Country Director

Position based in Ghana (West Africa)

 

Company description 

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Ethical Apparel Africa (EAA) is a trailblazer in the West African apparel sector, offering international brands a gateway to ethical, cost-effective, and high-quality manufacturing. Working across both our own factory plus another 4 partner factories, we are a manufacturer of apparel products, exporting on average $5m of product a year. By 2030 our vision is to directly create 10,000 jobs, over 70% for women and source / manufacture annual exports of $100M.

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Our commitment to ethical practices is not confined to high-end products; we're proving that large-scale manufacturing can uphold these values too. From our base in Ghana, our seasoned team excels in product development, quality assurance, and more, ensuring a positive social impact with a worker wellbeing centric approach. 

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We specialize in both heavy and light weight garments including fleece, sweats, nightwear, underwear, shirts, schoolwear, dancewear, and even pet products. We work with mainly large scale brands in the USA and have strict quality and compliance requirements.

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At EAA, we're not just operating factories; we're revolutionizing an industry starting it right from the beginning in West Africa. Collaborating with governments and development agencies, we're fostering an ecosystem ripe for industrial growth, setting a new precedent for ethical manufacturing on a global scale.

 

Position overview

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Join our dynamic team in Ghana, West Africa, and take on the role of Country Director in the thriving clothing manufacturing industry. This is your chance to make a tangible impact and spearhead industry development on an exciting new frontier. Part of the Senior Leadership team and reporting directly to the CEO, you'll collaborate closely with our exceptional EAA teams and partners in West Africa.

As the Country Director your responsibilities include managing the operational performance of the Ghana EAA office and being the representative to external agencies and government on the ground in Ghana. This includes responsibility for the day to day management and development of the Technical, Accounts (Merchandising, Sourcing, Logistics) and Office Operations teams.

 

Operations Management

• Lead operational strategy development and execution for growth of EAA footprint in Ghana from a manufacturing standpoint.

• Support the Finance and Operations team bringing innovative ideas to control and reduce cost.

• Be a clear voice anticipating risk and spearheading proactive management of risks within the Company’s leadership team.

• Oversee the local business development team and develop a more robust local sales strategy.

 

Factory Development

• Own the on the ground relationship with factory CEOs and GMs to ensure all communication, initiatives and activities are conducted collaboratively, successfully and on time.

• Lead and develop the Technical team to ensure factory development is in line with the EAA strategic plan.  This includes –

  • Comprehensive technical assessments with tailored technical training to elevate factory capabilities to international standards of operational excellence and sustainability based on innovation and Lean management principles.

  • Developing and executing on standard SOPs across factories complete with training and manuals to ensure consistency in execution of sampling and orders.

• Lead the work on development of Operational excellence and efficiency improvements through Lean initiatives and work with the International Labour Organisation.

• Lead the research work for the development of a new or extended EAA factory considering legal, operational, logistical, cost and timing opportunities.

• Ensuring no product is placed in any factory that is not approved through the EAA internal measures for compliance and technical capability plus signed off by the client.

 

Product Execution

• Responsible for on time delivery of sample and bulk product with no quality or logistics issues

• Responsible for meeting or exceeding profitability targets by product and client.  This includes responsibility for the P&L’s of each client.

• Lead the Accounts and Technical team to ensure 

  • Risk assessments completed for all aspects of production

  • New product enquiries are turned around on time 

  • Costings are accurate and reflect the right risk factoring

  • Collaborative development with clients of new product

  • Offering product engineering solutions to create alternative manufacturing methods to improve cost, efficiency and bulk manufacturing ability

  • All data is up to date and accurate on the ERP system and the EAA Google Drive

  • Accurate and on time communication to factories related to sample and bulk product execution

  • Inbound and outbound logistics are executed on time, within budget and best consolidation use.

• Lead post-production evaluations, identifying successes and areas for improvement, thus contributing to continuous enhancement and innovation within the industry.

 

Client engagement

• Host all external visits on the ground in Ghana including operational and relational aspects

• Analyze our performance quarterly in relation to customer service and work with clients to improve our delivery considering their feedback also

 

Third party relationships and Industry influence

• Ensuring EAA’s reputation on the ground in Ghana is always positive for collaboration, communication, quality of training and contribution to the Ecosystem

• Represent EAA at industry and government functions and support the execution of training and ecosystem-wide events hosted by EAA and partners training events to build capacity and influence industry policy and evolution 

• Build strong relationships with the Association of Ghana Apparel Manufacturers (AGAM) and all partner factory owners

• Play a significant role in planning and reporting execution for EAA’s USAID grant relative to factory development. 

• Catalyze interest among key stakeholders in the transformation of West Africa’s raw material value chain and build relationships with industrial parks to improve competitiveness of the region’s apparel industry at the ecosystem level

 

Team Management and Development

• Be a role model to the team of the Company Values and policies for behaviour and attitude towards our partners, clients and day to day work.

• Lead and develop the Senior Managers in the team to ensure

  • Their own personal development and progression

  • Delivery of the company technical and behavioural KPI’s

  • Training in leadership and people development to enable them to develop their own teams

  • Technical competency training to enhance the team’s proficiency

  • Execution of the company appraisal and feedback systems to ensure a consistent approach to work performance assessment

 

If you're passionate about driving change and fostering excellence in clothing manufacturing, this role offers an unparalleled opportunity to make your mark in West Africa's burgeoning market. Join us in shaping the future of the industry and unlocking its full potential.

 

Qualifications, skills, and attributes required​

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• Proficiency in English is essential.

• A minimum of 15 years of experience in the apparel industry, living in a developing country, with a particular focus on Africa being a significant asset.

• A minimum of 3 years experience in a country leadership role that manages both technical and accounts teams

• Experience in a technical or production role 

• Proven track record of collaborating with Western brands from the USA or Europe, demonstrating an understanding of their standards and requirements.

• Extensive experience in conducting practical training sessions and fostering the development of factory capabilities.

• Strong background in cross-functional collaboration within factory teams, guiding products from initial concept to finished production, showcasing exemplary teamwork skills.

• Demonstrated experience in transparent, open costing using cost per minute, Standard Minute Values (SMVs), efficiency, raw material sourcing and logistics elements.

• Exceptional communication and presentation skills, adept at navigating cultural nuances and delivering comprehensive technical reports.

• Demonstrated leadership and managerial acumen, with a proven ability to inspire and guide teams towards achieving goals.

• Excellent proficiency in computer applications, particularly in Excel and report writing.

• Capability to work autonomously on self-directed projects, exhibiting an entrepreneurial mindset and drive.

• Strong critical thinking skills, coupled with a relentless pursuit of growth and learning.

• Visionary and solution-oriented mindset, coupled with a passion for social impact, particularly in an enterprise setting.

• Demonstrated attributes including proactiveness, self-awareness, resilience, adaptability, persistence, resourcefulness, and an ability to thrive under pressure while meeting deadlines.

• Adept at fostering relationships and resolving challenges, with a poised demeanor and active listening skills.

• Enthusiastic team player, characterized by integrity, multitasking abilities, and a knack for thriving in dynamic, fast-paced environments.

 

Benefits

 

• Full time employment contract 

• Salary level dependent on candidate experience and profile

• Annual flight and rent allowance

• Health and repatriation insurance in Africa and home country if different

• 25 days of annual leave in addition to Ghana national holidays, 30 days of sick leave 

• Opportunity to join a key department of an award-winning, dynamic, and mission driven organization that welcomes strategic input from all members

 

How to apply 

 

• Commencement Date: Fall 2024.

• Applications will be assessed continuously. 

• Please submit your resume along with a tailored cover letter for the position to talent@ethicalapparelafrica.com, ensuring the reference "EAA CD 24" is clearly stated in the subject line. 

• Note that only complete applications with the correct reference will be reviewed, and only the most qualified candidates will be invited for interviews. 

• EAA is dedicated to equal opportunities in employment, welcoming talents from Africa and beyond. We strongly encourage applications from women, individuals with disabilities, and ethnic minorities.

 

For more information: www.ethicalapparelafrica.com