Country Manager

Remarkable people, trusted by clients to design and advance the world.

Wood is recruiting for a Country Manager to join our team in Angola, West Africa.

Responsible for all business activities and budgets for our WG Kianda operating company in Angola, West Africa, and all business start up requirements.

The Country Manager will have significant operational experience and be responsible for the operation of the Angolan business area with experience across multiple clients, services or locations with the ability to work independently on most elements of the role.

Location: Luanda, Angola, West Africa.

Rotation \ Work Pattern: Residential position or working on an extended rotation 6 week on \ 3 weeks off or similar.

Provides operational management; accountable for the people agenda, growth, development and delivery performance in assigned area, play a key role in developing the strategy and supporting the delivery of the local business plan.

Take a leadership role and influence in the delivery of HSSEA, technical and financial performance, achieving monthly and annual targets, demonstrating clear safety and ethical leadership and embedding company values. Responsible for ensuring compliance with applicable laws and policies.

Directs and leads operational delivery and support team(s) to deliver services to customers, ensuring Wood is working to the highest possible standards of integrity, safety, quality and operational excellence. Develop solutions to strategic, contractual, commercial, operational and personnel related challenges which impact on customer service and performance.

Establishing and maintaining excellent internal and external stakeholder relationships.

The role is the main client interface and is also integral for developing future business through promoting our additional service line offerings and identifying opportunities to expand current service lines.

A key objective of the role is to support nationalisation; promoting development programmes for national personnel thus aligning with mandatory national to expat ratio.

Management and oversight of key position succession planning with career development plans maintained for all direct reports.

Key Responsibilities

• Accountable to the Operations Director for the safe and profitable delivery of WG Kianda operating interests in Angola.
• Maintain a high standard of customer relations, service quality and client satisfaction.
• Ensure achievement of client safety and performance KPI’s.
• Annual budget planning, development, preparation and implementation.
• Work closely with business development to grow business, actively participating in presentations to customers and in tenders.
• Responsible for development, competency and performance management of the Kianda Management team putting succession plans in place as appropriate.
• Provide direction and leadership of WG Kianada to meet customer expectations, commercial performance and continuous improvement.
• Fully familiar with Wood security requirements and ensure local compliance with same
• Lead local Emergency Response Team
• Work with the Regional Technical support to ensure that PEER reviews / Audits / Investigations are undertaken in a planned manner as required.
• Promote Wood to customers, manufacturers and suppliers.
• Coordinate with clients in implementing the HSEQ requirements such as HSE improvement plans, Duty of Care, personnel safety inductions and incident reporting and investigations.
• Ensuring WG Kianda entity is fully compliant with Angola legislation and managing any employment law matters in conjunction with legal and HR teams.
• Government relations and interface is a key requirement to ensure good relations are maintained and business is operated compliantly, meeting any governmental and reporting requirements.

Working Relationships

Internal

• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communicate across the business interfaces, including in country teams plus South Africa and wider MEAC functional support.
• Maintain excellent relationships with Wood affiliates, JV Partner and functional focal points.
• Maintain interfaces across functional and business boundaries

External

Communicate and co-operate with external stakeholders including: industrial bodies, academia, market intelligence, local authorities, governing bodies, legal support, relevant conferences, vendors, business acquisition and business development, client interface (as appropriate and requested).

Level of Influence & decision Making Authority

• Responsible for management of annual budgets of up to $200M in contracts with various IOC producers in the O&G EG marketplace.
• Management of WG Kianda Social Responsibility programme, with up to $1m annual budget.
• A broad range of experience and ability to be flexible in the approach to the role.
• Good understanding of the commercial drivers in our business.
• Knowledge of Wood procedures, tools, systems and people.
• At all times act in interest of Wood
• Key client interface
• Responsible for all employees assigned to clients;

What makes you remarkable?

Qualifications

• PMP (Project Management Professional) certification is desirable
• University degree – optional or college diploma

Knowledge Skills & Experience

• Several years O&G Industry experience including offshore and onshore operations with an O&M background with FPSO experience.
• Be able to engage authoritatively and in detail on FPSO, pipeline and onshore O&G asset O&M, prepare and manage operating budgets
• Experience of working within Africa is preferred, West Africa would be a significant benefit.
• Project Management experience and previous experience in client facing role a requirement.
• Proficiency in Portuguese language or willingness to learn.
• Strong IT Skills.

Personal Attributes

• High degree of customer and delivery focus with personal energy and drive to establish, set-up and grow a new business.
• Flexible to adapt to the growth of the company and willing to learn and develop their own career.
• A committed safety leader.
• Flexible and creative solution provider.
• Ability to manage change, analyse and solve problems.
• Capable of providing direction, guidance and support to the team members.
• Understanding of engineering and construction activities.
• Familiar with O&M and FPSO activity at level of customer engagement.
• Experience of development and implementation of management systems and competence management frameworks.
• Fully familiar with Wood Code of business conduct and compliance with same at all times, recognising when at risk of breach and taking action in accordance with CoBC.