General Manager

Job Description

The General Manager role will involve managing operations of Congolaise Industrielle des Bois, our fully owned subsidiary in Republic of Congo.  With 2.1 MN Ha of Sustainably Managed Forest, CIB is a leader in certified tropical forestry in Africa and is a market leader in supply of certified timber in Europe, UK and USA.

This is a well-rounded role in wood products industry with high potential.  Overall responsibilities include managing the supply chain from forest to export (harvesting, processing, sustainability & product certifications and shipments). The 1,250+ team is composed of expats, regional and national experts who require direction and leadership. The incumbent will have to deliver on these dimensions:

1. Strategic effectiveness (including key stakeholder management and industry leadership)
2. Operational effectiveness
3. Organizational effectiveness

This role will give the incumbent a unique opportunity to build his/her career in Olam. The role involves intensive team management for effective delivery on community engagement, annual harvesting plans, processing and export volumes. It also involves significant stakeholder management (both internal and external). Given the current origin and market trends, our leadership position and the regulatory environment in the country, the incumbent has significant headroom to influence not only Olam’s Wood Products business but also the future of the certified tropical timber trade from Africa.

Key Deliverables

• Strategic responsibility for arriving at the best-fit strategy for the profit-center
• Execute long term strategic expansion by leading large scale capex and opex projects
• Bottom line responsibilities: Completing the budgeted commitments on volumes, GC, overheads, interest and PAT.
• Develop and deliver wood products sustainability strategy with the objective of maintaining best in class industry certifications, achieving Olam purpose of thriving communities and regenerating the living world 
• Bring in innovation and a high level of engagement with all key stakeholders to build on the sustainability issues critical to this industry.
• Play the role of Olam Wood Products face in the complex regulatory environment. The incumbent must manage the complex regulatory and competitive environment, constantly keeping in touch with the important players to keep herself abreast of the latest in the sector.
• Passing the business through the books. Has to ensure that not just operations and productions, but also that shipments are made and sales are booked according to budget. Accountability ends not with M2M profitability but with the actual numbers generated by our accounts books and how they compare to our budgets.
• Development of manpower: Along with mentoring and career-pathing of the team members, the incumbent also must ensure that the career paths are perpetuated suitably down the staff-line.