The posting
Job Location: Madagascar
About The Role:
The Associate Manager, Operations will work closely with the Operations Manager to coordinate and improve day-to-day operational activities, ensuring reliable service delivery and achievement of defined KPIs.
The role covers a broad range of activities, including imports, procurement, inbound and outbound logistics, inventory management, and warehouse operations. The position will also contribute to process improvement, data review, system accuracy, and effective coordination with internal teams and external partners.
What you will be expected to do:
Operations Management
- Prepare inventory reports and contribute to demand planning and forecasting.
- Review operational processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and develop practical, sustainable solutions.
- Maintain accurate and timely transactions across ERP and CRM systems for operational activities.
- Coordinate warehouse and procurement activities, ensuring smooth day-to-day operations.
- Monitor operational performance against defined KPIs and highlight areas requiring attention.
Warehouse & Inventory Management
- Coordinate the sourcing and management of warehouses and retail locations, ensuring inventory is maintained in line with established stock management practices.
- Monitor inventory requirements and coordinate with the Sales team to ensure product availability meets business needs and timelines.
- Coordinate regular inventory cycle counts and physical-to-system reconciliations.
- Maintain accurate inventory records and investigate and resolve variances.
- Identify potential stock risks and escalate issues to the relevant teams in a timely manner.
Procurement
- Complete procurement-related transactions accurately and on time within the ERP system.
- Maintain an accurate and up-to-date database of approved suppliers.
- Develop and maintain effective supplier relationships.
- Coordinate the end-to-end procurement process, from identifying requirements through to delivery.
- Contribute to cash flow planning and forecasting related to procurement activities.
- Ensure procurement activities follow established policies, processes, and applicable requirements.
Inbound & Outbound Logistics
- Coordinate the import and export of products into and from Madagascar with established clearing agents.
- Manage relationships with third-party logistics (3PL) providers and monitor service delivery.
- Ensure accurate and timely system transactions for inbound and outbound logistics activities.
- Monitor logistics movements and coordinate with relevant teams to address delays or operational issues.
- Ensure logistics activities comply with applicable regulatory and documentation requirements.
Additional Responsibilities
- Carry out other operational activities as assigned by the Manager, Operations.
- Contribute to cross-functional initiatives that improve operational efficiency, service delivery, and customer experience.
You might be a strong candidate if you have:
- A degree from a recognized institution, preferably in Supply Chain Management, Operations Management, Procurement, Logistics, Distribution, or a related field.
- 4+ years of experience in supply chain management and operations.
- The ability to manage multiple priorities and organize work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
- Strong problem-solving skills and can assess operational processes and identify practical improvements.
- Strong data management and reporting skills, with practical experience using VLOOKUP/XLOOKUP, PivotTables, advanced Excel formulas, and large datasets.
- Practical experience working with an ERP system and other business systems.
- Strong working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Google Sheets.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation and regulatory requirements applicable to Madagascar and the wider region.
- Practical knowledge of import and export processes, transport routes, inventory management, warehousing, and distribution networks.
- Experience across business planning, procurement, warehouse operations, retail operations, and/or last-mile distribution.
- The ability to build positive working relationships with colleagues, team members, suppliers, service providers, and other external partners.
- Good communication skills and can communicate clearly and effectively, both verbally and in writing. Fluency in English is required.
- The motivation to create positive outcomes for rural and off-grid communities and finding practical solutions to customer needs.
- The ability to work effectively with limited day-to-day direction while keeping relevant stakeholders informed of progress and hindrances.
What Sun King offers:
- Professional growth in a dynamic, rapidly expanding, high-social-impact industry
- An open-minded, collaborative culture made up of enthusiastic colleagues who are driven by the challenge of innovation towards profound impact on people and the planet.
- A truly multicultural experience: you will have the chance to work with and learn from people from different geographies, nationalities, and backgrounds.
- Structured, tailored learning and development programs that help you become a better leader, manager, and professional through the Sun Center for Leadership.
We place great importance on sustaining a diverse, inclusive work environment.
We believe that innovation and understanding comes from diversity on every spectrum. We work to make sure every Sun King team member knows that they belong, knowing that sustaining an inclusive workplace requires conscious effort and is a continuous journey, not an end-state.
Sun King recruits, employs, trains, compensates and promotes people based on their experience, skills, effort, and results. We explicitly prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, religion, caste, national origin, color, gender, marital status, family structure, sexual orientation, HIV/AIDS status, or disability.
