Managing Director

The Managing Director (MD) is responsible to drive the strategic direction, leadership, and operational performance of the company. The MD will actively drive strategy and product-focused business development with oversight on finance, operations, design, marketing, and HR, ensuring that all departments align with company goals while maintaining a culture of collaboration, quality, and sustainability.

Job Summary:

The Managing Director is responsible for;

• Driving new product and business development, growth strategies and key client relationships.

• Leading and coordinating all departments, ensuring alignment to strategic & operational targets.

• Ensuring financial health, profitability, and compliance across the business

• Supporting design, operations, and manufacturing to deliver high-quality products and services.

• Cultivating a collaborative and high-performance, values-driven organizational culture.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Strategic Management; 

• Translate Board vision into executable strategies and operational plans.

•  Develop aligned business plan updating of pitch deck/documents.

•  Develop and Monitor KPIs and take corrective action where required.

• Define and communicate company goals, milestones, and strategic initiatives weekly to all managers and heads of departments.

• Align design, operations, manufacturing, finance, and sales to delivery targets

• Identify scalable revenue opportunities.

2. Product & Project Oversight; 

• Ensure quality and design alignment across major projects.

• Encourage innovation in product development and production systems.

• Improve operational workflows and efficiency.

3. Business Development & Client Relationships;

• Lead growth strategy in target markets.

• Represent Company in high-level client engagements.

• Maintain key partnerships and strategic accounts.

• Oversee pricing models and contract structuring.

• Identify scalable revenue opportunities.

4. Financial & Organizational Oversight; 

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, and cash flow management.

• Ensure accurate financial reporting and regulatory compliance.

• Approve operational expenditures within agreed budgets.

• Manage supplier contracts and cost controls.

• Coordinate with accountants, auditors, and tax authorities.

• Prepare structured financial and performance reports for the Board.

• Drive departmental accountability through measurable reporting frameworks.

5. Team Leadership & Culture;

• Build a high-performance, collaborative, and respectful culture.

• Lead and mentor department heads.

• Support recruitment, staff development, and succession planning.

• Foster clear communication across departments.

• Resolve conflicts constructively and early.

• Promote psychological safety while maintaining accountability.

6. Brand & Market Positioning;

• Oversee marketing direction and brand consistency.

• Ensure alignment with Company’s sustainability values and Tanzanian-led identity.

To ensure efficiency and protect delivery timelines, the MD operates with the following decision framework;

MD HAS AUTHORITY OVER:

• Day-to-day operations.

• Project execution and scheduling.

• Resource allocation across departments.

• Staff task management and performance oversight.

• Supplier selection within approved budgets.

• Internal systems and workflow improvements.

• Tactical actions required to meet agreed targets.

These decisions do not require prior Board approval when aligned with an approved strategy and budget;

MD CONSULTS THE BOARD (ALIGNMENT, NOT APPROVAL):

• Cross-department structural changes.

• Non-material budget reallocations.

• Medium-term operational planning.

• New tools or systems impacting multiple teams.

• Hiring decisions.

Consultation is for transparency and alignment while maintaining decision velocity to ensure financial ongoing health of the company. 

BOARD APPROVAL REQUIRED FOR:

• Changes to company strategy.

• New business lines or market entry.

• Capital expenditure above agreed thresholds.

• Equity, debt, or shareholder matters.

• Annual budget approval.

• Executive compensation frameworks.

WAYS OF WORKING WITH THE BOARD:

• Monthly concise performance reporting through board Chairperson.

• Quarterly strategic review workshops or sessions.

• Board provides strategic direction and governance.

• MD retains operational control and execution authority.

SOFT SKILL & LEADERSHIP EXPECTATIONS:

The MD is expected to:

Communication & Alignment;

• Communicate clearly, respectfully, and transparently.

• Frame challenges privately with solutions and data.

Culture & Emotional Intelligence;

• Lead with empathy and professionalism.

• Recognize team and Board contributions.

• Create an environment of trust and accountability.

Conflict Management;

• Address friction early and constructively.

• Separate ideas from individuals.

• Maintain focus on company outcomes.

Time & Priority Management;

• Protect strategic and operational focus time.

• Avoid unnecessary escalation of routine matters.

• Ensure meetings are purposeful and outcome-driven.

Representation of Company Values;

• Model sustainability, integrity, innovation and collaboration.

• Champion Tanzanian innovation and craftsmanship.

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE:

Education & Experience;

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Management, Design, or related field.

• 7–10 years of leadership experience in manufacturing, product, or design sectors.

• Proven experience managing cross-functional teams and complex delivery pipelines.

Technical & Financial Skills;

• Budgeting, forecasting, and financial reporting.

• ERP systems (Odoo preferred).

• Google Workspace, Excel, Trello, dashboards.

Leadership Competencies;

• High emotional intelligence and communication skills.

• Strategic and operational balance.

• Decisive, data-informed decision-making.

• Ability to scale teams and systems.

PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENTS:

Success will be measured by:

• Revenue growth and margin performance.

• Product over project growth in sales. 

• Movement towards agreed Franchi sable model within a 1-3-year timeframe.

• Cash flow stability and cost control.

• On-time project delivery.

• Team retention and engagement.

• Operational efficiency improvements.

• Quality of Board reporting and alignment.

ROLE BOUNDARIES:

• The MD is accountable for strategy and execution; the Board is accountable for vision and governance.

• Clear decision lanes are maintained to ensure speed and effectiveness.

REVIEW STRUCTURE:

• Bi-annual performance and role clarity review.

• Ongoing alignment on strategic priorities.

• Board support for MD autonomy within agreed framework.