The Operations Manager will serve as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) providing direct support to the MD in key operational areas. he/she will be responsible for end-to-end operational performance across farming, processing, supply chain, and commercial execution. The role requires hands-on operations experience. Experience in an integrated agribusiness will be desirable, and the Ability to drive scale, efficiency, quality, and profitability through data-informed decision-making.
Duties And Responsibilities
Farm & Production Operations (Cassava/Agro)
Provide executive management support to the Head of Farm Operations in securing the resources (people, assets, funding) to ensure timely execution of farm business plans, alignment with plans and delivery of intended results.
Processing, Quality & Compliance
Supervise factory operations to improve overall productivity with a focus on capacity utilization, cost efficiency, OEE, and product consistency.
Enforce QA/QC systems, traceability, and compliance with regulatory standards and certifications.
Leadership & Growth
Lead, coach and develop employees across departments s/he has oversight over.
Implement SOPs and performance metrics.
Prepare for future operational growth by building systems, processes, and strategic frameworks.
Champion transformation initiatives including but not limited to digital and people initiatives (Workflows, business reporting and analytics dashboards).
Experience And Qualifications
Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Agronomy, Agricultural Economics, Operations Management, Engineering, or related field; Master's degree is an advantage.
7 - 12+ years of progressive experience in agro-processing operations. Experience in Cassava-based (cassava to finished goods) processing business will be an advantage.
Familiarity with GAP, HSE, QA/QC, and regulatory requirements in agro/food processing.
Proficiency with Excel, ERP/MIS, field data tools, and basic analytics.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.
The ideal candidate must be numerically inclined, decisive, deeply operational, and demonstrates Gritthe resilience, persistence, and ownership needed to deliver results in dynamic, resource-constrained environments.
Key Competencies
Operational Excellence
Numerical & Analytical Strength
Decisive & Business-Informed
Grit (Must-Have)
Leadership & Accountability
Systems Thinking
Safety & Quality Mindset
Performance Metrics
Yield per hectare and starch content
Cost per ton and Yield per ton of cassava and other raw materials
Plant reliability, uptime and output.
OEE / Capacity Utilization
Sales margins, business profitability, cash generation