Deputy Technical Director – Manufacturing (Nigeria)

About the role

The Deputy Technical Director will support the Country Technical Director in managing the factory’s technical and production operations across Nigeria. This position is designed to develop future leadership capability, preparing the holder to eventually assume full Technical Director responsibilities.

Key responsibilities

• Translate Group manufacturing strategy into factory‑level operational plans.
• Assist in preparing and evaluating CAPEX proposals for machinery, site development and automation.
• Manage daily production activities, including planning, scheduling and performance monitoring.
• Oversee engineering projects such as equipment upgrades, process‑automation installations and utilities management.
• Drive adoption of automation solutions to minimise manual intervention.
• Support R&D and new product development at the plant.
• Lead continuous‑improvement, waste‑reduction and lean‑manufacturing initiatives.
• Coordinate with Group Technical, external contractors and machine vendors.
• Coach and develop technical and production teams, acting as primary contact in the Director’s absence.
• Prepare and monitor the annual technical and production budget and report KPI performance.

Required profile

• B.Sc. or M.Sc. in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering or related field.
• Minimum 5 years experience in the food industry, preferably in FMCG or food manufacturing.
• Hands‑on knowledge of food production processes, quality standards and food‑safety systems (HACCP, GMP, ISO).

Required skills

• HACCP
• GMP
• ISO standards
• Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES)
• SCADA
• Process automation
• Lean manufacturing
• Equipment upgrades and utilities management