Head of Carpentry Business Operations

Location: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Arrangement: On-Site

Application Deadline: November 20, 2026

About the Role

People Project is recruiting on behalf of a leading company operating in the construction sector for an experienced and commercially driven Head of Carpentry Business Operations.

In this role, you will take full ownership of the commercial, operational, and financial performance of the Carpentry Business Unit. You will oversee the complete lifecycle—from business development, customer engagement, costing, and procurement to workshop production, quality control, site installation, and project handover. Your key objective will be to establish an efficient, professionally managed, and profitable division by streamlining workflows, maximizing production capacity, and driving growth.

Key Responsibilities

1. Business Unit Leadership & Growth

• Provide overall operational and commercial leadership for the Carpentry Business Unit.
• Formulate and execute annual business plans, production strategy, and financial performance targets.
• Identify expansion opportunities across construction, property development, hospitality, and corporate fit-out sectors.
• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) and report monthly business results to senior executive management.

2. Commercial & Business Development

• Develop and maintain a strong sales pipeline across B2B and private client segments.
• Review drawings, specifications, and BOQs to oversee accurate cost estimation, pricing, and proposal creation.
• Ensure all quotations adequately account for materials, labor, machinery, logistics, overheads, and profit margins.
• Negotiate commercial terms, track quotation conversion rates, and manage customer relationships.

3. Production & Workshop Operations

• Oversee daily workshop activities including cutting, processing, assembly, sanding, finishing, and packaging.
• Formulate production schedules aligned with client order requirements to optimize capacity and machine utilization.
• Monitor work-in-progress (WIP), identify bottlenecks, and minimize machine downtime and labor inefficiencies.
• Implement robust production procedures to reduce rework and eliminate manufacturing delays.

4. Cost Control & Financial Management

• Maintain continuous oversight of job-level costing, gross margins, and division profitability.
• Analyze material consumption, labor hours, and operational variances against approved job budgets.
• Identify loss-making jobs and implement corrective actions to enforce cost discipline.
• Partner with Finance to monitor billing, interim milestones, receivables, and cash collections.

5. Procurement & Inventory Control

• Oversee material planning for timber, boards, hardware, paints, adhesives, and related production supplies.
• Establish strict controls over storage, stock handling, and material wastage.
• Coordinate with Procurement/Stores to avoid inventory shortages while maintaining optimal stock levels.
• Conduct periodic physical inventory audits and investigate stock variances.

6. Site Installation & Project Delivery

• Plan and supervise site installation teams to ensure timely delivery and high-quality workmanship.
• Confirm site readiness prior to dispatching teams, materials, and custom joinery products.
• Coordinate with main Project Managers, Site Engineers, and clients to manage snagging, rectifications, and final sign-offs.

7. Quality Assurance & Workshop Machinery

• Implement strict QA/QC standards from raw material receipt through final dispatch and installation.
• Maintain records of defects, NCRs, and customer feedback to drive continuous operational improvement.
• Oversee preventive maintenance schedules for all workshop machinery and equipment to ensure safe and continuous operation.

8. HSEQ, Systems & Leadership

• Enforce adherence to Tanzanian safety legislation, workplace health rules, chemical handling, and fire prevention.
• Oversee full data accuracy in the company ERP system (work orders, job codes, material requisitions).
• Supervise, mentor, and build a high-performing team of carpenters, machine operators, polishers, and site supervisors.

Qualifications & Requirements

Education

• Bachelor’s Degree or Diploma in Business Management, Operations Management, Production Management, Construction, Wood Technology, Interior Design, or a related discipline.

Experience

• 8–10+ years of total experience in carpentry, joinery, furniture manufacturing, interior fit-outs, or related operations.
• 3–5+ years in a senior managerial or operational leadership role managing workshop production and site installations.

Commercial & Technical Expertise

• Demonstrated track record in commercial costing, pricing, BOQ estimation, and margin management.
• Strong background in business development, customer relationship management, and contract negotiation.
• Hands-on experience with ERP/job-costing systems and workshop capacity planning.

Leadership & Operations

• Practical experience supervising multidisciplinary teams (carpenters, polishers, machine operators, installers).

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their application via the official recruitment page prior to November 20, 2026.

Apply for Head of Carpentry Business Operations (https://peopleproject-co-limited.careers-page.com/jobs/12544ca8-b161-4171-bd5f-e59434188137)