Group Director of Business Operations - East Africa

About the role

A diversified regional business group with operations in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and other East African markets is looking for a Group Director of Business Operations, based in Nairobi and reporting to the Group CEO. The role strengthens the group's operating model, improves performance across its businesses and coordinates subsidiaries so that group strategy delivers measurable results. It does not replace country managing directors but sets the standards, visibility and execution discipline needed for effective group coordination. Direct reports include Country Managers, the Operational Excellence Lead and the Regional Shared Services Lead.

Key responsibilities

• Design and maintain a group-wide operating model, define roles and responsibilities and set common operating standards.
• Set up a consistent performance-management framework, dashboards and regular performance reviews, and drive corrective action plans.
• Lead operational excellence and continuous improvement, including process redesign, procurement, inventory, logistics and distribution.
• Translate group strategy into cross-business initiatives, track progress and report to the CEO and executive leadership.
• Support country leaders, share best practices across markets and resolve cross-border operational dependencies.
• Drive cost optimisation, evaluate shared services and centralised support, and build business cases for efficiency investments.
• Integrate shared services with HR, Finance, IT, Procurement and Legal, and strengthen risk, controls and resilience.
• Work with Technology teams to improve reporting, automate processes and improve data quality.
• Build operational capability among country leaders, coach on performance management and run change management for major transformations.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Operations Management, Engineering, Economics, Finance or a related field; MBA or postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• At least 12 years of progressive professional experience, including at least five years in senior operations, transformation, general management or regional leadership.
• Experience across multiple business units, subsidiaries or countries, and across East African markets is highly desirable.
• Experience in logistics, distribution, manufacturing or business services is advantageous.

Required skills

• Understanding of operational KPIs, financial performance and process improvement.
• Experience managing complex, cross-functional transformation programmes.
• Ability to influence senior leaders without undermining their authority.
• Experience developing executive dashboards and management-reporting frameworks.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, and excellent communication, negotiation and stakeholder-management skills.