About the position
Chief Operating Officer (COO)
The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will oversee and optimise the operational activities of Company's three South African operating divisions-The COO will manage the SHEQ department and Industrial Relations, ensuring operational excellence, regulatory compliance, and a strong organisational culture. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will play a critical role in driving growth and efficiency within the company
Primary Duties
Duties & responsibilities
Production Management:
- Oversee and optimise operations across divisions
- Coordinate with Divisional General managers to monitor schedules, resource allocation, and project timelines.
- Develop and implement production management strategies to maximise efficiency and minimise downtime
Quality Assurance and Compliance:
- Implement quality control measures for both production activities to meet or exceed industry standards and customer expectations.
- Ensure compliance with regulatory requirements, industry codes, and customer specifications in all operational processes.
- Ensure rigorous quality assurance and compliance with regulatory standard.
Industrial Relations
- Lead Industrial Relations to foster a positive and productive workplace culture.
Supply Chain and Cost Management:
- Manage the supply chain function, including procurement, inventory management, and supplier relationships, to optimise costs and minimise lead times.
- Engage with Chief Engineer on Global supply chain optimisation
- Implement cost-saving initiatives, process improvements, and value engineering strategies to enhance operational efficiency and reduce expenses.
Facilities and Equipment Maintenance:
- Ensure proper maintenance and upkeep of manufacturing facilities, equipment, and machinery to minimise downtime and maintenance costs.
- Coordinate with maintenance teams to schedule preventive maintenance activities and address equipment breakdowns or failures promptly.
Health, Safety, and Environmental Management:
- Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations and standards in all operational and activities.
- Implement safety protocols, provide training, and conduct regular audits to maintain a safe and sustainable working environment.
Continuous Improvement Initiatives:
- Lead continuous improvement initiatives to streamline processes, reduce waste, and enhance operational efficiency.
- Drive continuous improvement initiatives to enhance operational performance
Cross-functional Collaboration:
- Collaborate with other departments, including sales, marketing, finance, and human resources, to achieve company goals and objectives.
- Ensure effective communication, coordination, and alignment between operational and engineering teams to support seamless operations and project execution.
Performance Monitoring and Reporting:
- Monitor quantitative and qualitative key performance indicators (KPIs)at a Divisional level and identify areas for improvement.
- Prepare regular reports, presentations, and analyses for senior management to communicate, challenges, and recommendations for optimisation.
Risk Management:
- Identify and mitigate operational risks to minimise disruptions and ensure business continuity.
Secondary duties
Innovation
- Foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.
Employee Development
- Facilitate training and development opportunities for operational staff.
Qualifications & Skills:
- Engineering Degree (Industrial or mechanical)
- Post Graduate studies in Business Management i.e. MBA or equivalent
- Minimum of 10 years of experience in operations management, with at least 5 years in a senior leadership role in a manufacturing environment.
- Proven experience in production management, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
- Strong knowledge of health, safety, and environmental management practices.
- Experience with MRP systems and other relevant technologies.
Skills and Competencies:
- Strong leadership skills with a collaborative and compassionate approach.
- Excellent project management and problem-solving abilities.
- Proficiency in MRP systems and other operational tools.
- Ability to drive innovation and implement new processes and technologies.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Building a strong organisational culture and providing a platform for growth.
- Leading a consolidation exercise to streamline operational functions and enhance efficiency.
- Highly developed cultural and emotional quotient
- Firm and fair approach to management, fostering a calm and thoughtful work environment.
- Adaptive to multi-cultural staff compliment from all sectors of society
Desired Skills:
- Production management
- Supply chain management
- MPR Systems
- Engineering
- Quality Assurance and compliance
- Change Leadership
- Operational Planning
Desired Work Experience:
- More than 10 years Mechanical Engineering
- 2 to 5 years Executive Management / Director
Desired Qualification Level:
