Operations Manager

Consumers increasingly demand to know whether the brands they trust are genuinely sustainableproduced under fair social economic and environmental practices. While global corporations have set ambitious commitments to reach 100% sustainable sourcing traditional certification approaches frequently fail smallholder farmers who are too remote small or informally organized to participate.

Employ Global has been retained by a pioneering global non-profit organization dedicated to closing this gap. By combining field-level ground truth with scalable verification technology our client builds rigorous transparent sourcing solutions tailored specifically for underserved smallholder agricultural supply chains (with a strong initial focus on smallholder coffee). Their verification platform enables multinational brands to meet their sustainability targets by directing investments to the farmers and regions where impact is needed most.

We are seeking a dynamic strategic Head of Africa to join our clients global leadership team and oversee regional operations across the continent.

In this pivotal executive role you will take ownership of operational excellence across multiple African countries drive the deployment and adoption of new data tools and operational products manage cross-functional teams and cultivate trusted relationships with key supply chain stakeholders and local authorities.

• Scale Regional Operations: Direct and ensure seamless high-quality operations across all African countries of operation.
• Standardization & Optimization: Develop implement and standardize operating procedures (SOPs) across markets to ensure global consistency scalability and cost efficiency.
• Product Deployment: Lead the rollout and successful operational adoption of new systems data products and digital verification tools across diverse field teams.

• Cross-Functional Leadership: Provide strategic direction and line management for regional teams across operations project delivery and business functions.
• Specialized Operational Oversight: Lead the Machine Labeling Operations team managing performance standards workflows and operational budgets.
• Client Deliverable Execution: Oversee regional teams responsible for client-facing deliverables including country-level data summaries risk analyses and annual reporting.
• Resource & Budget Management: Manage regional budgets staffing plans contract reviews and resource allocations with strict financial accountability.

• Supply Chain Collaboration: Build and maintain critical relationships with core supply chain partners trade bodies and field implementation networks.
• External Representation: Serve as a trusted representative to external stakeholders regional authorities industry bodies and corporate partners to promote organizational standards and mission.

• 8 Years in Operations Management: Proven experience driving complex operational workflows with at least 3 years in a senior executive role managing multi-country or multi-team environments.
• Sector Knowledge: Background in coffee agriculture sustainable supply chains or verification/certification sectors is strongly preferred.
• Multi-Country African Expertise: Direct operational experience across multiple African markets supported by deep cultural fluency and regional context.
• Change Management & Process Optimization: Demonstrated ability to standardize workflows drive efficiency and introduce new technology or operational frameworks across geographically dispersed teams.
• Financial & Budgetary Acumen: Direct experience managing regional operational budgets and P&L structures.
• Technical Familiarity: Understanding of survey methodologies field data collection quality assurance (QA) frameworks or machine-assisted labeling workflows is a plus.

• Communication & Representation: Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to negotiate present and represent the organization to senior corporate and government stakeholders.
• Languages: Fluency in English is required. Working proficiency or fluency in French Portuguese Swahili or other regionally key languages is highly desirable.
• Education: Bachelors degree required; an advanced degree (Masters/MBA) in Business Administration International Development Agriculture or Sustainability is preferred.
• Travel: Willingness to travel regionally across Africa and internationally as needed (approx. 10%20%).

• Meaningful Impact: Lead operations for an organization driving tangible social and economic improvements for smallholder farming communities.
• Global Scale: Work alongside a diverse world-class team of technologists operational experts and sustainability leaders.
• Competitive Compensation: A globally competitive executive package commensurate with experience and market standards.

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