Head of Technology (Manufacturing)

About the role

Safal Group is looking for a Head of Technology in Nairobi to lead its technology and digital agenda and improve manufacturing performance, business efficiency, resilience and growth. The role owns enterprise technology strategy, digital transformation, cybersecurity, data and analytics, enterprise applications, infrastructure and the integration of IT and operational technology across manufacturing sites. It carries bottom-line accountability: the holder owns the economic return on the Group's technology investment and is measured on a verified, sustained contribution to EBITDA, cost competitiveness, working capital and return on capital.

Key responsibilities

• Own the technology P&L, Opex and Capex budgets and deliver a defined annual EBITDA contribution through cost reduction, productivity, margin improvement and revenue enablement.
• Develop and execute the technology roadmap, set architecture, standards, policies and investment priorities, and anchor every investment in a quantified business case.
• Lead automation, smart factory and Industry 4.0 initiatives that improve OEE, yield, uptime, energy efficiency and conversion cost per unit.
• Own and optimise ERP, MES, CRM, HRIS, supply chain and finance platforms, simplifying the application landscape and strengthening integration and adoption.
• Establish data governance and a single source of truth, and deliver dashboards, advanced analytics and practical AI use cases.
• Protect information and operational technology assets, overseeing cyber risk, privacy, business continuity, disaster recovery and security awareness.
• Ensure secure, reliable and cost-effective networks, cloud and workplace technology across all locations.
• Allocate capital using stage-gate investment governance (NPV, IRR, payback), run post-investment reviews, rationalise applications and renegotiate contracts.
• Build a capable technology team, strengthen digital capability across the business and foster collaboration between Technology, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, Commercial and Corporate functions.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in information technology, computer science, engineering or a related field; postgraduate qualifications are advantageous.
• Progressive technology experience, including senior leadership in a manufacturing or similar multi-site, asset-intensive environment.
• Strongly preferred: experience running a business or large department with direct P&L accountability.
• Proven delivery of enterprise systems, digital transformation, cybersecurity and modernisation programmes with quantified financial outcomes.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams, major vendors, significant Opex and Capex budgets and organisational change across sites or countries.
• Strong commercial and financial literacy, including business case development, NPV/IRR, total cost of ownership and benefits tracking.