Country Manager - Chloride Exide (Kampala, Central Region, Uganda)

Position: Country Manager

Kampala, Central Region, Uganda (On-site)

Position Overview:

The Country Manager provides overall leadership for the Uganda business, responsible for driving business performance, market growth, operational excellence and organisational effectiveness in alignment with the Group's strategy and governance framework, at both commercial and operational levels.

Building a high-performing organisation and fostering strong relationships with customers, partners, regulators and other key stakeholders are all key role responsibilities.

The role is responsible for translating Group strategy into effective local execution while building a customer-centric, values-driven culture characterised by accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Strategy & Commercial Leadership
• Translate Group strategy into an effective Uganda business plan and lead its execution.
• Deliver agreed revenue, profitability and market share targets across the Battery, Solar and DAB businesses.
• Drive route-to-market excellence by strengthening distributor, dealer and key account performance
• Identify new business opportunities and develop strategies to accelerate sustainable growth.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and customers’ needs to inform business decisions.

2. Financial & Operational Performance
• Deliver the country's Profit Before Tax (PBT), revenue and working capital targets.
• Ensure effective management of inventory, debtors, cash flow and operating costs.
• Drive operational excellence across sales, customer service, supply chain and support functions.
• Monitor business performance through appropriate dashboards, KPIs and management reviews.

3. Customer & Market Leadership
• Champion an exceptional customer experience across all customer touchpoints.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with customers, distributors, suppliers and key business partners.
• Strengthen the Company's market presence and reputation within Uganda.

4. Leadership, Culture & People Development
• Build and lead a high-performing leadership team through coaching, accountability and capability development.
• Foster a workplace culture built on trust, respect, collaboration and continuous improvement.
• Partner closely with the People & Culture function to drive performance management, learning, employee engagement and organisational development initiatives.
• Lead organisational change effectively through clear communication, stakeholder engagement and employee involvement.

5. Governance, Risk & Compliance
• Ensure compliance with all applicable legal, regulatory and company requirements.
• Promote a strong culture of ethics, governance and accountability.
• Ensure timely closure of audit findings and implementation of agreed corrective actions.
• Champion Safety, Health and Environmental (SHE) standards and promote a safe working environment across the Uganda operation.

6. Stakeholder Management
• Represent the Company with customers, regulators, government agencies, financial institutions and industry bodies.
• Build collaborative relationships across the Group to ensure alignment and sharing of best practices.
• Provide regular business updates and strategic insights to the General Manager, Kenya and Executive Leadership Team.


7. Reporting & Communication
• Provide accurate, timely and insightful business reports to the General Manager and relevant Group stakeholders.
• Lead monthly performance reviews covering commercial results, operational performance, financial indicators, people priorities, risks and opportunities.
• Ensure clear communication of business progress, challenges and required support to enable informed decision-making.


Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Commerce, Marketing or related discipline.
• Master's degree in Business Administration (MBA) or a related field will be an added advantage.
• Professional qualifications in Sales, Finance, or Leadership will be an added advantage.


Experience
• Minimum of 10 years' progressive leadership experience within a commercial, manufacturing, distribution or FMCG environment.
• At least five years in a senior commercial or business leadership role with responsibility for delivering revenue, profitability and operational performance.
• Demonstrated success in driving profitable growth, route-to-market execution and operational excellence.
• Proven experience leading business transformation, organisational change and cross- functional teams.
• Experience operating in a multi-site or regional environment will be an added advantage.

Competencies
• Strategic Leadership
• Commercial & Financial Acumen
• Customer Focus
• Operational Excellence
• People Leadership & Coaching
• Decision Making & Problem Solving
• Communication & Influencing
• Emotional Intelligence
• Integrity & Accountability