General Manager, Operations

Key Responsibilities:

Operational leadership and escalation management

• Own the daily operational cadence of the company across all functions under your remit
• Establish and maintain a clear escalation protocol: resolve what you can, escalate only what requires MD judgment, and never relay without analysis
• Hold weekly operational reviews with all department heads; produce a consolidated summary for the MD every week without being chased
• Be the first point of contact for all operational issues from HR, production, QA, logistics, and FMCG — and the filter that protects MD bandwidth

Systems, SOPs and workflow discipline

• Lead the development, documentation, and enforcement of SOPs across all core operational processes, starting with procurement intake, production and packaging, sales order to cash, HR onboarding and exit, and petty cash and budget management
• Own the company's ERP system — including user discipline, data integrity, process adherence, and continuous improvement
• Build and maintain a workflow discipline culture where processes are followed consistently, deviations are flagged, and improvements are documented
• Ensure all operational documentation is current, accessible, and understood by the relevant teams

People and team performance

• Directly line-manage all operational department heads; set clear expectations, hold regular one-to-ones, and manage performance formally where needed
• Work with HR to ensure payroll accuracy, appraisal cycles, and staff welfare processes run on time and without MD involvement
• Identify and develop high-potential team members; flag capability gaps early and propose solutions before they become crises
• Maintain and improve staff morale — monitor it actively, take it seriously, and take action when it deteriorates

Quality, compliance and certifications

• Ensure the company's quality assurance and food safety standards are maintained across production and Akoma processing
• Work with the QA and Sustainability teams to progress certifications — IFS, Halal, Organic, and others on the roadmap — through the operational requirements each demands
• Maintain awareness of relevant regulatory requirements (FDA, EPA, TCDA, GSA) and ensure operational compliance without waiting for external prompts

Logistics, warehousing and production oversight

• Oversee all logistics and warehousing operations — inbound commodity intake, storage, outbound dispatch, and transport coordination
• Ensure the Akoma production line runs to schedule, with the right inputs, the right quality controls, and accurate output records
• Identify and implement operational efficiencies in logistics, production, and procurement support — track and report savings

FMCG and Akoma commercial operations

• Oversee the Akoma Key Accounts function, ensuring sales targets are tracked, credit terms are enforced, and receivables are collected on time
• Work with the sales team on route-to-market strategy, channel expansion, and distribution discipline
• Ensure Akoma production, packaging, and sales operations work as a coordinated unit with no gaps in accountability

What We Are Looking For

Non-negotiable requirements

• Minimum 7 years of operational management experience, with at least 3 years managing multiple departments simultaneously
• Demonstrable experience building or overhauling operational systems — SOP development, ERP implementation, or ISO/quality standard preparation
• Experience in agro-processing, FMCG, food manufacturing, logistics, or a directly related industry
• Proven ability to manage and lead diverse teams including blue-collar production staff and white-collar department heads
• Degree in Operations Management, Business Administration, Food Science, Supply Chain, or a related discipline

Strongly preferred

• Familiarity with quality management languages — ISO 22000, HACCP, IFS, or equivalent
• Hands-on experience with ERP systems and the discipline to enforce their use across an organisation
• Knowledge of Ghana's regulatory environment for food and agricultural products — FDA, EPA, TCDA, GSA
• Experience working in a founder-led or entrepreneurial business where structures are being built rather than inherited
• Exposure to export documentation, warehousing standards, and commodity trade operations

The person

• A systems thinker who does not manage by feel — you build processes, document them, and hold people to them
• Mature enough to tell a department head no without needing the MD to back you up, and wise enough to know when to escalate
• A strong communicator who can translate operational complexity into clear weekly summaries for the MD and the board
• Someone who improves what they inherit — you will not find comfort in the status quo; you will find it in making things better
• Commercially aware — you understand that operational decisions have financial consequences, and you factor that in
• High personal accountability — you own your results, your team's results, and the problems that land in your domain

Compensation Structure

• Base salary + performance bonus
• The compensation package consists of a competitive base salary commensurate with experience, plus a confirmed performance bonus payable at the end of the 90-day probation period, contingent on achievement of the five milestones above.
• The bonus amount and base salary will be discussed and agreed individually. Candidates are encouraged to declare their expectations clearly — we will be direct in return.
• Additional benefits include statutory entitlements under Ghanaian labour law, business phone, and travel reimbursement for field visits.
• Further benefits will be discussed at offer stage.

Location: Accra, Ghana — with periodic travel to field operations and procurement sites