Job Title: General Manager
Location: Dakar, Senegal
Reports To: Regional VP, West Africa
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Purpose of the Role
The General Manager serves as the senior leader of GMD – Les Grands Moulins de Dakar, accountable for shaping and delivering the company’s long-term strategic direction, operational excellence, and sustainable growth.
This role combines enterprise leadership with hands-on execution, driving performance across a complex, large-scale 24/7 food production and distribution business. The GM will also lead a significant, multi-million-dollar transformation of the production platform, ensuring the business is positioned for long-term competitiveness, efficiency, and growth.
Success in this role requires the ability to balance strategy and execution, operate effectively in a dynamic and emerging market environment, and foster a culture rooted in accountability, safety, innovation, and integrity.
Key Responsibilities
Enterprise Strategy & Business Performance
Define and execute the company’s strategic vision, translating long-term objectives into actionable annual business plans, budgets, and KPIs.
Lead financial planning, including CAPEX, innovation investments, and risk & opportunity assessments.
Drive profitability through disciplined cost management, margin optimization, and capital allocation.
Establish robust performance management routines, including regular operational and financial reviews.
Integrate major capital initiatives into the long-term strategy, ensuring clear linkage between investment, capability uplift, and financial returns.
Operational Excellence & Supply Chain Leadership
Oversee end-to-end operations including milling, port logistics, supply chain, and distribution to ensure reliability, efficiency, and product quality.
Lead the execution of a large-scale capital transformation of the plant, enhancing capacity, efficiency, safety, and product quality while maintaining business continuity.
Optimize raw material sourcing, inventory management, and production planning to ensure continuity and cost competitiveness.
Champion continuous improvement initiatives and operational innovation across all sites.
Ensure the highest standards of safety, food quality, and environmental stewardship.
Commercial & Market Leadership
Lead commercial strategy to strengthen market position, drive revenue growth, and expand product offerings.
Oversee pricing, customer relationships, and distribution channels to maximize market share and profitability.
Support innovation in product development aligned with customer and market needs.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and partners.
Governance, Risk & Compliance
Ensure full compliance with local regulatory frameworks, tax requirements, and corporate governance standards.
Maintain strong internal controls, including financial reporting, credit management, and risk mitigation practices.
Partner with legal counsel to proactively manage legal, regulatory, and reputational risks.
Ensure alignment with corporate policies while adapting to local market dynamics.
Oversee governance and risk management related to major capital deployment, ensuring transparency, discipline, and alignment with corporate expectations.
People Leadership & Organizational Capability
Build, lead, and develop a high-performing leadership team across all functions.
Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous development.
Oversee talent management, succession planning, and leadership development initiatives.
Lead employee relations, including labor negotiations and workforce engagement.
Mobilize cross-functional teams to successfully deliver large-scale operational and capital initiatives.
Stakeholder & External Relations
Serve as the primary representative of the company with government entities, regulators, embassies, and the Board.
Build trusted relationships with key external stakeholders to support business continuity and growth.
Ensure all external communications are aligned, professional, and strategically positioned.
Represent the company in matters related to strategic investments and long-term infrastructure development.
Capital Projects & Business Expansion
Lead the end-to-end execution of a multi-million-dollar strategic plant modernization initiative, ensuring delivery on time, within budget, and aligned with business objectives.
Translate capital investments into measurable improvements in operational performance, cost structure, and product capability.
Identify, evaluate, and execute additional growth opportunities, including capacity expansion and new business initiatives.
Ensure strong cross-functional coordination across operations, finance, and external partners throughout project execution.
Qualifications & Experience
5-10 years of senior leadership experience in industrial, agri-food, or manufacturing environments.
Proven experience leading large-scale, complex operations, ideally within emerging or developing markets.
Demonstrated experience leading major capital investment or transformation initiatives within an operating environment.
Strong financial acumen with demonstrated ability to drive profitability and link strategy to results.
Experience managing cross-functional teams across operations, commercial, and finance functions.
Track record of engaging effectively with Boards, government entities, and senior stakeholders.
Experience in food production, agricultural commodities, or related sectors preferred.
Fluency in French and English required.
Working Conditions
Operates in a high-responsibility, fast-paced, and often complex environment.
Requires resilience, adaptability, and sound judgment in a developing market context.
Must be physically capable of navigating operational sites and travel as needed.