General Manager - Edible Oil Plant

About the jobOverviewPharo Foundation is a mission-driven, impact-oriented organisation that designs, funds, and operates economic development programmes to achieve its vision of a vibrant, productive, and self-reliant Africa.The Foundation drives its impact through two key approaches:Pharo Ventures is a for-profit, patient-capital investment vehicle focused on making high-impact investments in critical value chains to drive sustainable economic growth.Pharo Development is our non-profit arm, investing in public goods and development projects with the aim of making an impact on our three mission areas: Education, Water and Economic Productivity.Pharo Ventures is building commercially sustainable businesses across East Africa to create thousands of jobs and generate inclusive economic growth. One of our flagship ventures is the Edible Oil Plant in Ethiopia. A state of the art manufacturing and export business that processes oilseeds into crude edible oil for the international market.OpportunityWe are looking for a General Manager to take full operational and commercial responsibility of the Edible Oil Plant, with approximately $5 million in annual revenue. The GM will lead all core functions of the plant, including production, sourcing, logistics, quality, sales, and finance. The ideal candidate is a hands-on business leader with strong operational capabilities, commercial insight, and a proven track record in running autonomous, export-oriented manufacturing operations.Key relationshipsJob Title: General ManagerLocation: Kotu, EthiopiaReporting to: Head of Agri BusinessDirect Reports: Supply Chain, Sales, Finance & AdminFunctional relationships: Head of People and Culture, Finance Manager, Operations Director, Executive CommitteeAs the first major venture under Pharo Ventures in Ethiopia, this role will play a key leadership role in shaping the operational and commercial model for future businesses.Duties and responsibilitiesStrategic and commercial leadership Serve as the overall business leader of the plant and drive it toward profitability, efficiency, and scale.Own the P&L and manage all commercial decisions including pricing, supplier relationships, export contracts, and customer negotiations.Identify and drive continuous improvement initiatives across sourcing, production, sales, and logistics.Ensure compliance of the business with all local and international standards.Scaling the business for future investment/expansion - develop a 3–5-year roadmap for growth, including potential vertical integration or new product lines.Operational ExecutionLead end-to-end operations: procurement of oilseeds, plant production, warehousing, quality assurance, and export logistics.Ensure full compliance with international health and safety, environmental, and quality standards.Collaborate closely with the Country Director and functional leads at Pharo Ventures for group-level strategic alignment.Be responsible for capital investments, plant upgrades, or new technology adoption.Sales & Market expansion Develop and maintain relationships with local and international buyers.Oversee outbound logistics and sales of crude oil in bulk/flexi tanks.Ensure plant utilization aligns with market demand and profitability targets.Finance and Administration Oversee financial operations with support from the Pharo Ventures finance team for group compliance, audits, and reporting.Manage a lean support team (HR, Admin, and Accounting) focused on execution—not policy design or structural strategy.Team leadership Build and develop a high-performance team across all departments.Foster a culture of accountability, safety, efficiency, and commercial excellence.Manage staffing, performance, and succession planning in collaboration with the People & Culture team.Qualifications and requirementsMinimum 8 years of experience in operations or general management in manufacturing or agro-processing sectors; at least 3 years in senior leadership roles.Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Agribusiness, Business Administration, or related field; MBA or equivalent preferred.Proven experience managing an export-oriented operation in Ethiopia or East Africa.Strong understanding of manufacturing P&L management, supply chain, sales, and quality systems.Strong command of English is required, as the role involves collaboration with international teams, stakeholders, and buyersCommercial mindset and negotiation skills with a clear focus on financial sustainability.Experience leading cross-functional teams in resource-constrained environments.What we offerThe opportunity to lead and scale a key business unit within a mission-driven venture group.A dynamic work environment with autonomy and decision-making authority.Access to strategic support and senior functional expertise from the Pharo Ventures team.Competitive pay with a performance-based incentive structureApplication procedureWe will review completed applications on a rolling basis. In the event that we identify an outstanding candidate early in the process, we reserve the right to appoint before the deadline. For this reason, we encourage interested candidates to apply as early as possible. Due to the high volume of applications, we regret that we will only contact shortlisted candidates.