Role Overview

Essential is seeking an Operations Manager based in Kenya to serve as a strategic and operational leader, driving production excellence, organizational efficiency, and digital transformation across our technical operations. This role combines deep operational expertise with a forward-looking approach to technology, data, and team leadership — ensuring our manufacturing capabilities evolve to meet the demands of modern biotechnology.

The Operations Manager will work closely with our Hardware, Software and Bioscience R&D teams to scale fermentation processes and implement continuous process improvements. This is an exciting opportunity to apply operational excellence to some of the most pressing global health challenges.

Roles & Responsibilities

Production & Operations Leadership

• Lead and manage day-to-day production operations, ensuring all plant batches are executed to specification, on schedule, and within budget.
• Maintain strong on-the-ground presence within production areas to ensure operational discipline, process adherence, and rapid issue resolution.
• Oversee scheduling, production planning, and resource allocation to meet output targets and quality standards.
• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) that reflect current best practices in biotechnology manufacturing.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across production, quality, and cost — and drive continuous improvement programs to close performance gaps.

AI Integration & Digital Transformation

• Prioritize practical, high-impact digital solutions that improve operational efficiency, ensuring adoption is driven by measurable business outcomes.
• Partner with the Software team to implement digital dashboards, real-time monitoring systems, and automated reporting pipelines that replace manual data gathering.
• Identify and evaluate emerging AI-powered tools (e.g., process digital twins, automated scheduling systems, computer vision for QC) and lead pilot programs to assess feasibility.
• Foster a data-driven culture by defining operational data standards, ensuring data quality, and embedding analytics into daily decision-making across the operations team.
• Develop AI literacy across the operations function through training programs and hands-on tool adoption, ensuring the team is equipped to work alongside intelligent systems.

Operational Excellence

• Lead structured continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies to eliminate waste, reduce variability, and increase throughput.
• Oversee and monitor performance metrics across the full production lifecycle, implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) processes for operational failures, non-conformances, and quality deviations — ensuring corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are completed on time.
• Plan and manage the annual departmental budget for equipment, consumables, and operational resources, ensuring spend is controlled and value is maximised.
• Develop robust contingency plans for supply chain disruptions, equipment failures, and capacity constraints.

Team Building & People Leadership

• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing operations team — fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Define clear role structures, career pathways, and development plans for direct reports and broader operational staff.
• Implement agile team structures and cross-functional collaboration practices to improve responsiveness and operational agility.
• Lead performance management processes, including goal-setting aligned with organisational OKRs, regular feedback cycles, and recognition programmes.
• Mentor and coach team leads and supervisors to develop the next generation of operational leadership within Essential.

Modern Ways of Working

• Implement digital work management systems to reduce paper-based processes and improve traceability.
• Promote agile and iterative approaches to operational improvement projects, including sprint-based problem-solving and rapid prototyping of process changes.
• Establish cross-functional working groups with QA, R&D, and supply chain to ensure operations are aligned with product development pipelines and commercial goals.
• Ensure operational documentation is version-controlled, digitally accessible, and linked to training management systems.

Contractor & Stakeholder Management

• Advise on and oversee the performance of externally contracted technical staff and operational service providers.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance & EHS Manager to ensure equipment uptime, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance are fully integrated into operational plans.
• Provide regular operational performance reports and insights to the Managing Director and senior leadership team.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in operations or manufacturing, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience implementing or leading digital transformation initiatives in an operational context, including AI, automation, or data analytics programmes.
• Strong knowledge of biotechnology production processes, GMP regulations, and quality management systems.
• Proven track record in Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence methodologies (certification preferred).
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and developing organisational capability.
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills; comfortable working with operational dashboards and performance data systems.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate technical data into strategic insights for senior leadership.

• Lead and manage day-to-day production operations, ensuring all plant batches are executed to specification, on schedule, and within budget.
• Maintain strong on-the-ground presence within production areas to ensure operational discipline, process adherence, and rapid issue resolution.
• Oversee scheduling, production planning, and resource allocation to meet output targets and quality standards.
• Develop and enforce standard operating procedures (SOPs) that reflect current best practices in biotechnology manufacturing.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) across production, quality, and cost — and drive continuous improvement programs to close performance gaps.
• Prioritize practical, high-impact digital solutions that improve operational efficiency, ensuring adoption is driven by measurable business outcomes.
• Partner with the Software team to implement digital dashboards, real-time monitoring systems, and automated reporting pipelines that replace manual data gathering.
• Identify and evaluate emerging AI-powered tools (e.g., process digital twins, automated scheduling systems, computer vision for QC) and lead pilot programs to assess feasibility.
• Foster a data-driven culture by defining operational data standards, ensuring data quality, and embedding analytics into daily decision-making across the operations team.
• Develop AI literacy across the operations function through training programs and hands-on tool adoption, ensuring the team is equipped to work alongside intelligent systems.
• Lead structured continuous improvement initiatives using Lean, Six Sigma, or equivalent methodologies to eliminate waste, reduce variability, and increase throughput.
• Oversee and monitor performance metrics across the full production lifecycle, implementing process improvements to enhance efficiency and reduce costs.
• Drive root cause analysis (RCA) processes for operational failures, non-conformances, and quality deviations — ensuring corrective and preventive actions (CAPAs) are completed on time.
• Plan and manage the annual departmental budget for equipment, consumables, and operational resources, ensuring spend is controlled and value is maximised.
• Develop robust contingency plans for supply chain disruptions, equipment failures, and capacity constraints.
• Build, develop, and retain a high-performing operations team — fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous learning.
• Define clear role structures, career pathways, and development plans for direct reports and broader operational staff.
• Implement agile team structures and cross-functional collaboration practices to improve responsiveness and operational agility.
• Lead performance management processes, including goal-setting aligned with organisational OKRs, regular feedback cycles, and recognition programmes.
• Mentor and coach team leads and supervisors to develop the next generation of operational leadership within Essential.
• Implement digital work management systems to reduce paper-based processes and improve traceability.
• Promote agile and iterative approaches to operational improvement projects, including sprint-based problem-solving and rapid prototyping of process changes.
• Establish cross-functional working groups with QA, R&D, and supply chain to ensure operations are aligned with product development pipelines and commercial goals.
• Ensure operational documentation is version-controlled, digitally accessible, and linked to training management systems.
• Advise on and oversee the performance of externally contracted technical staff and operational service providers.
• Collaborate with the Maintenance & EHS Manager to ensure equipment uptime, workplace safety, and regulatory compliance are fully integrated into operational plans.
• Provide regular operational performance reports and insights to the Managing Director and senior leadership team.

• Strong knowledge of biotechnology production processes, GMP regulations, and quality management systems.
• Proven track record in Lean, Six Sigma, or operational excellence methodologies (certification preferred).
• Experience managing cross-functional teams and developing organisational capability.
• Excellent analytical and data interpretation skills; comfortable working with operational dashboards and performance data systems.
• Strong communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to translate technical data into strategic insights for senior leadership.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Bioengineering, Biotechnology, Chemical Engineering, Life Sciences, or a related field.
• Minimum 7 years of experience in operations or manufacturing, with at least 3 years in a leadership role within a biotechnology, pharmaceutical, or similarly regulated environment.
• Demonstrated experience implementing or leading digital transformation initiatives in an operational context, including AI, automation, or data analytics programmes.