JOB DESCRIPTION – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER – SOLAR AND BATTERY

Location: Lomé, Togo
Employment Type: Full-time, Senior Leadership
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer / Board

Role Summary

We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer – Solar and Battery to oversee the development, commissioning and operations of an integrated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Lomé, Togo, with future expansion into battery energy storage.

The COO will be responsible for overseeing the complete plant development and operational lifecycle, from construction supervision, equipment installation and commissioning to production ramp-up and stable manufacturing operations.

The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, production efficiency, product quality, cost optimisation and safety while building a strong local management team and establishing manufacturing capabilities across West Africa.

Key Responsibilities

1. Plant Development & Project Management

• Oversee the end-to-end development and construction of the solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Lomé, Togo.
• Supervise site development, civil construction, utilities, cleanrooms, equipment installation and commissioning.
• Manage project schedules, budgets, quality standards and safety requirements.
• Oversee EPC contractors, equipment suppliers, technology partners and consultants.
• Lead factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning and production line qualification.
• Define plant layouts, manufacturing processes, utilities requirements and production capacity plans.
• Ensure all necessary permits, licences, utility connections and government approvals are secured.
• Develop operational readiness plans covering SOPs, maintenance, spare parts, quality systems and EHS.

2. Solar Manufacturing Operations

• Oversee day-to-day solar cell and module manufacturing operations.
• Manage wafer-to-cell and cell-to-module production processes.
• Drive production output, yield, throughput, equipment efficiency and manufacturing cost optimisation.
• Lead production ramp-up towards installed nameplate capacity.
• Implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and data-driven methodologies.
• Ensure product quality through incoming material inspection, in-process quality control and final product testing.
• Maintain compliance with IEC and other relevant solar cell and module certification requirements.
• Monitor equipment performance, maintenance schedules, production downtime and operational efficiency.

3. Battery Energy Storage Operations

• Support the development and implementation of the battery energy storage manufacturing or integration business.
• Work with technology partners on battery production processes, equipment, supply chain and product qualification.
• Oversee planning and operational readiness for battery energy storage activities.
• Develop operational standards and performance systems for battery-related operations.
• Ensure integration of battery operations with the broader renewable energy manufacturing strategy.

4. Supply Chain & Procurement

• Oversee procurement and supply chain operations for solar manufacturing materials and components, including wafers, glass, EVA, backsheets, frames, junction boxes, chemicals and gases.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key suppliers and technology partners.
• Ensure timely availability of raw materials and components.
• Manage supplier performance, lead times, inventory levels and supply chain risks.
• Oversee import/export logistics, customs clearance, warehousing and transportation.
• Drive procurement efficiency and cost optimisation.

5. Quality, Maintenance & EHS

• Establish and maintain quality management systems across manufacturing operations.
• Ensure compliance with ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and applicable IEC standards.
• Oversee preventive and corrective maintenance programmes.
• Ensure high equipment uptime, spare parts availability and utilities efficiency.
• Implement strong environmental, health and safety policies.
• Establish a safety-first culture across the plant and construction site.
• Ensure compliance with local labour, environmental and industrial regulations.

6. Leadership & Team Management

• Build, lead and develop the plant's senior operational management team.
• Oversee Plant Directors, Project Directors and functional heads across Quality, Supply Chain, EHS, Maintenance and Engineering.
• Recruit, train and develop local talent in Togo.
• Establish operational responsibilities, performance targets and accountability frameworks.
• Develop succession planning and technical training programmes.
• Build a high-performance culture focused on safety, quality, productivity and operational excellence.

7. Financial & Operational Management

• Develop and manage annual operating budgets and capital expenditure plans.
• Monitor manufacturing costs, production efficiency and operational profitability.
• Drive cost optimisation, productivity improvements and efficient resource utilisation.
• Monitor capital project expenditure against approved budgets.
• Establish operational reporting systems, MIS and performance dashboards.
• Report operational performance, project progress, risks and financial variances to the CEO and Board.

8. Government & Stakeholder Management

• Maintain relationships with the Government of Togo, regulatory authorities and industrial zone authorities.
• Coordinate with utility providers, technology partners, EPC contractors, suppliers and customers.
• Work closely with Finance, Procurement, HR, Legal, Commercial and Technology teams.
• Support customer qualification, product specifications, delivery commitments and after-sales quality.
• Support investor, lender and customer due diligence processes and site visits.

Candidate Profile

Must Have

• 18+ years of experience in manufacturing, industrial operations or large-scale infrastructure projects.
• Minimum 10+ years of experience in solar PV cell or module manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries or comparable high-volume manufacturing industries.
• Proven experience leading greenfield manufacturing plant development or major industrial expansion projects.
• Strong experience managing construction, equipment installation, commissioning and production ramp-up.
• Hands-on understanding of solar cell and module manufacturing processes and technologies.
• Experience managing large-scale capital expenditure projects, EPC contractors and equipment suppliers.
• Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production planning, process optimisation and quality management systems.
• Experience with IEC certifications and ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
• Strong understanding of supply chain management, procurement, maintenance and manufacturing cost optimisation.
• Experience managing large, multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Experience working in Africa or emerging markets, including government relations, logistics, import/export and local workforce development.
• Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Materials or Industrial Engineering.
• Fluent English, written and spoken.

Preferred

• Master's degree in Engineering or an MBA.
• Experience in battery energy storage manufacturing or integration.
• Experience in West Africa, particularly Togo or neighbouring markets.
• Experience with advanced solar PV manufacturing technologies and automation.
• Experience working with international technology providers and equipment manufacturers.
• French language proficiency.
• Experience establishing manufacturing facilities in emerging markets.

Key Competencies

• Strategic thinking and strong execution capabilities.
• Greenfield manufacturing project leadership.
• Solar PV and battery manufacturing expertise.
• Strong operational and financial management.
• Production efficiency and cost optimisation.
• Quality assurance and process improvement.
• Safety-first leadership and regulatory compliance.
• Supply chain and procurement management.
• Government and stakeholder relationship management.
• Leadership of large multicultural teams.
• Problem-solving, resilience and adaptability in fast-growing environments.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Plant Development: Achievement of construction and commissioning milestones within approved timelines and budgets.
• Production Ramp-up: Achievement of planned manufacturing capacity and production yield targets.
• Manufacturing Performance: Production output, line yield, equipment uptime (OEE) and unit manufacturing costs.
• Quality & Reliability: Product quality standards, certification compliance and reduction in product defects and customer returns.
• Safety & Compliance: Zero major HSE incidents and full compliance with environmental and regulatory requirements.
• Cost Management: Effective management of capital and operating expenditure against approved budgets.
• Supply Chain: Raw material availability, supplier performance and on-time delivery.
• Customer Satisfaction: Achievement of customer qualification requirements and delivery commitments.
• Team Development: Recruitment, training and development of competent local operational teams.
• Operational Governance: Implementation of SOPs, reporting systems and performance dashboards.
• Stakeholder Management: Effective relationships with government authorities, regulators, suppliers, technology partners and customers.

Additional Information

• Location: Lomé, Togo.
• Work Arrangement: On-site, with regular presence at the manufacturing plant and construction site.
• Travel: Domestic and international travel for supplier, technology partner, customer and Board meetings.
• Compensation: Competitive compensation package commensurate with experience.

Apply now!