Chief of Staff

Responsibilities:

Plant Operations & Performance Governance:

• Own and implement the Friday Operations Dashboard (tracking Production, Waste %, OEE, Downtime, Sales, and Cash Flow), delivering executive reports to the Director every Friday by 5:00 PM without exception.
• Establish operational feasibility standards, 5S protocols, SOPs, and occupational safety governance across two-shift daily production runs to eliminate unscheduled downtime.
• Identify structural bottlenecks on the factory floor and lead process initiatives to improve cycle times, material usage efficiency, and plant capabilities.

Business Expansion & Market Execution:

• Lead regulatory filings, compliance, and product registration pathways with SON, DPR, NAFDAC, and relevant government agencies for industrial and marine coatings.
• Drive initial pilot projects and technical trial runs with enterprise paint buyers across Port Harcourt, Onne, and broader regional industrial hubs.
• Manage joint venture (JV) proposal follow-ups with international partner firms (India/China) and direct the execution of the first three commercial paint production runs.

Capability Building & Operational Optimization:

• Work directly with the Operations Manager to drive plant waste down to <3% and elevate Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) to >75%.
• Establish reusable operational frameworks, quality assurance workflows, and equipment maintenance schedules to ensure continuous production reliability.
• Support workforce restructuring by evaluating staff performance (A/B/C player mapping) in coordination with HR and enforcing accountability across all shifts.

Strategic Alignment & Executive Support:

• Chair all production, sales alignment, and cross-functional operational meetings, converting discussions into structured, trackable action items with zero dropped tasks.
• Research market dynamics, competitor actions, and raw material price shifts across the South-East and South-South geopolitical zones to identify cost-saving and expansion opportunities.
• Represent executive leadership in high-level offsite meetings in Port Harcourt, Lagos, and other commercial hubs with suppliers, regulators, and strategic partners.

Team Leadership & Stakeholder Management:

• Hold daily operational check-ins with the Operations Manager and Lead Marketer, maintaining high follow-through rigor and managing cross-functional execution challenges.
• Foster a factory-floor culture centered on discipline, operational precision, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• Handle sensitive executive matters, including payroll, financial reporting, and high-level disciplinary actions, with complete discretion and professional poise.

Core Competencies:

• Operational Turnaround & Factory Governance
• Plastic & Chemical Manufacturing Fundamentals (Injection/Blow Molding, Paint Processing)
• Advanced Data Analysis & Dashboarding (Excel/Google Sheets, Asana/Notion)
• OEE Optimization & Waste Reduction Management
• Regulatory Compliance & Agency Licensing (SON, DPR, NAFDAC)
• Workforce Evaluation & Restructuring Execution
• Strategic Sourcing & JV Partner Management
• Cross-Functional Leadership & High-EQ Floor Command

Requirements:

• Bachelor's Degree or HND in Engineering, Applied Sciences, Business Administration, or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 4 years of hands-on operations or plant management experience within plastic manufacturing, paint processing, FMCG, or packaging environments (non-negotiable).
• Proven track record in reading production logs, analyzing machine utilization, reducing scrap rates, and enforcing strict SOPs on a multi-shift factory floor.
• Strong hands-on experience in building operational dashboards, tracking plant KPIs, and managing complex multi-department action plans.
• Demonstrated executive presentation skills, commanding leadership presence on the factory floor, high emotional intelligence, and the ability to hold tough performance management conversations.
• Must currently reside in Aba, Abia State, or be prepared to relocate immediately.

Performance Target:

• OEE Benchmarks: Achieve >60% OEE within 90 days and >75% OEE within 6 months.
• Dashboard Discipline: 100% on-time submission of the Friday Operations Dashboard by 5:00 PM (Zero misses).
• Waste Control: Reduce material waste from current baseline to <3% within 6 months.
• Paint Launch Timelines: Complete SON/DPR filings within 60 days; secure initial JV pilot within 90 days.
• Task Completion: Maintain a 100% closure rate on assigned action items across all plant units.