Quick Summary
Sanivation has been working in East Africa for the past 9 years developing an innovative sanitation model to the meet the needs of local governments.
We develop and operate waste to value fecal sludge treatment plants (FSTP) that convert human waste into reuse products such as briquettes.
We are rapidly expanding our capacity of the operations of these facilities, 40x over the next 2 years (in 3 different cities across Kenya)
We are seeking a new role of Regional FSTP Operations Director to support the commissioning and operations of these facilities across all of our processing sites.
Role Overview
The FSTP operations lead will be based in Naivasha Kenya, and support site operations teams across all our FSTP operations. We currently have one site in Naivasha. A second site of similar size will be commissioned in late Q2 in Kakuma, then a third site will be commissioned at 20x capacity in Malindi in Q3, followed by the commissioning of our expansion site in Naivasha of 20x size in Q4 2023.
The ideal candidate will be someone who has at least 8 years in leadership of a multi-line manufacturing site and is now ready advance into leading operations across multiple sites. This candidate will need to possess a deep understanding of manufacturing processes, team management, health and safety, data management, risk management and ultimately how to drive to more profitable operations.
This candidate will need to show experience in setting up manufacturing facilities from greenfield or brownfield and helping them scale to full capacity. This role will report directly to the COO and will have direct reports of site managers across our different plants. As a FSTP Operations Manager, this role will ensure the correct set up and continual operations of all our sites to ensure we hit targets on treatment quantities, production quantities, quality control, health and safety, and financial margins.
Locations: This role is to be based full-time in Naivasha, Kenya with expected travel up to 50% to other FSTP sites as they are commissioned in sites around Kenya.
Responsibilities
Operational excellence
- Develop and implement strategies to optimize manufacturing processes, reduce lead times, and enhance overall operational efficiency.
- Develop and ensure all systems and routines across all FSTP operational sites
- Identify and implement continuous improvement initiatives to streamline production workflows and minimize waste.
- Collaborate with the supply chain team to optimize inventory levels, reduce lead times, and enhance overall supply chain efficiency.
- Ensure health and safety culture and compliance across all operations
- Establish and maintain quality control measures to ensure the production of high-quality products that meet or exceed customer expectations.
- Analyze and address root causes of quality issues, implementing corrective and preventive actions as necessary
Performance Metrics and Reporting:
- Develop and monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to track and report on manufacturing performance.
- Develop and maintain site data management systems
- Oversee development of annual budgets, using regular financial reporting to improve operations. Own the P&Ls across all our FSTP operation sites
- Provide regular reports to management, identifying areas for improvement and presenting data-driven recommendations.
Team Leadership and Development:
- Ensure proper human talent structure, allocation, and development across FSTP operational sites
Provide guidance and mentorship to team members, promoting skill development and career growth
- Lead and inspire FSTP teams, specifically site leaders, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and accountability.
- Lead on the development of expansion operational FSTPs
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless integration of manufacturing operations with other business functions.
Experience Required
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Operations management or related field. Advanced degree (such as an MBA, MS) is a plus
- 8+ years’ experience of leadership in manufacturing sites in Kenya. 5 years supervising, and 2 years as a general manager or similar role (at a site with revenue of over $2M annually)
- Experience in running multi-shift and multi-line processing
- In-depth knowledge of manufacturing processes including lean manufacturing principles
- Experience in greenfield or brownfield startup
- Track record of identifying and executing process improvements with measurable success
