About Our Client:

Our client is a fast-growing Ugandan food production company producing organic, nutritious baby porridge made from locally sourced ingredients including soya, maize, millet, rice and cassava. The company was founded with a mission to combat child malnutrition by providing wholesome, affordable and natural foods for children. They are now looking for a hands-on, trustworthy Operations Manager to run their daily operations.

Job Summary:

We are seeking a highly organized, honest and sales-driven Operations Manager to oversee the entire small business operation. This is NOT a desk-only role. The ideal candidate will be on the ground – managing production, ensuring 100% accurate inventory and cash reconciliation, leading a field distribution team, driving sales and marketing, and handling basic HR, accounting and admin tasks using ERP / Excel. You will be responsible for planning daily production, managing stock from raw materials to finished goods, issuing stock to field sellers, ensuring all cash is banked daily, growing sales in retail shops and supermarkets, managing content on WhatsApp Business and social media, and ensuring the business runs smoothly and profitably.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. PRODUCTION & QUALITY

• Plan and execute daily production as per stock needs.
• Ensure proper weighing, mixing, drying, milling and packing.
• Maintain cleanliness, GMP and basic food safety.
• Report machine issues and manage casual labour.

2. INVENTORY & STORE – MUST

• Maintain accurate stock of raw materials and finished goods.
• Record all raw materials received, used, and balance left.
• Issue finished goods to the field team with clear issue forms.
• Do daily reconciliation: Opening Stock + Production – Sales/Issued = Closing Stock.
• Weekly physical stock count.

3. SALES & MARKETING

Sales Management

• Set daily sales targets for field distribution team.
• Assign routes, follow up sales in the field via phone/physical check.
• Ensure every seller deposits 100% of cash daily and shares deposit slip.
• Handle key accounts – supermarkets, pharmacies, baby shops in Kampala.
• Collect market feedback on pricing, competitor products and customer complaints.
• Drive product visibility: Ensure field team place posters, shelf talkers, and arrange products properly in shops.
• Run basic marketing on WhatsApp Business, Facebook, TikTok – post 3-4 times a week: product benefits, customer testimonials, production behind-the-scenes.
• Respond to customer inquiries and convert them to orders. Organize small market activations, sampling in clinics, hospitals, baby fairs.
• Identify new markets, shops and distributors to onboard.
• Track what sells fastest (which flour mix) and advise the Founder on promotions.
• Prepare daily sales report: Who sold what, where, how much cash banked.
• Monthly report: Best performing product, best performing seller, slow areas, lost customers.

4. FINANCE & ACCOUNTING

• Enter all transactions in ERP / Excel – sales, purchases, expenses, banking.
• Manage petty cash with accountability.
• File all receipts and deposit slips. Follow up banking daily and report shortages.
• Support URA compliance in coordination with the accounting team.

5. HR & ADMIN

• Keep staff attendance, leave, and enforce discipline.
• Recruit and train new field sellers and production assistants.
• Open/close facility, ensure safety and hygiene.
• Handle general office administration and procurement of packaging, etc.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Diploma/Degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science or related – experience is more important.
• 2+ years in FMCG sales, small food business, or managing field sales agents.
• Strong sales drive, good with numbers, very honest with stock and cash.
• Knows how to sell in the Ugandan retail market and use WhatsApp Business for marketing.
• Can use smartphones, Excel, and is willing to learn ERP Next.
• Motorcycle riding is an added advantage.

• Plan and execute daily production as per stock needs.
• Ensure proper weighing, mixing, drying, milling and packing.
• Maintain cleanliness, GMP and basic food safety.
• Report machine issues and manage casual labour.
• Maintain accurate stock of raw materials and finished goods.
• Record all raw materials received, used, and balance left.
• Issue finished goods to the field team with clear issue forms.
• Do daily reconciliation: Opening Stock + Production – Sales/Issued = Closing Stock.
• Weekly physical stock count.
• Set daily sales targets for field distribution team.
• Assign routes, follow up sales in the field via phone/physical check.
• Ensure every seller deposits 100% of cash daily and shares deposit slip.
• Handle key accounts – supermarkets, pharmacies, baby shops in Kampala.
• Collect market feedback on pricing, competitor products and customer complaints.
• Drive product visibility: Ensure field team place posters, shelf talkers, and arrange products properly in shops.
• Run basic marketing on WhatsApp Business, Facebook, TikTok – post 3-4 times a week: product benefits, customer testimonials, production behind-the-scenes.
• Respond to customer inquiries and convert them to orders. Organize small market activations, sampling in clinics, hospitals, baby fairs.
• Identify new markets, shops and distributors to onboard.
• Track what sells fastest (which flour mix) and advise the Founder on promotions.
• Prepare daily sales report: Who sold what, where, how much cash banked.
• Monthly report: Best performing product, best performing seller, slow areas, lost customers.
• Enter all transactions in ERP / Excel – sales, purchases, expenses, banking.
• Manage petty cash with accountability.
• File all receipts and deposit slips. Follow up banking daily and report shortages.
• Support URA compliance in coordination with the accounting team.
• Keep staff attendance, leave, and enforce discipline.
• Recruit and train new field sellers and production assistants.
• Open/close facility, ensure safety and hygiene.
• Handle general office administration and procurement of packaging, etc.

• Strong sales drive
• Good with numbers
• Honesty and accountability with stock and cash
• Selling in the Ugandan retail market
• WhatsApp Business marketing
• Smartphone and Excel skills
• Willingness to learn ERP Next
• Motorcycle riding is an added advantage

• Diploma/Degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science or related – experience is more important.
• 2+ years in FMCG sales, small food business, or managing field sales agents.