Chief Operating Officer (COO) - Ethiopia

Employer: ChipChip

Employment: Full-Time | Permanent

Place of Work: Addis Ababa, Addis Abeba - Ethiopia

Posted date: 2 weeks ago

Deadline: February, 20/2025 (0 days left)

Job Summary:

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) – Ethiopia is a key executive responsible for leading and optimizing all operational functions, ensuring seamless coordination between sourcing (FMCG & Farm), logistics, warehousing, and distribution. As part of the executive leadership team, the COO will develop scalable supply chain structures, improve operational efficiency, and drive strategic growth.

This role requires a senior leader who can design high-impact operational systems, ensuring the company’s e-commerce supply chain operates efficiently and scales effectively.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Executive Oversight of Operations

Provide strategic leadership for all operational functions, including sourcing, logistics, warehousing, and fulfillment.

Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies, implementing solutions to enhance scalability.

2. Supply Chain & Sourcing Strategy (FMCG & Farm)

Develop and refine sourcing strategies to expand direct farm partnerships and optimize FMCG sourcing.

Ensure cost-effective sourcing and supplier diversification while maintaining quality standards.

Align sourcing operations with real-time demand forecasting and data-driven decision-making.

3. Operational Efficiency & Process Optimization

Design and implement scalable structures for sourcing, fulfilment, and distribution.

Oversee high-level process improvements to enhance speed, accuracy, and cost efficiency across operations.

Work closely with technology teams to integrate real-time tracking, forecasting, and reporting systems.

4. Cross-Functional Leadership & Team Collaboration

Work with the finance team to ensure operational costs align with business objectives.

Collaborate with the tech team to integrate operational functions into the ChipChip platform.

5. Performance Management & Cost Control

Set and monitor KPIs for operational efficiency, including sourcing effectiveness, fulfilment speed, and cost efficiency.

Develop cost-optimization strategies, ensuring profitability while maintaining service quality.

Ensure that operations teams are adequately staffed, structured, and resourced to support scaling.

Qualifications & Requirements:

Bachelor’s degree in Management, Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, Social Studies, Operations, or a related field.

5+ years of senior leadership experience in supply chain, sourcing, or operational roles.

Proven experience in building scalable supply chain structures in e-commerce, FMCG, or agribusiness.

Skills & Competencies:

Strategic mindset with the ability to optimize large-scale operations.

Strong leadership in managing cross-functional teams and department heads.