Chief Operating Officer - Luggage Industry

COO (Chief Operating Officer):VIP Industries: Mongla, Bangladesh!

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER - BANGLADESH

Location: Mongla, Bangladesh

Reporting to : CEO Bangladesh

The company has been a prominent player in the luggage industry. It's amongst the worlds leading manufacturers and retailers of luggage, backpacks, and handbags. With a legacy built over the years, it takes pride in launching market-leading brands, including its flagship brand, which has become synonymous with the luggage category in India. The brand reflects the companys commitment to understanding consumer preferences and driving quality and innovation that meets their expectations. Its operational success is attributed to its stellar brand portfolio, state-of-the-art manufacturing plants in India and Bangladesh, and a robust distribution network that ensures easy accessibility to its products.

The Manpower:

Management (on-rolls): 120

Workforce: 7500 8000 (55 % are women)

Role & Responsibilities:

The COO holds a pivotal position in shaping the company's future trajectory in Bangladesh. The incumbent will be entrusted with the task of leading the operations in Bangladesh in alignment with the companys strategic vision. This role has the following core responsibilities:

1. People Management and Local Authority Relations: Building and nurturing strong relationships with local authorities to secure necessary clearances and approvals while effectively managing personnel-related issues.

2. Factory Management: Taking charge of the operations across the seven factories, with the expansion plan in sight to eventually encompass eight factories, employing approximately 8000-10,000 workforce.

3. Project Management: Overseeing both brownfield and greenfield projects aimed at expanding production capacity.

4. Business Plan Execution: Leading the execution of the business plan, which includes the establishment of more factories dedicated to soft luggage, with the potential to later incorporate hard luggage (extrusion and molding) into the product portfolio.

5. Sourcing Coordination: Collaborating closely with sourcing teams in India and China to ensure the timely procurement of all necessary input materials for each factory.

6. Process Enhancement: Implementing advanced systems and processes encompassing budgeting, costing, quality control, and productivity improvements, drawing from best-in-class manufacturing practices.

7. Local Procurement Development: Spearheading the development of a vendor base and the establishment of an in-house component manufacturing facility to reduce reliance on external sources.

8. Export Logistics and Compliance: Managing export logistics and documentation for both full and part container loads destined for India and other export markets.

9. Regulatory Liaison: Maintaining positive and compliant relationships with local authorities to fulfill all statutory requirements and obligations.

10. Automation Implementation: Strategically introducing cost-effective automation solutions to enhance efficiency.

11. Quality Assurance: Ensuring impeccable fit and finish of products to meet and exceed customer expectations.

12. Strategic Planning: Proactively planning for the continuous productivity of manufacturing, supply chain, and other critical operational functions.

13. Employee Relations and Welfare: Fostering positive employee relations, overseeing training and development initiatives, and managing welfare activities, with a special focus on the welfare of female workforce, which comprises 55% of employees.

14. Productivity Enhancement: Continuously improving factory productivity while maintaining a compassionate and empathetic approach towards the workforce.

15. Potential Expanded Role: As they progress, this role may evolve to encompass commercial and supply chain functions, ultimately bearing Profit and Loss (P&L) responsibilities.

The COO will be instrumental in driving the company's growth and success in Bangladesh, ensuring that operations align seamlessly with their strategic objectives and uphold the highest standards of quality and efficiency.