The Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) Limited is a State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) charged with the mandate to spearhead the Zambian Government’s commercial investments agenda aimed at strengthening Zambia’s industrial base and job creation. The Corporation’s vision is to be Africa’s best performing Wealth Fund and Investment Partner of choice. Its Mission is to secure, manage and diversify Zambia’s wealth for current and future generations by making strategic investments that drive sustainable economic development. A need has arisen to fill the position of:

GENERAL MANAGER

Job Purpose

The General Manager (GM) shall act on behalf of the Board of Directors in alignment with the policies, vision, mission, and core values of the Company. The GM shall provide transformational leadership, strategic oversight, and operational direction to ensure that the Company’s strategies are effectively implemented for sustainable growth, profitability, and long-term competitiveness in the agro-processing sector.

Responsibilities or duties

Key Roles and Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Provide visionary and transformative leadership to drive institutional performance, operational excellence, and a high-performance culture.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Company’s strategic plan, aligning departmental activities with corporate priorities and industry best practices.
• Champion innovation, business transformation, and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the Company’s market position.
• Promote adherence to corporate policies, statutory requirements, and sector-specific regulatory frameworks.
• Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and inclusive working environment in compliance with occupational health and safety standards.

Financial Management

• Oversee the Company’s financial sustainability by ensuring sound liquidity, profitability, and cost management.
• Provide executive oversight in the preparation and submission of annual operational and capital budgets for Board approval.
• Monitor financial performance and provide quarterly reports to the Board, including variance analyses and corrective action measures.
• Ensure strict adherence to approved accounting standards, audit requirements, procurement regulations, and financial reporting obligations.

Corporate Strategy and Policy Oversight

• Translate the Company’s vision and mission into actionable strategies that enhance growth, competitiveness, and market expansion.
• Oversee development, implementation, and periodic review of policies, procedures, and operational frameworks across all business units.
• Guide the modernization and optimization of tea processing operations, agricultural production systems, and value-chain integration.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance

• Strengthen governance systems that uphold transparency, accountability, ethical conduct, and effective internal controls.
• Oversee risk management frameworks to identify, mitigate, and monitor operational, financial, strategic, and market risks.
• Coordinate internal and external audit processes and ensure timely implementation of recommendations.
• Develop and maintain Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans to safeguard operations.
• Ensure comprehensive insurance coverage and enterprise-wide risk mitigation measures.

Board and Stakeholder Relations

• Maintain a productive working relationship with the Board of Directors, ensuring timely and accurate submission of reports, proposals, and updates to support effective decision-making.
• Collaborate with the Board Chairperson to ensure strategic alignment of Board activities, meetings, and resolutions.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders including tea out-growers, cooperatives, suppliers, distributors, regulators, local communities, and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
• Represent the Company in sectoral forums and government engagements to advance the Company’s strategic interests.

Marketing, Business Development & Value Chain Enhancement

• Lead the development and execution of marketing, brand positioning, and market penetration strategies for the Company’s products.
• Ensure customer satisfaction, product quality consistency, and responsiveness to market feedback.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, product diversification initiatives, and export market potential.
• Build alliances with agricultural value-chain actors to promote supply chain stability, including out-grower schemes.

Operational Excellence & Human Capital Management

• Ensure efficient, high-quality tea processing operations through implementation of modern manufacturing, agricultural, and sustainability practices.
• Strengthen performance management systems and drive a culture of accountability, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Promote staff development, talent retention, and compliance with labour laws and HR policy frameworks.
• Ensure alignment of human resource practices with the Company’s operational needs and long-term business strategy.

Qualifications or requirements (e.g., education, skills)

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Grade 12 Certificate.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Food Science, Business Administration, Production Management, or relevant field.
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Agriculture, Agribusiness, or related field will be an added advantage.
• Professional Membership to a relevant institution.

Skill Specifications

• Strategic planning, execution, and business transformation.
• Financial analysis, forecasting, and corporate budgeting.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Risk identification, management, and mitigation.
• Governance, compliance, and regulatory oversight.
• Operational management in manufacturing or agro processing.
• Agricultural value-chain management (desirable).

Experience needed

Minimum of 10 years of senior management experience in agribusiness, manufacturing, agro-processing, FMCG or relevant sector.

• Provide visionary and transformative leadership to drive institutional performance, operational excellence, and a high-performance culture.
• Ensure effective implementation of the Company’s strategic plan, aligning departmental activities with corporate priorities and industry best practices.
• Champion innovation, business transformation, and sustainable agricultural practices to enhance the Company’s market position.
• Promote adherence to corporate policies, statutory requirements, and sector-specific regulatory frameworks.
• Establish and maintain a safe, productive, and inclusive working environment in compliance with occupational health and safety standards.
• Oversee the Company’s financial sustainability by ensuring sound liquidity, profitability, and cost management.
• Provide executive oversight in the preparation and submission of annual operational and capital budgets for Board approval.
• Monitor financial performance and provide quarterly reports to the Board, including variance analyses and corrective action measures.
• Ensure strict adherence to approved accounting standards, audit requirements, procurement regulations, and financial reporting obligations.
• Translate the Company’s vision and mission into actionable strategies that enhance growth, competitiveness, and market expansion.
• Oversee development, implementation, and periodic review of policies, procedures, and operational frameworks across all business units.
• Guide the modernization and optimization of tea processing operations, agricultural production systems, and value-chain integration.
• Strengthen governance systems that uphold transparency, accountability, ethical conduct, and effective internal controls.
• Oversee risk management frameworks to identify, mitigate, and monitor operational, financial, strategic, and market risks.
• Coordinate internal and external audit processes and ensure timely implementation of recommendations.
• Develop and maintain Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plans to safeguard operations.
• Ensure comprehensive insurance coverage and enterprise-wide risk mitigation measures.
• Maintain a productive working relationship with the Board of Directors, ensuring timely and accurate submission of reports, proposals, and updates to support effective decision-making.
• Collaborate with the Board Chairperson to ensure strategic alignment of Board activities, meetings, and resolutions.
• Build and strengthen partnerships with key stakeholders including tea out-growers, cooperatives, suppliers, distributors, regulators, local communities, and the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC).
• Represent the Company in sectoral forums and government engagements to advance the Company’s strategic interests.
• Lead the development and execution of marketing, brand positioning, and market penetration strategies for the Company’s products.
• Ensure customer satisfaction, product quality consistency, and responsiveness to market feedback.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, product diversification initiatives, and export market potential.
• Build alliances with agricultural value-chain actors to promote supply chain stability, including out-grower schemes.
• Ensure efficient, high-quality tea processing operations through implementation of modern manufacturing, agricultural, and sustainability practices.
• Strengthen performance management systems and drive a culture of accountability, productivity, and continuous improvement.
• Promote staff development, talent retention, and compliance with labour laws and HR policy frameworks.
• Ensure alignment of human resource practices with the Company’s operational needs and long-term business strategy.

• Strategic planning, execution, and business transformation.
• Financial analysis, forecasting, and corporate budgeting.
• Stakeholder engagement and relationship management.
• Risk identification, management, and mitigation.
• Governance, compliance, and regulatory oversight.
• Operational management in manufacturing or agro processing.
• Agricultural value-chain management (desirable).

• Grade 12 Certificate.
• Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Food Science, Business Administration, Production Management, or relevant field.
• Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA), Agriculture, Agribusiness, or related field will be an added advantage.
• Professional Membership to a relevant institution.