COO

Job Description : COO WEST AFRICA Construction Equipment/ Heavy Earthmoving Machinery/ OEM The Chief Operating Officer (COO) will be responsible for providing strategic and operational leadership for the Company's business across West Africa, covering the sales, after-sales service, spare parts, workshop, equipment deployment, logistics, inventory, customer support and branch operations. The role will be responsible for translating the Company's strategic objectives into strong operational and commercial performance, ensuring sustainable revenue growth, profitability, customer satisfaction and operational excellence. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in the construction equipment/ heavy earthmoving machinery/mining equipment industry, preferably with an European OEM, authorized distributor or established heavy equipment dealership. The COO will work closely with European OEM principals to ensure adherence to OEM standards, product strategy, technical support, training, warranty requirements and business development objectives. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE The COO's primary objective will be to build a high-performance, profitable and customer-centric heavy-equipment operation across West Africa, increasing market share and equipment sales while developing a strong recurring spare-parts and after-sales service business. The successful candidate will be expected to transform the Company's operations into a well-structured, KPI-driven and scalable regional business, while strengthening relationships with European OEM principals and positioning the Company as a preferred machinery partner for major construction, infrastructure and mining customers across West Africa with direct emphasis on P&L ownership, OEM principal management, multi-country operations, sales, aftermarket and regional expansion. IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE 15-20+ years of overall professional experience with significant senior management exposure. • Minimum 8-10 years in construction equipment, earthmoving machinery, mining equipment or heavy equipment. • Experience with an OEM, authorized distributor, dealer or regional equipment group is strongly preferred. • Proven experience in managing sales + service + spare parts + operations. • Strong exposure to European/international OEMs and dealer-principal relationships. Proven P&L and multi-location / multi-country management experience. Strong commercial, negotiation and business-development skills. Experience in Africa/West Africa is highly desirable. Willingness to travel extensively across West Africa and internationally. SALARY ON OFFER USD 8,000 - 12,000 per month (Negotiable based on experience and qualifications) Function Operations / Business Management CAT KEY RESPONSIBILITIES 1. Strategic & Operational Leadership Reporting To Managing Director/ Board • Develop and execute the operational strategy aligned with business objectives. Lead day-to-day operations across West Africa and ensure coordination between all functions. Establish scalable systems, processes and controls. Drive a performance-oriented culture focused on growth, profitability, customer service and operational excellence. • Identify opportunities for expansion, new product lines, branches and partnerships. 2. Sales & Business Development • Lead machinery sales strategy for construction, infrastructure, mining, quarrying, road construction, agriculture and industrial customers. • Drive sales of new/used equipment and associated solutions. Develop relationships with major contractors, mining companies, government agencies and large fleet owners. • Monitor pipelines, tenders, quotations, order bookings and conversion ratios. Work on key-account strategies and improve market penetration. Identify emerging market opportunities and country-specific growth strategies. 3. After-Sales Service & Customer Support • Build a strong after-sales business covering service, maintenance, repairs, field support and technical assistance. •Ensure high equipment availability and minimum downtime. • Develop preventive maintenance and service-contract programs. • Monitor workshop productivity, technician utilization, response time and repair turnaround. • Establish field-service capabilities across major territories Resolve customer complaints and technical issues promptly and professionally. Spare Parts & Inventory Management Oversee spare-parts operation: forecasting, procurement, stocking, warehousing and distribution. • Maintain optimal stocking levels for critical components. • Improve parts availability and working capital. Monitor parts sales, margins, stock ageing and inventory turns. • Coordinate with OEMs on parts planning and supply-chain requirements. Develop regional parts distribution capabilities. 5. OEM/European Principal Management • Maintain strong relationships with European OEM principals • Ensure compliance with OEM standards, agreements and brand guidelines. Coordinate product launches, technical updates, warranty matters and training. Negotiate commercial terms and annual targets. Represent the Company at senior-level OEM meetings and international reviews 6. P&L & Financial Management • Overall responsibility for operational P&L performance. • Manage budgets, forecsats, CAPEX and working capital. Improve margins and control costs. • Ensure credit control and receivables management. Review major deals and commercial proposals. 7. Multi-Country /Branch Operations • Oversee branch operations across West Africa. Standardize SOPs and monitor branch profitability and customer satisfaction Coordinate HQ, branches, workshops, field teams and warehosues. Ensure effective utilization of resources and working capital. 8. Supply Chain & Logistics • Oversee importation, shipping, customs clearance and inland transportation. Optimize logistics costs and lead times. Coordinate machinery commissioning and delivery to customer sites. 9. People & Leadership • Lead and develop senior managers across all functions. Build high-performing teams and succession plans. • Promote a culture of safety, accountability and continuous improvement. 10. Systems, Processes & Performance Management Implement ERP, CRM, inventory and service-management systems. Track KPIs for equipment sales, parts, service, uptime, MTTR, first-time fix, inventory turns, customer satisfaction, receivables and branch profitability.

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