Operations Junior Manager

Job Title: Operations Junior Manager

Company: EarthEnable

Reports To: Managing Director (or Designated Senior Leader)

Location: Jinja, Uganda (with frequent travel to operational districts)

About EarthEnable:

EarthEnable is transforming how people live by making homes healthier for families across rural Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda and helping to reduce the polluting impact of the building industry on the environment. Most Ugandans live in homes with dirt floors that are dusty, unsanitary, and fertile breeding grounds for parasites and germs. While replacing a dirt floor with concrete has significant health benefits (e.g., reducing diarrhea by 50% and parasitic infections by 80%), concrete is unaffordable for many who need it and is a huge contributor to global pollution.

To counter the environmental and affordability issues surrounding concrete, EarthEnable has spent the past 8+ years developing and selling high-quality, earthen floors and plasters that are 80% cheaper than concrete with 90% less embodied energy.

About the Role

We are looking for a hands-on, systems-minded Operations Manager to lead and scale EarthEnable Uganda's operational backbone. This role oversees varnish production, inventory, fleet management, logistics coordination, and internal processes that enable the field teams to deliver exceptional service.

As the current operations leadership structure is in transition, the Operations Manager will report to the Managing Director or a designated senior leader and is expected to take full ownership of operations from day one. The ideal candidate combines strong leadership, attention to detail, and practical execution skills

Key Responsibilities

1. Team & Operations Management

• Manage and support the operations team, including Officers and Drivers.
• Lead weekly planning, delegate responsibilities, and track performance.
• Conduct regular staff check-ins, trainings, and performance reviews.
• Promote a culture of accountability, service, and process improvement.

2. Paste and Varnish Production

• Oversee daily production of varnish and paste, ensuring consistency and safety standards.
• Maintain a clean and well-organized production space.
• Track jerrycan labeling, usage, and return systems.
• Coordinate timely varnish deliveries to districts, aligned with project needs.

3. Procurement and Supplier Coordination

• Manage procurement of construction materials, tools, safety gear, and supplies.
• Maintain a reliable vendor list and develop supplier relationships.
• Negotiate pricing, credit terms, and delivery schedules.
• Ensure delivery follow-ups, accurate documentation, and payment alignment with finance.

4. Inventory and Stock Movement

• Track inventory across central and district stores.
• Ensure monthly stock reconciliation against usage targets and entries into the system.
• Enforce material tracking systems to minimize waste, loss, and delays.

5. Fleet and Transport Oversight

• Schedule and oversee company vehicle usage, fuel consumption, and maintenance.
• Train and supervise drivers on safety and cost-efficiency standards.
• Monitor transport data for irregularities and resolve gaps quickly.
• Ensure safe, timely delivery of materials across districts.

6. Systems and Data Management

• Maintain operational data systems (e.g., Google Sheets for production, stock, and fleet).
• Ensure accuracy and timeliness of reports.
• Align entries with internal dashboards and finance reporting needs.

7. Cross-Departmental Support

• Attend planning meetings and provide operations input across Construction, QA, and Sales.
• Ensure frontline teams are trained on reporting and resource usage.
• Align timelines and material needs with client and project schedules.

8. Additional Duties

• Handle other tasks as assigned by the MD or leadership.
• Represent the operations department in reviews, audits, and cross-functional updates.

Must-Have Qualifications

• Bachelors degree in Logistics, Operations Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum 2-3 years of experience in an operations management or logistics-heavy role.
• Demonstrated leadership of field teams, with the ability to drive outcomes independently.
• Excellent organizational and communication skills.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft Office, especially Excel or Google Sheets.
• Knowledge of inventory systems, vendor management, and transport coordination.

Nice-to-Have Qualifications

• A valid drivers license and ability to drive a manual vehicle, this is a strong advantage.
• Experience working in rural or field-based environments.
• Familiarity with inventory systems, fleet management tools, or operational dashboards.
• Prior experience in social enterprise, logistics, or construction-related industries.

Our Values
At EarthEnable, we lead with purpose, integrity, and ownership. Were looking for someone who takes initiative, solves problems with a level head, and supports their team like its a mission because for us, it is.