Plant Director (expatriate)

Job Introduction

Adexen has been mandated by a leading international industrial Group operating in the cement manufacturing sector to recruit an experienced expatriate Plant Director for its operations in Ethiopia.

Responsibilities

• The Plant Director will assume full responsibility for the overall management and performance of the cement plant, ensuring safe, reliable, and cost-effective operations while leading multidisciplinary teams across production, maintenance, mining, engineering, logistics, and support functions.

• Reporting to senior executive leadership, the successful candidate will play a key role in implementing the Group’s operational strategy and strengthening plant performance in line with international standards and business objectives.

• Operational & Industrial Leadership

• Provide overall leadership and strategic direction for all plant operations and support functions.

• Ensure the achievement of production, quality, cost, and efficiency targets across the facility.

• Oversee all production-related activities including manufacturing, mining, maintenance, engineering, procurement, logistics, and distribution.

• Drive continuous improvement initiatives and industrial excellence programs throughout the plant.

• Ensure optimal utilization of plant assets, equipment, energy, fuels, and raw materials.

• Monitor plant performance through KPIs, benchmarking tools, and predefined Group standards.

• Align production planning with sales forecasts and market demand requirements.

• Lead process optimization initiatives to improve reliability, productivity, and operational efficiency.

• Provide leadership and oversight on all critical technical and operational matters.

• Health, Safety & Compliance

• Promote and maintain a strong HSE culture across all operations.

• Ensure compliance with Group policies, local regulations, and international industrial standards.

• Drive continuous improvement in safety and environmental performance.

• Financial & Strategic Management

• Prepare and manage annual operating and capital expenditure budgets.

• Ensure rigorous financial control and efficient allocation of resources.

• Monitor plant profitability and implement corrective measures where necessary.

• Support the execution of the Group’s long-term industrial and operational strategy.

• Leadership & People Management

• Lead, coach, and develop large multicultural teams within a demanding industrial environment.

• Foster a performance-driven and accountability-focused culture.

• Oversee succession planning, workforce development, training initiatives, and employee engagement.

• Manage labour relations and ensure effective communication across the organization.

• Customer & Stakeholder Orientation

• Support the development of a customer-focused operational culture.

• Ensure production and delivery performance consistently meets customer expectations and business requirements.

• Desired Skills and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering or related technical discipline.

• MBA or postgraduate qualification is considered an advantage.

• Minimum 20 years of industrial experience, including at least 10 years in senior leadership roles within large-scale heavy industrial manufacturing environments.

• Strong experience managing integrated cement plants or comparable process manufacturing operations.

• Previous exposure to emerging markets and/or African operations is highly desirable.

• Solid expertise in:

• Cement manufacturing operations

• Maintenance & reliability

• Process optimization

• Industrial performance management

• HSE management

• Supply chain & logistics

• Financial and operational planning

• Strong strategic thinking and business acumen.

• Proven leadership capabilities in multicultural and complex operational environments.

• Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and decision-making skills.

• Demonstrated ability to lead operational transformation and performance improvement initiatives.

• We thank all applicants for their interest. However, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

• We thank all applicants however only those selected will be contacted.

• Industry

• Industry & Manufacturing

• Job Seniority

• Director

• Job Category

• Engineering and Production

• Employment Type

• Full time

Experience

• 15 - 20 years

Remuneration

180 000 usd

Skills

• Production Management, Operations Management