Retail Operations Excellence Manager at M-KOPA Solar

The Retail Operations Excellence Manager will lead efforts to drive operational excellence within the department, focusing on maintaining high standards in compliance, quality, and resource allocation. This role includes overseeing audit functions, developing training programs, managing shop operations, and coordinating projects to ensure all initiatives are executed efficiently and effectively.
What will you do?
Audit Function

• In this role, you'll conduct comprehensive field audits, compliance reviews, and quality audits to ensure that all operational standards are strictly followed. Monitoring budget expenditures against approved allocations is essential, identifying any variances and recommending corrective actions as needed.
• Additionally, you'll prepare detailed audit reports to present findings to senior management, highlighting areas for improvement and offering actionable solutions. Compliance with regulatory requirements, especially Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) standards, is critical when implementing these improvements.

Training Function

• You'll create and implement a comprehensive training program including a well-defined training scope and calendar. Assessing training needs and evaluating the effectiveness of these initiatives will be key, as you’ll ensure that all materials are engaging and tailored to the team's needs. Using learning platforms, you’ll develop resources such as allocation guides to make training accessible and impactful.

Shop Management

• In shop management, you’ll oversee operations and expansion strategies, ensuring best practices are consistently applied across locations. You’ll work closely with procurement to secure value-for-money purchases and resource allocations and manage all administrative responsibilities tied to shop operations.
• Additionally, supplier management will be part of your role, ensuring timely payments and effective engagement with partners. As the shop network expands, you’ll conduct network optimization assessments to determine where to invest, maintain, or exit, backed by both qualitative and quantitative data.

Project Coordination

• You’ll collaborate closely with the project lead to support departmental initiatives, ensuring that timelines, deliverables, and resources are aligned with departmental goals. Acting as the primary point of contact throughout the project cycle, you’ll communicate effectively with key stakeholders and document all project progress on platforms like Notion.
• Additionally, you'll conduct project risk assessments and success evaluations to ensure each project meets operational standards and contributes to overall team objectives.
• This is a hybrid/on-site role in Kenya, reporting to the Senior Manager- Retail.

Expertise

• We’re looking for someone with a solid foundation in business or operations management—ideally, you’ll have a Bachelor’s degree in one of these areas, though a Master’s is a big plus. You should bring at least 8 years of experience in operations management, auditing, or training, with any background in retail or shop management being a bonus.
• Analytical and problem-solving skills will be key, and we value strong communication and interpersonal abilities to help you work seamlessly with teams across the organization.
• In this role, you’ll need a good handle on budget management and financial analysis, along with a knack for developing and assessing training programs.