Caliberly
Chief Operating Officer – Solar and Battery
- Compensation
- Not disclosed
- Location
- Lomé, Togo
- Work setup
- Not specified
- Seniority
- C level
- Employment
- Full time
- Experience
- 10+ years
- Category
- Operations
- Posted
Skills
Must have
- 18+ years of experience in manufacturing, industrial operations or large-scale infrastructure projects.
- Minimum 10+ years of experience in solar PV cell or module manufacturing, semiconductors, batteries or comparable high-volume manufacturing industries.
- Proven experience leading greenfield manufacturing plant development or major industrial expansion projects.
- Strong experience managing construction, equipment installation, commissioning and production ramp-up.
- Hands-on understanding of solar cell and module manufacturing processes and technologies.
- Experience managing large-scale capital expenditure projects, EPC contractors and equipment suppliers.
- Strong knowledge of manufacturing operations, production planning, process optimisation and quality management systems.
- Experience with IEC certifications and ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 standards.
- Strong understanding of supply chain management, procurement, maintenance and manufacturing cost optimisation.
- Experience managing large, multidisciplinary and multicultural teams.
- Experience working in Africa or emerging markets, including government relations, logistics, import/export and local workforce development.
- Bachelor's degree in Mechanical, Electrical, Chemical, Materials or Industrial Engineering.
- Fluent English, written and spoken.
Nice to have
- Master's degree in Engineering or an MBA.
- Experience in battery energy storage manufacturing or integration.
- Experience in West Africa, particularly Togo or neighbouring markets.
- Experience with advanced solar PV manufacturing technologies and automation.
- Experience working with international technology providers and equipment manufacturers.
- French language proficiency.
- Experience establishing manufacturing facilities in emerging markets.
Full description
JOB DESCRIPTION – CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER – SOLAR AND BATTERY
Location: Lomé, Togo
Employment Type: Full-time, Senior Leadership
Reports To: Chief Executive Officer / Board
Role Summary
We are seeking an experienced Chief Operating Officer – Solar and Battery to oversee the development, commissioning and operations of an integrated solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Lomé, Togo, with future expansion into battery energy storage.
The COO will be responsible for overseeing the complete plant development and operational lifecycle, from construction supervision, equipment installation and commissioning to production ramp-up and stable manufacturing operations.
The successful candidate will drive operational excellence, production efficiency, product quality, cost optimisation and safety while building a strong local management team and establishing manufacturing capabilities across West Africa.
Key Responsibilities
1. Plant Development & Project Management
- Oversee the end-to-end development and construction of the solar cell and module manufacturing facility in Lomé, Togo.
- Supervise site development, civil construction, utilities, cleanrooms, equipment installation and commissioning.
- Manage project schedules, budgets, quality standards and safety requirements.
- Oversee EPC contractors, equipment suppliers, technology partners and consultants.
- Lead factory acceptance testing, site acceptance testing, commissioning and production line qualification.
- Define plant layouts, manufacturing processes, utilities requirements and production capacity plans.
- Ensure all necessary permits, licences, utility connections and government approvals are secured.
- Develop operational readiness plans covering SOPs, maintenance, spare parts, quality systems and EHS.
2. Solar Manufacturing Operations
- Oversee day-to-day solar cell and module manufacturing operations.
- Manage wafer-to-cell and cell-to-module production processes.
- Drive production output, yield, throughput, equipment efficiency and manufacturing cost optimisation.
- Lead production ramp-up towards installed nameplate capacity.
- Implement continuous improvement initiatives using Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma and data-driven methodologies.
- Ensure product quality through incoming material inspection, in-process quality control and final product testing.
- Maintain compliance with IEC and other relevant solar cell and module certification requirements.
- Monitor equipment performance, maintenance schedules, production downtime and operational efficiency.