Plant Director/ General Manager

JOB TITLE: Plant Director / General Manager (Integrated Industrial Plant)
COMPANY: HemEco Renewable Solutions Ltd
ENTITY: Role sits within HemEco Geopolymer Cement Industrial Platform Ltd (a division of HemEco Renewable Solutions Ltd)
LOCATION: Isuikwuato, Abia State, Nigeria
JOB TYPE: Full-Time
ABOUT HEMECO
HemEco is building an integrated industrial platform that combines Waste-to-Energy, geopolymer cement production, activator production, and ready-mix concrete operations. We are assembling a lean, high-discipline leadership team capable of taking Phase-1 from installation readiness through commissioning, start-up, and stable operations.
ROLE PURPOSE
The Plant Director / General Manager is the accountable operational head for the integrated plant. You will lead commissioning readiness, start-up execution, and steady-state performance across multiple lines and departments—ensuring safety, compliance, reliability, quality, cost control, and strong management discipline from Day-1.
This role requires senior authority and maturity—someone who has led complex industrial operations, managed multiple departments, and can build systems, routines, and a high-performance culture.
CANDIDATE ELIGIBILITY
Open to qualified candidates globally (Nigeria + international). Must be fluent in English.
International relocation support available for exceptional candidates.
REPORTING LINE & INTERFACES
Reports to: Founder/CEO
Direct Reports (Core Management Team)
- Waste-to-Energy O&M Manager (Commissioning & Start-up)
- Head of Process, Quality & Materials (Geopolymer + Activator)
- Production Manager – Cement + Ready-Mix (Local)
- EIC Manager – Electrical, Instrumentation & Control
- Maintenance & Reliability Manager
- HSE/ESG Manager
- Commercial Manager (incl. contracts administration)
- Finance Manager
- HR/Admin Manager
- Fleet & Logistics Manager
- Mine Interface & Feedstock Assurance Manager
Key Interfaces
- OEMs / EPC / installation and commissioning specialists
- Regulators and statutory compliance agencies
- Host-community interface structures
- Logistics partners and distributors (as offtake ramps up)
SCOPE (WHAT YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR)
You own plant-wide operational performance across:
- Waste-to-Energy operations and compliance discipline
- Geopolymer cement production (24/7 operations)
- Activator production (day-shift at start; scalable)
- Ready-mix concrete production (day operations)
- Utilities and power distribution governance
- Maintenance & reliability performance
- Plant HSE/ESG and compliance discipline
- Shift governance and manpower discipline
- Documentation culture, reporting, and operational control systems
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
A) Installation Readiness & Commissioning Governance (Pre-start)
- Establish plant-wide readiness governance: systems handover structure, punchlist discipline, commissioning sequencing, and critical path controls.
- Set up management routines: daily ops meeting cadence, weekly performance reviews, incident/escalation protocols, and decision logs.
- Ensure each department completes operational readiness packs:
• SOPs and work instructions
• shift handover templates and logbooks
• training matrix and competence checks
• maintenance strategy (PM program, critical spares list, lubrication routes)
• safety systems (PTW/LOTO, confined space, hot work, isolation registers)
- Ensure interfaces are engineered into execution: utilities tie-ins, power distribution, instrumentation readiness, sampling points, access for maintenance, and safe operating zones.
- Lead readiness audits and sign-off gates with clear acceptance criteria.
B) Start-Up & Stabilisation (First fire / first production / first dispatch)
- Lead integrated start-up across Waste-to-Energy, cement, activator, and ready-mix operations, ensuring interdependencies are managed and operations are stable.
- Drive disciplined start-up: shift schedules, control room discipline, operational logs, compliance reporting, and deviation management.
- Ensure product and process stabilisation:
• cement consistency and QA discipline
• activator chemistry control and safe handling
• ready-mix operational discipline (mix design control, dispatch reliability)
- Drive reliability from Day-1: eliminate repeat failures, enforce root cause analysis, ensure corrective actions are closed and preventive measures implemented.
C) Steady-State Operations & Performance Management
- Own performance delivery across:
• Safety: TRIR reduction, safe work compliance, incident prevention
• Reliability: availability, MTBF/MTTR improvement, downtime reduction
• Quality: product conformance, low variance, strong release discipline
• Cost control: consumables control, spares governance, waste reduction
• Compliance: emissions/environment discipline; statutory governance
- Implement a plant-wide KPI dashboard and routines:
• daily shift reports and operating logs
• weekly performance reviews by department
• monthly compliance and audit reviews
• quarterly capability development plan updates
D) People Leadership & Culture
- Build a strong, disciplined leadership culture: clear accountability, transparent reporting, firm standards, and coaching.
- Develop a “second line” under each manager (supervisors and leads) through structured training and delegation.
- Enforce workforce discipline: time & attendance, crew-based accountability, and clear escalation paths.
- Uphold integrity and confidentiality in all operational, commercial, and HR matters.
HSE / ESG / COMPLIANCE OBLIGATIONS
- Champion a zero-compromise safety culture and ensure PTW/LOTO discipline is real and enforced.
- Ensure environmental compliance is operationally embedded, not only paperwork:
• emissions compliance governance and reporting discipline
• safe residue handling and tracking
• water/effluent discipline and housekeeping standards
- Support ESG discipline suitable for lender/investor diligence:
• incident reporting and corrective action logs
• training records and competence tracking
• stakeholder and community interface discipline
- Maintain carbon-aware operational thinking (without making it academic): strong data discipline, continuous improvement mindset, and readiness for ESG reporting.
SUCCESS METRICS (FIRST 12 MONTHS)
- Plant-wide readiness system operating (handover gates, punchlists, SOPs, training matrix, PM system).
- Safe start-up achieved with strong shift discipline and compliance routines.
- Stability achieved: measurable reduction in downtime and process variance.
- Reliable reporting culture: daily/weekly routines run without founder dependence.
- Strong team capability built: supervisors and leads trained; clear performance accountability.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS
Experience
- 15+ years in heavy industry operations, commissioning, or plant leadership.
- 8+ years in senior plant leadership (Plant Manager / Plant Head / Operations Director / GM).
- Demonstrated leadership across at least 5+ functional departments (e.g., Production, Maintenance, EIC, HSE, QA/QC, Utilities, Logistics).
- Strong advantage if you have operated or commissioned any of:
• Waste-to-Energy, thermal plants, industrial energy systems
• cement/concrete/minerals processing or chemicals
• complex industrial plants with strong compliance requirements
Technical & Management Capability
- Commissioning governance: mechanical completion, pre-commissioning, cold/hot commissioning structure, punchlist systems, handover gates.
- Performance systems: downtime categorisation, reliability discipline, RCA/CAPA mentality, KPI dashboards.
- Documentation discipline: SOPs, shift handovers, NCR/CAPA, audit readiness.
- Controls awareness: ability to manage SCADA/DCS/PLC-based operations through competent teams.
- Strong reporting and governance discipline: structured reviews, decision logs, action registers.
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (Mechanical/Electrical/Chemical/Process) or closely related discipline.
- MBA/MSc is an advantage but not mandatory if experience is exceptional.
Certifications (Preferred)
- NEBOSH/IOSH (or equivalent safety leadership)
- ISO management system awareness (9001/14001/45001)
- PMP/Prince2 (useful for commissioning governance)
DISQUALIFIERS / RED FLAGS
- Cannot clearly explain what you personally owned in commissioning/start-up and performance delivery.
- Weak safety leadership or casual compliance mindset.
- Inflated claims without verifiable plant specifics (capacity, technology, OEMs, results).
- Poor documentation culture or inability to run disciplined reporting routines.
COMPENSATION & BENEFITS (NO PAY FIGURES)
- Base pay + performance-linked bonus structure (earned).
- Fully furnished accommodation (company-arranged).
- Company vehicle + driver provided (Tier-1, Tier-2, and Supervisors), aligned to operational needs.
- Medical coverage (policy tier per company plan).
- Visa/work permit support where applicable.
- Paid leave (per company policy).
- Relocation support available for exceptional candidates (where applicable).
- Professional development support and training resources as required for the role.
HOW TO APPLY
Email CV to: admin@hemeco.com.ng
Email subject: Plant Director/GM – [Your Name]
Include:
1) CV
2) A plant leadership summary (MW/TPD/TPH, technology type if relevant, and number of departments managed)
3) Your earliest mobilization timeline
4) Two relevant project references (names and roles only)
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