Plant Head

Plant Head (Recycling Division)

Position Title: Plant Head – Recycling Division

Location: East Africa

Reports To: Group CEO / Group COO

Supervises: Production Managers, Supervisors, Technical Engineers, Maintenance Team, Quality Team

Company Overview

One of Africa’s largest diversified manufacturing conglomerates, employing 5000 plus staff across diversified sectors of their business. The Recycling Division forms a cornerstone of the organisation’s sustainability mission. It operates advanced EREMA recycling lines, washing facilities, and Taiwan- and China-origin compounding & extrusion lines, converting post-consumer and post-industrial waste into high-quality PP and PE recycled granules.

With ongoing expansion of capacity and product portfolio, the organisation is seeking a Plant Head with strong technical acumen and proven leadership skills to drive operational excellence, innovation, and international competitiveness.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Production

• Lead and manage day-to-day operations of the recycling plant, including EREMA recycling, washing, extrusion, and compounding lines.
• Ensure optimal utilization of plant capacity and raw materials to achieve production targets.
• Develop and implement production schedules, preventive maintenance plans, and process controls.

Technical & Process Excellence

• Oversee recycling, extrusion, and compounding of PP & PE materials into recycled granules.
• Formulate and adjust compounding recipes, additives, and quality parameters based on customer/market requirements.
• Troubleshoot complex processing challenges, ensuring consistent product quality.
• Introduce international best practices for energy efficiency, yield improvement, and cost optimization.

Quality & Compliance

• Establish and monitor strict quality assurance systems to ensure recycled granules meet required specifications.
• Ensure compliance with environmental, health, and safety regulations.
• Maintain ISO / industry certifications and documentation.

Leadership & Team Development

• Lead a multi-disciplinary team of managers, engineers, and operators.
• Build technical capacity of local staff through structured training and mentoring.
• Promote a culture of safety, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Strategy & Growth

• Collaborate with senior management on capacity expansion projects, new product development, and market diversification.
• Evaluate new technologies, machinery, and process improvements.
• Support business development through technical inputs for local and export markets.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Production Efficiency: Output vs capacity utilization.
• Quality Performance: Percentage of batches meeting specs.
• Cost Control: Material yield, energy efficiency, and overhead control.
• Downtime Management: Machine uptime and preventive maintenance success.
• Team Development: Staff retention, skill enhancement, and training outcomes.
• Sustainability Impact: Reduction of waste, energy efficiency metrics.

Candidate Profile

• Experience: Minimum 10–15 years in plastics recycling/compounding, with at least 5 years in a plant leadership role.
• Technical Expertise: Strong hands-on experience with EREMA lines, washing lines, extrusion & compounding of PP/PE materials.
• Education: Degree/Diploma in Polymer Science, Chemical/Mechanical Engineering, or related field.
• Leadership Skills: Ability to manage large technical teams and align them with business objectives.
• Problem Solving: Strong analytical and troubleshooting skills in recycling processes.
• Global Exposure: Familiarity with international standards and best practices in recycling.

Package & Benefits

• Competitive base salary with performance-based incentives.
• Expat/local package: housing, transport, medical, and relocation support (for international hires).
• Professional development opportunities and exposure to large-scale international operations.
• A chance to create real social and environmental impact in one of Africa’s leading recycling operations.

Candidate Focus

• Senior Operations / Plant Heads currently running EREMA / washing / compounding lines.
• Candidates with proven track record in PP & PE recycling and compounding.
• Individuals open to international assignments, especially in Africa.

Additional Notes

• Position is based in EAST AFRICA with full expat package.
• We are willing to relocate top talent from India or other Asian markets.
• Preference for candidates who have managed 200+ workforce and scaled plant capacity.