General Manager - Plastic Pipe Manufacturing Plant

Overview

We are looking for a seasoned General Manager to lead our plastic pipe manufacturing plant in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The role involves full accountability for extrusion operations of HDPE, PVC (rigid and flexible), and PPR pipes, along with plant maintenance, quality assurance, inventory control, team leadership, and driving business growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee daily manufacturing processes including optimizing line speeds, output ratios, and waste reduction for HDPE, PVC, and PPR pipe production.
• Ensure compliance with Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and international standards (ISO/DIN) through supervision of pressure testing, wall-thickness consistency, and raw material compounding.
• Manage preventive and corrective maintenance schedules for extrusion machinery such as twin-screw and single-screw extruders, vacuum tanks, haul-offs, cutters, and chilling units to reduce downtime.
• Monitor inventories of virgin resins, masterbatches, and additives; coordinate procurement locally and via imports through the Port of Dar es Salaam.
• Lead, train, and mentor cross-functional teams including engineers, operators, technicians, and laborers to ensure efficient plant operations.
• Implement and enforce occupational health, safety, and environmental standards as per local regulations (OSHA Tanzania, NEMC).
• Oversee factory financials including budgeting, monitor key performance indicators (OEE, yield, cost per meter), and present reports to the Board of Directors.

Qualifications and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years in senior management within a plastic pipe manufacturing environment.
• Extensive technical knowledge of extrusion techniques for HDPE, PVC, and PPR pipes including die-heads and mold design.
• Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or Industrial Management.
• Proficiency in machine troubleshooting, ERP systems, raw material planning, budget management, and strong leadership capabilities.
• Fluent in English; proficiency in Swahili is considered an advantage for managing local teams.
• Candidate must be located in or willing to relocate to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.