Overview
Managing Director Jobs in Kigali, Kigali City, Rwanda at Abahizi Rwanda
Title: Managing Director
Company: Abahizi Rwanda
Location: Kigali, Kigali City, Rwanda
About Abahizi CBC
Abahizi CBC is a for-profit social enterprise located in Masoro, Rulindo. We are Rwanda’s premier handbags manufacturing company that supplies high quality products to the global fashion industry with a social commitment to empower our employees and transform the community in which we operate. To date, Abahizi has worked with global brands such as Kate Spade New York and Coach. The company employs over 90% women and exists to create a world where women in rural Rwanda are empowered to contribute economically to their families and communities.
Role Summary
The Managing Director has overall responsibility for the operational and commercial performance of Abahizi CBC. Reporting to the Board of Directors, the MD runs the business day to day that includes driving production, quality, efficiency, and financial results while protecting and advancing the company’s social mission. The MD is responsible for building and leading a high-performing team, ensuring the company operates at a high standard, and serves as the primary link between the Board, employees, customers, and partners.
Key Responsibilities
Operations and production
- Operational oversight: Direct day-to-day operations across production, supply chain, quality, and logistics, ensuring output consistently meets customer and contractual standards.
- Systems and efficiency: Build scalable, well-documented processes that improve productivity, reduce waste, and support growth.
- Quality and delivery: Hold the company accountable for on-time delivery and product quality, resolving bottlenecks before they affect customers.
- Compliance: Ensure operations comply with Rwandan law, labor standards, health and safety requirements, and relevant international and buyer requirements.
Commercial and business leadership
- Commercial performance: Own the company’s commercial results that include revenue, margins, and order pipeline, and take action to ensure competitiveness and sustainability of the business.
- Business development: Identify and pursue new customers, markets, products, and contracts to strengthen revenue and align with the company’s mission.
- Customer relationships: Maintain strong relationships with customers and partners, negotiate favorable terms, ensure reliability, and deliver professionally.
Financial management
- Financial accountability: Hold overall responsibility for the company’s financial health that includes budgeting, cash flow, costing, and reporting.
- Controls and stewardship: Maintain sound financial controls, transparency, and responsible use of the company’s financial resources.
- Sustainability: Balance earned revenue with grants and other funding to move the company toward long-term financial self-reliance.
Strategy
- Strategic planning: Develop and execute the operating strategy with the Board. Set annual goals, plans, and performance targets.
- Risk and growth: Identify risks and growth opportunities, adapt plans to market and operating conditions as they change.
People and team leadership
- Team building: Recruit, develop, and retain a strong management team and the broader workforce.
- Culture and capability: Set clear expectations, coach managers, and build leadership capability throughout the company.
- Workforce wellbeing: Promote fair employment practices, employee wellbeing, and professional growth consistent with the company’s values.
Social impact and external relations
- Mission safeguarding: Ensure operations continue to deliver measurable benefit to employees and the community, monitoring and reporting on impact.
- Partnerships and representation: Represent Abahizi CBC to funders, Government, Development Partners, and community partners, and serve as its primary spokesperson.
Governance
- Work closely with the Board by providing accurate information and clear recommendations to support good governance, and implement Board decisions with integrity and accountability.
Qualifications and Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in business administration, management, or a related field; a Master’s degree (such as an MBA) will be an advantage.
- 8 – 10 years in senior leadership roles, ideally including general management or executive responsibility in a manufacturing, or production enterprise setting.
- Demonstrated success running operations that include production, supply chain, quality, and delivery at scale.
- Strong track record in financial management, budgeting, business growth and commercial performance.
- Experience balancing commercial objectives with social or community impact goals.
- Proven ability to build customer relationships and win new business or contracts.
- Experience working in Rwanda or a comparable operating context strongly preferred.
Skills and Attributes
- Strong operational and commercial judgment with an entrepreneurial, results-oriented mindset.
- Hands-on leader able to manage detail while keeping sight of the bigger picture.
- Genuine commitment to social impact and the empowerment of women and families.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
- High integrity, sound judgment, and cultural sensitivity.
- Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda. Some understanding of French.
How to Apply
Interested candidates should submit a CV and a cover letter outlining their suitability for the role to [email protected] and [email protected] by 23rd/07/2026. Abahizi CBC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from all qualified candidates.