Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Kenya Airways
Department: People & Change Kenya
Job type: Permanent
Closing date: 05-Sep-14
Location: Nairobi
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.
