Chief Operations Officer at Kentaste Products Limited

Kentaste was established to provide smallholders farmers with a reliable, fair income from the millions of coconut trees growing along Kenya’s coast. For many years, the crop was neglected with farmers having no option other than selling through informal markets. When we introduced our value add processing, farmers realized that their coconut trees could become a sustainable source of income for their households.

 

Chief Operations Officer

  • Job TypeFull Time
  • QualificationBA/BSc/HND , MBA/MSc/MA
  • Experience8 - 10 years
  • LocationNairobi
  • Job FieldProcurement / Store-keeping / Supply Chain 

Key Responsibilities:

Operations Leadership & Supply Chain Management:

  • Oversee daily operations across sourcing, production, quality control, maintenance, logistics, and inventory management.
  • Supervise the Supply Chain Manager and ensure raw material availability and logistics alignment to meet production and customer demands.
  • Implement and optimize operational procedures, reducing downtime and improving efficiency in all departments.

Production, Quality Control & Factory Operations:

  • Ensure smooth factory operations by managing production schedules, maintenance, and quality control systems.
  • Work closely with the Factory Manager to drive performance in production efficiency, material yield, labor costs, and equipment uptime.
  • Ensure all products meet quality standards and compliance with local/international certifications (e.g., ISO).

Cost Control, Budget Management & Financial Performance:

  • Develop and manage comprehensive operational budgets aligned with strategic goals.
  • Implement cost-control strategies across production, logistics, and maintenance to optimize resource utilization and minimize expenditures.
  • Collaborate with the finance team for accurate financial forecasting and proactive cost-saving initiatives.
  • Analyze financial data and key metrics, such as EBITDA, gross profit margin, and revenue growth, to assess performance and make data-driven decisions.

Health, Safety, Sustainability & Compliance:

  • Ensure the factory complies with health, safety, and environmental regulations.
  • Lead a culture of safety through training, audits, and incident management.
  • Drive sustainability efforts to reduce waste, energy, and water usage while working toward eco-friendly certifications.

 Leadership & Employee Development:

  • Build and foster a high-performance culture through effective leadership and talent management strategies.
  • Implement leadership programs that enhance skills, drive engagement, and support career development for middle management and team members.
  • Encourage cross-functional collaboration and continuous learning to enhance productivity and innovation.

Commercial Collaboration:

  • Work with the Commercial team to align operations with sales, customer management, and market demands.
  • Use customer feedback to drive operational adjustments and enhance satisfaction.
  • Partner with the Commercial team to introduce certifications that open new market opportunities.

Strategic Planning, Reporting & Innovation:

  • Align operational goals with the company’s long-term strategy.
  • Provide regular performance reports on KPIs, operational improvements, and department progress.
  • Support new product development and process optimization for value-added coconut products.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

  • Operational Efficiency: Production and labor efficiency, and machine uptime.
  • Quality Control: Product defect rate, customer returns, and certification compliance.
  • Financial Performance: EBITDA, gross profit margin, and revenue growth.
  • Supply Chain and Logistics: On-time delivery, transportation costs, and raw material sourcing.
  • Cost Management: Cost per unit, material waste, energy consumption.
  • Health & Safety: Incident rate and successful compliance audits.
  • Employee Development: Retention rate and training hours per employee.
  • Sustainability: Waste reduction, energy consumption, and water use.

Ideal Education and Work Experience:

Education:

  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Manufacturing, or related fields.
  • Master’s Degree (preferred): MBA with a focus on Operations or Supply Chain, or Master's in Supply Chain or Operations Management, or Master of Food Science.
  • Certifications (optional): Six Sigma (Black/Green Belt), Lean Manufacturing, CSCP, PMP, ISO certifications, Health & Safety certifications (e.g., OSHA).

Work Experience:

  • 8-10 years in operations management, with at least 5 years in senior leadership roles (Operations Manager, Head of Operations, Manufacturing Manager, Supply Chain Director).
  • Experience in Supply Chain Management, Manufacturing/Production Operations, Quality Control, Maintenance Management, and Cost Control.
  • Proven track record in leading cross-functional teams, managing large-scale operations, and collaborating with commercial teams.
  • Strong background in health, safety, and compliance regulations, sustainability initiatives, and financial budgeting.
  • Industry experience in manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, or FMCG is ideal.

Key Skills:

  • Strategic thinking, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills.
  • Strong analytical, project management, and leadership abilities.
  • Expertise in financial acumen, cost control, and operational improvements.

Method of Application

Interested candidates should send their cover letter and CV by March 24, 2025 to jobs@kentaste.com , mentioning “COO Application” in the subject line.

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