PLANT OPERATIONS HEAD

Job Description : PLANT OPERATIONS HEAD FRENCH WEST AFRICA This is a leadership role managing end-to-end cotton operations from farmer engagement and procurement to ginning, quality, and exports. The role involves full P&L ownership, strong stakeholder management, and leading diverse teams to drive business growth and operational excellence. Key Responsibilities : Strategic & Business Leadership : - Define and execute business strategy for the cotton profit center - Drive farmer engagement to improve yield and sourcing efficiency - Manage key stakeholders across regulatory, industry, and trading ecosystems - Collaborate with trading teams to optimize pricing and sales Operational Management : - Oversee sourcing, ginning (processing), and export operations - Ensure achievement of budgeted targets (volumes, margins, costs, profitability) - Manage risk, including basic use of hedging tools (futures & options) - Ensure accurate execution from procurement to final sales booking Commercial & Financial Ownership : - Own and drive P&L, including margins, working capital, and cost optimization - Ensure alignment between operations, shipments, and financial outcomes Team & Organizational Leadership : - Lead, mentor, and develop high-performing teams - Build a strong, safety-first, performance-driven culture Governance & Compliance : - Ensure adherence to legal, regulatory, and ESG frameworks - Act as the face of the business in a complex regulatory environment Role Focus Areas : 60% - Core Operations : - Procurement & supplier management - Plant / ginning operations efficiency - Commercial performance & profitability - End-to-end supply chain management 40% - Support Functions : - Financial planning, MIS, and cost control - HR leadership and culture building - Governance, compliance, and safety Requirements : - 15-20+ years of leadership experience in manufacturing / processing / plant-led businesses - Proven P&L ownership and cross-functional leadership (operations, finance, HR) - Strong strategic, commercial, and execution capabilities - Experience in scaling operations and improving margins - Engineering / Operations background; MBA preferred - Willingness to travel extensively - Fluency in English and French

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