 

  1. Strategic Leadership: 
  • Collaborate with the Board, Group CEO, and other executives to develop and implement the Group’s strategic goals and objectives. Communicate to direct reports vision, mission, strategic goals, and objectives to achieve commitment and ownership.
  • Provide leadership and guidance in the execution of strategic initiatives for the attainment of operational goals and objectives.
  • Lead in Business Negotiations with External Business Partners such as OEMs, suppliers, and customers and in the maintenance of long-term business relationships. 
  1. Operational Oversight: 
  • Oversee and manage the daily operations of the Group to ensure smooth and efficient functioning by working with the Group’s Cluster Heads, to ensure that all business units work towards the attainment of the set business strategic goals as well as exploiting the Group’s synergies to achieve these.
  • Setting of and ensuring adherence to Group operational policies and procedures to enhance organizational effectiveness and promote group culture and the attainment of the agreed business goals. This will include attainment of production and sales targets.
  • Set appropriate systems to effectively gather market information/intelligence to inform the Group Business Marketing Strategy and to assist with the development and implementation of the same.
  • Develop and monitor direct reports’ key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to assess operational performance and take appropriate action in line with Group Policy.
  • Ensure divisional budgets are managed within allocated resources including actioning appropriate cost management programmes and achievement of efficient use of resources and maximisation of Group income. 
  1. Financial Management: 
  • Work closely with the CFO to manage the Group’s financial performance and budget, including the management of fixed costs, working capital and optimal allocation of resources.
  • Identify cost-saving opportunities and efficiencies in operational processes.
  • Ensure operational goals and objectives align with the overall strategic plan. 
  1. Team Management:
  • Build and lead a high-performance operational team.
  • Ensure that the Group has sustainable workforce plans and is appropriately staffed to deliver sustainable quality goods and services.
  • Foster a positive and collaborative work environment.
  • Provide guidance, support, and mentorship to operational staff. 
  1. Process Improvement:
  • Identify opportunities for process improvement and optimization.
  • Implement best practices to enhance operational efficiency.
  • Foster a culture of continuous improvement within the organization. 
  1. Risk Management:
  • Development and implementation of requisite controls and processes to identify and manage operational risk.
  • Develop and implement risk management strategies.
  • Ensure compliance with relevant regulations and industry standards. 
  1. Communication and Collaboration:
  • Collaborate with other executives to ensure alignment between operations and other functional areas.
  • Communicate effectively with internal and external stakeholders on operational issues.
  • Represent the company in operational matters with clients, partners, and regulatory bodies. 
  1. Technology and Innovation:
  • Stay abreast of technological trends and innovations relevant to the industry.
  • Leverage technology to improve operational processes and systems. 
  1. Crisis Management:
  • Develop and implement crisis management plans to address unforeseen challenges.
  • Assist the CEO in leading the company through periods of change and uncertainty. 
  1. Reporting:
  • Attend board meetings and provide timely and accurate reports to the Group CEO and the Board on operational performance and key initiatives.
  • The reports should track performance to assist the Group CEO and the Board to make appropriate business decisions and/or take requisite corrective action. 
  1. Other 

Perform any other functions or duties as required by the Group CEO and/or the Board of Directors. 

Required qualifications and skills

  • University degree preferably in a technical field such as engineering,
  • Post graduate qualification such as an MBL, MBA or Finance or similar.
  • A minimum of 5 years in a senior executive role
  • Excellent leadership skills, business acumen and personal integrity 

The company offers a rare career opportunity to an astute senior person offering a combination of senior skills already demonstrated and developed to date. 

You shall be rewarded in line with market conditions. 

Executives are encouraged to contact Colin Roberts in confidence.