Senior Lead, Business Improvement Process at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

• Reporting to the Business Excellence Manager, The primary purpose of the Senior Business Improvement Lead role is to manage and oversee the Business Improvement Plan within the refinery, from sourcing innovative ideas to progressing them through the project pipeline.
• This role is responsible for tracking the implementation of initiatives, reporting on their progress, and realizing value, both financially and operationally. Serving as a strategic leader, the Senior Business Improvement Lead coordinates closely with various departments, including Finance, to ensure that all business improvement efforts align with the company's overarching goals and strategies.
• This role is also pivotal in performing economic evaluations, presenting key performance indicators to stakeholders, and leading the annual business planning process.
• Additionally, the Senior Business Improvement Lead explores and coordinates business development opportunities, ensuring that all initiatives and projects are not only technically feasible but also strategically aligned and economically sound. This role plays a critical part in enhancing the refinery’s competitive edge and operational excellence.

Core responsibilities include:

• Overseeing the development, prioritization, and resourcing strategies of the Business Improvement Plan, ensuring alignment with the refinery's strategic objectives and AE Corporate Strategy.
• Manage the Business Improvement Plan, overseeing the entire lifecycle of each initiative: sourcing ideas, progressing them through the pipeline, tracking implementation, and reporting on progress and value realization, including financial aspects.
• Developing and overseeing Gross Margin improvements and Sustaining Capital Project opportunities, coordinating with the Capital Projects team and Capital Lead.
• Leading and coordinating business development opportunities, including pre-appraisal and conceptual assessments, and ensuring alignment with the overall Business Improvement Plan and corporate strategy.
• Overseeing the Enterprise Risk Management process for the refinery to identify, manage, and mitigate risks.
• Leading the annual planning processes and setting deliverables for the Business Improvement Plan for the upcoming year.
• Provide economic and strategic guidance for technical studies to ensure that technical changes fit strategically and are economically sound.
• Perform economic evaluations on refinery projects by modelling the proposed changes in the refinery planning tools, performing cash flow analyses, calculating financial indicators, and conducting appropriate risk analyses.
• Manage, update, and present the refinery scorecard to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate the annual business planning process along with the Finance team.
• Lean principles advisor at the refinery

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum of 10 years of professional experience, with >10 years Refining experience strongly advantageous
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field.
• An MBA or advanced degree is strongly preferred
• Prior business improvement or strategic role in a refinery or similar industry preferred.
• Technically strong and have a business acumen.
• Proven experience in overseeing end-to-end business improvement plans.
• Strong Financial Analysis Skills: Ability to perform detailed financial analysis including cash flow projections, ROI calculations, and understanding financial indicators to make well-informed decisions.
• Project and Change Management: preferably Certified in project management methodologies such as PMP, Prince2, or equivalent, with strong skills in change management.
• Strategic Thinking: Ability to align operational activities with organizational strategy and objectives.
• Technical Acumen: Understanding of refinery operations, risk assessments, and technical studies to make informed decisions.
• Communication Skills: Exceptional ability to present complex ideas clearly and concisely to various stakeholders, including senior leadership.
• Leadership: Proven ability to lead and manage a team, with strong skills in motivating, mentoring, and coaching team members.
• Collaboration and Teamwork: Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with various departments and stakeholders.