Head of Operations

Posted Yesterday
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Lagos, Lagos Island, Lagos, NGA
In-Office
Expert/Leader
Professional Services • Consulting
The Role
Leads end-to-end operations spanning order fulfilment, warehousing, logistics, fleet, production startup, manufacturing execution, vendor management, compliance, cost control, and team leadership. Owns operational KPIs, inventory accuracy, delivery performance, production readiness, plant commissioning, safety, quality systems, and working-capital efficiency. Coordinates cross-functional teams and external partners while building scalable SOPs, performance routines, and operational discipline across company sites and distribution channels.
Summary Generated by Built In
Customer Order Fulfilment & Delivery Execution
• Own the complete Order-to-Delivery process from validated sales order and finance clearance through stock allocation, picking, loading, transport, customer delivery, Proof of Delivery (POD) and ERP closure.
• Maintain a daily delivery control tower: pending orders, ageing, delivery priority, transport capacity, exceptions and customer-impact risks; every open order must have a named owner and next action.
• Coordinate Sales, Finance, Warehouse and Transport so that delivery promises are realistic, capacity-based and executed without unnecessary escalation to the Managing Director.
• Establish service standards and escalation rules for urgent orders, shortages, failed deliveries, damaged goods and customer complaints.
• Drive OTIF (On Time, In Full), order lead time, failed-delivery rate and POD closure as core service KPIs.
Warehouse & Stock Management
• Own inbound processes (offloading of customs-cleared/imported containers, intake inspection and goods-received recording) and outbound processes (order picking, dispatch, loading and delivery documentation) across all warehouse and distribution sites.
• Implement disciplined stock control: FIFO/FEFO, cycle counts, periodic audits and reconciliations; actively reduce sleeping stock, damages, losses and shrinkage.
• Apply feed-specific storage discipline: moisture and pest/rodent control, weevils contamination and mycotoxin prevention, correct stacking/palletisation, segregation, and complete batch/lot traceability.
• Maintain audit-ready GRNs, waybills, stock ledgers and ERP records; investigate and close every material physical-vs-system variance.
• Enforce hygiene, safety, security, fire-safety and restricted-access standards across storage locations.

Logistics, Transport & Fleet Management
• Plan and control all inland movement of goods: port-to-warehouse, warehouse-towarehouse, supplier-to-warehouse and warehouse-to-customer, across intra-state and interstate routes.
• Build and sustain a high-reach network of reliable local carriers and owner-drivers for the company's frequent small-to-mid consignments, including 1 tonne (40 bags) and below; vet, negotiate rates and maintain a pre-qualified vendor pool.
• Design cost-efficient routing, load consolidation and multi-drop plans; reduce empty return legs and unnecessary dedicated trips.
• Own company fleet performance: preventive/corrective maintenance, fuel control, driver scheduling and performance, tracking, vehicle utilisation, roadworthiness and GIT riskmanagement requirements.
• Maintain contingency plans for checkpoint delays, transport-union dynamics, road/flood disruption, security risks and driver welfare.
• Track OTIF, cost per tonne/delivery, cost per km, fleet utilisation, breakdown frequency and turnaround time.
Production & Industrial Operations
• Take operational leadership of the company's transition into local production from the outset: project execution, commissioning readiness, SOPs, staffing, shift organisation, production planning and disciplined plant start-up.
• Lead, with the Managing Director and relevant technical partners, plant-layout and machinery implementation, capacity planning, installation/commissioning follow-up and operational acceptance of new production equipment.
• Own day-to-day production execution once production starts: raw-material intake, batching, process adherence, milling/mixing/pelleting/bagging where applicable, finishedgoods release workflow, downtime control, yield and waste management.
• Build the production management system around 5S / Lean / Kaizen, preventive maintenance, production scheduling, daily performance boards, root-cause analysis and CAPA.
• Ensure that production strictly follows approved formulations, specifications and QA/QC release procedures. Formulation ownership and nutritional/technical authority remain with our/Mg2mix Technical/R&D and designated QA/Regulatory functions.
• Manage toll/contract millers and manufacturing partners during the transition to in-house production, with clear specifications, service levels, yields, traceability and quality controls.
• Develop Solomon and other existing operational staff as execution leaders within the new system. Solomon may retain a Production / Operations Supervisor or Coordinator role, reporting to the HOO; the HOO remains accountable for methodology, planning, people management, KPI discipline and final operational performance.
Performance, Cost & WorkingCapital Management
• Design and drive the annual operations plan across warehousing, delivery, logistics, fleet and production, aligned with company growth objectives and approved budgets.
• Own a weekly and monthly operations KPI dashboard and hold structured performance reviews with clear corrective actions, owners and deadlines.
• Lead cost optimisation across transport, fleet, warehousing, handling, production inputs and third-party services without compromising quality, safety or customer service.
• Treat inventory as cash: actively manage inventory days, stock rotation, ageing/sleeping stock, damages/losses, stock variances and working capital tied up in operations.
• Maintain full command of the ERP/inventory system and enforce data integrity across the operations function.
• Core cost KPIs include logistics cost as % of sales, cost per delivered tonne, fleet cost/km, production conversion cost, yield/waste, inventory days and shrinkage
Team Leadership & Operational Discipline
• Lead the operations organisation across warehouses, stock control, transport/fleet, drivers, production and handling/support teams; set objectives, coach, evaluate and manage performance.
• Create clear role ownership, SOPs, delegation rules, handovers, daily/weekly routines and escalation protocols so routine operational decisions do not depend on the Managing Director.
• Build a strong field-management culture: visible presence on sites, disciplined follow-up, facts before assumptions, rapid problem resolution and closure of actions.
• Implement structured training, safety routines and succession plans; upgrade or reorganise roles where capability does not meet the company’s growth needs.
• Coordinate closely with Finance, Import/Procurement, Sales, HR and Technical/QA while remaining the primary owner of operational execution.
Vendor, Supplier & Stakeholder Management
• Identify, KYC-vet, onboard and continuously evaluate transporters, warehouses, service providers and operational/production suppliers.
• Negotiate commercial agreements and SLAs protecting cost, quality, reliability, lead time and liability.
• Maintain vendor scorecards and alternative suppliers so operations are not dependent on a single provider.
• Represent the company with transport/logistics associations, manufacturing partners and other operational stakeholders as required.
Operational Compliance, Safety & Quality Systems
• Ensure day-to-day operational compliance with applicable requirements affecting warehousing, transport, vehicles, production, environmental health and product handling.
• Work with the designated Regulatory/Technical/QA owners on NAFDAC, SON, Ministry of Agriculture/Livestock, NAQS, NESREA, Customs, FRSC/VIO and relevant state/local requirements; the HOO is responsible for operational implementation and readiness, not for acting as the company’s sole regulatory specialist.
• Build operations toward recognised feed-safety and manufacturing disciplines including GMP, HACCP-aligned practice and, as required, ISO 22000 / GMP+ / FAMI-QS frameworks.
• Ensure incident reporting, corrective action, emergency preparedness, workplace safety and product traceability are embedded in all sites.

Requirements
• Bachelor’s degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Agribusiness, Food Science/Technology, Industrial/Production Engineering or a related field. A Master’s degree or relevant professional certification (CIPS, CILT, APICS/CPIM, Lean Six Sigma) is an advantage.
• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive experience in operations, logistics, warehousing and/or production management, including at least 4–5 years in a senior managerial role with direct team responsibility.
• Demonstrable experience in animal feed, agro-processing, milling, FMCG, food manufacturing or agribusiness is strongly preferred.
• Proven hands-on experience managing Nigerian inland logistics and a credible network of local transport providers, including small-consignment deliveries.
• Direct exposure to industrial production, milling, plant commissioning, operational startup or scaling a manufacturing facility is a major differentiator.
• Experience managing at least 15–30 operational staff, with evidence of building discipline, systems and middle-management capability.
• Working knowledge of the Nigerian operational regulatory environment; sufficient to ensure compliance execution while partnering effectively with specialised regulatory/technical owners.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel extensively across company sites, production/toll-milling facilities and partner locations.

Skills Required

  • Bachelor's degree in Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Agribusiness, Food Science or Technology, Industrial or Production Engineering, or a related field.
  • Minimum 8-10 years of progressive experience in operations, logistics, warehousing, and/or production management.
  • At least 4-5 years of experience in a senior managerial role with direct team responsibility.
  • Experience in animal feed, agro-processing, milling, FMCG, food manufacturing, or agribusiness.
  • Hands-on experience managing Nigerian inland logistics and a network of local transport providers, including small-consignment deliveries.
  • Experience with industrial production, milling, plant commissioning, operational startup, or manufacturing-facility scaling.
  • Experience managing at least 15-30 operational staff and developing middle-management capability.
  • Working knowledge of the Nigerian operational regulatory environment.
  • Valid driver's licence.
  • Willingness to travel extensively across company sites, production and toll-milling facilities, and partner locations.
  • Master's degree or relevant professional certification such as CIPS, CILT, APICS/CPIM, or Lean Six Sigma.
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The Company
HQ: Lagos
Year Founded: 2012

What We Do

eRecruiter Nigeria is a recruitment consultancy that helps employers find candidates by offering services in talent acquisition, recruitment, outsourcing, and payroll, aiming to reduce cost-per-hire.

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