Vice President & Profit Center Head

Job Description

This is a well-rounded role in a complex rubber business with high potential. The overall responsibilities of a Vice President - Profit Center Head include managing the supply chain from farm to export, encompassing procurement, processing, quality, and shipments. The team is composed of expatriates and local functional experts who require direction and leadership. The successful candidate will be expected to deliver on three key dimensions:

• Strategic effectiveness
• Operational effectiveness
• Organizational effectiveness

This role offers a unique opportunity to build a career at Olam. It involves intensive team management for the effective delivery of procurement and export volumes. It also requires significant stakeholder management (both internal and external). Given current crop trends, our leadership position, and the regulatory environment in the country, the successful candidate has significant scope to influence not only Olam’s rubber business but also the future of the rubber industry in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire.

Key Responsibilities

• As Profit Center Head, the individual will set the vision for the business and take full end-to-end responsibility for its growth, sustainability, and delivery. Key responsibilities include:
• Strategic Responsibility: Developing and implementing the best-fit strategy for the profit center.
• Farmer Engagement: Creating and executing farmer engagement initiatives to achieve Olam’s purpose of prosperous farmers, thriving communities, and a regenerating living world.
• Bottom-Line Responsibilities: Meeting budgeted commitments for volumes, Gross Contribution (GC), overheads, EBITDA, and Profit After Tax (PAT).
• Leading Initiatives: Spearheading game-changing initiatives, such as process automation and digitalization, for the business unit.
• Manpower Development: Mentoring team members, guiding their career paths, and ensuring suitable succession planning for the team.
• Regulatory Management: Acting as the face of Olam Rubber in the complex regulatory environment. This involves managing the competitive and regulatory landscape and constantly engaging with important players to stay abreast of the latest sector developments.
• Innovation and Stakeholder Engagement: Driving innovation and a high level of engagement with all key stakeholders to build on sustainability issues critical to this industry.

Job Requirements

Experience & Qualifications

• 15-18 years of experience, with a B.Tech and an MBA from a Tier 1 institution.
• Proven experience in leading and managing teams, key account management, and sales or distribution roles in emerging or upcountry markets.
• Exposure to the micro and macroeconomic factors of the business environment.
• A strong conceptual and analytical mindset for operating in an international business environment.

Desired Skills and Attributes

To be successful, the candidate should possess:

• Excellent interpersonal skills.
• The ability to analyze complex problems and break them down into smaller, manageable tasks.
• French language skills are a significant advantage, as it is the primary language spoken on the ground.
• Resilience to overcome challenges while remaining calm and composed.
• The ability to embody Olam values and have an ownership mindset.
• A passion for travel, as suppliers are spread across the country.