Vacancy: Chief Operating Officer (COO)
Department: People & Change Kenya
Department: People & Change Kenya
Job type: Permanent
Closing date: 05-Sep-14
Reference Number:130-PEO00175
The Company: Our client, Kenya Airways Limited, is one of the
best and most respected airlines in Africa. With a fleet of 49 aircrafts flying
to 64 destinations across the world, the national carrier continues to focus on
profitable expansion of its network and to pursue sustainable improvement
initiatives to further strengthen its position as ‘the Pride of Africa’.
Kenya Airways recognises that its
people are its greatest asset and proactively seeks to attract and retain the
best, and inspire its people to delight its customers.
In its quest to consolidate its
reputation as a warm, friendly and caring airline, Kenya Airways would like to
recruit a performance driven, results oriented and innovative leader who has a
futuristic outlook, to fill the position of Chief
Operating Officer (COO).
Roles & Responsibilities
Reporting to the Group Managing
Director/CEO, the COO is responsible for managing the airline’s day-to-day operations
with a focus on strategic, tactical and short term operations management.
The COO will be responsible for the
development, design, operation, and improvement of the systems that create and
deliver Kenya Airways services and will therefore be involved in coordinating
activities in various departments including Technical Services, Ground
Services, , Operational Control Centre and Flight Operations.
He/she will also be required to
maintain a close working relationship with the Commercial Director and will
specifically be responsible for:
- Ensuring that safety, security, quality and
risk management policies are adequately implemented and monitored and that
the airline operates within a safe environment at all times;
- Continuous improvement of the total airline
operations’ efficiency and ensuring that it compares favourably to the
best in the airline industry;
- Planning, developing and implementing
strategies for the management of all relevant areas of operations, including
systems and people development, so as to meet agreed operations
performance plans, within agreed budgets and timescales;
- Establishing and maintaining appropriate
systems for measuring necessary aspects of operations management and
development;
- Monitoring, measuring and reporting on
operational issues, opportunities, development plans and achievements,
within agreed formats and timescales;
- Managing and developing direct reporting staff
including the Technical Director, Director-Flight Operations, Ground
Services Director, and Head of Operations Control;
- Managing and controlling departmental
expenditure within agreed budgets;
- Liaising with other functional/departmental
managers (and importantly with the Commercial Department) so as to
understand all necessary aspects and needs of operational development, and
to ensure they are fully informed of operational objectives, purposes and
achievements.
- Maintaining awareness and a sound knowledge of
operational developments, theory and methods, and providing suitable
feedback and interpretation to directors, managers and staff within Kenya
Airways;
- Contributing to the evaluation and development
of operations strategy and performance in cooperation with the senior
management team.
- Ensuring that airline operations meet and
integrate with Kenya Airways requirements, customer airlines and
regulatory requirements.
- Coordinating activities in all operations to ensure
smooth running of the airline schedules.
- Maintaining good relationships with all the
aviation regulatory bodies and other government agencies including IATA,
ICAO, KAA, KCAA, KAAO and other foreign governments.
- Executing the responsibilities of a company
director according to lawful and ethical standards.
- Overall responsibility for the operations
balanced scorecard for the airline.
Requirements
The successful candidate will have an
undergraduate degree in Operations Management or any other business related
field with at least eight years’ experience at senior management levels in
Operations within a reputable organisation.
Experience in airline operations at
COO level or CEO experience within a medium sized organisation with logistics
operations, will be an added advantage.
The successful candidate will also be
expected to have excellent people management and communication skills,
strategic aptitude and the ability to plan and implement strategy for the
enhancement of the airline’s business, as well as to ensure the effective
utilisation of the workforce, equipment and facilities.
S/he will also need to have proven
leadership skills, great business networks both locally and internationally and
an established track record in multiple and versatile geographic environments.
If you believe you fit the required profiles, please apply online in confidence at
www.pwc.com/ke/en/executive-search by Friday 5 September 2014.
The detailed job profile for the
position is available on the same web page.
Only applications received online
will be processed.
Only shortlisted candidates will be
contacted.
Canvassing for the role will render a
potential candidate disqualified.
