Regional Manager

Role Overview

The Regional Manager leads the day-to-day performance of a Food for Education region, overseeing its kitchens, schools and Area Supervisors to deliver dependable meal service at scale. You will turn organisational priorities into clear operating plans, manage regional financial performance and address issues affecting cost, production, delivery, safety and the learner experience. Your leadership helps ensure that growth is matched by disciplined, consistent operations.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop regional plans with measurable targets, accountable owners and milestones covering cost, production, delivery, consumption, experience, safety and controls.
• Manage the regional income statement, including cost per meal, utilisation and relevant cross-functional costs; investigate variances and lead targeted recovery actions.
• Monitor service and operating results across kitchens and schools, identify the causes of uneven performance, and coordinate corrective action with Area Supervisors.
• Maintain food safety and operational control standards, escalating significant risks quickly and confirming that corrective actions are completed and documented.
• Work with support teams such as Government Relations, Supply Chain, Logistics and Food Safety and Quality to remove operational constraints beyond the authority of Area Supervisors.
• Coach and assess Area Supervisors, set clear expectations, conduct regular performance reviews and develop succession coverage.
• Keep senior operations leaders informed through accurate, timely reporting, and follow through on escalations and stakeholder commitments.
• Support a region through pre-launch and launch in partnership with the Frontier Markets team, then take full responsibility for performance once operations are established.

Requirements & Qualifications

• University degree or equivalent qualification.
• At least four years of demonstrated experience managing a multi-site profit and loss account in high-volume operations, distribution or a comparable environment.
• Evidence of turning organisational strategy into practical area-level plans with measurable results.
• Experience leading managers across dispersed locations and coordinating multiple support functions.
• Ability to improve cost, service and safety performance at the same time.
• Familiarity with the Kenyan operating environment and experience engaging government or other stakeholders are an advantage.

What Success Looks Like

• Regional financial results remain within the approved budget allocation, with cost per meal improving and performance gaps between areas narrowing.
• Utilisation targets are achieved, with tapping above 85% and portfolio-level utilisation reaching 90%.
• Food safety standards are met across the region, with a 100% pass rate and no tolerance for safety failures.
• Area Supervisors have clear targets and owners, regional plans are submitted in full, and agreed milestones are completed on time.
• Area Supervisors receive regular performance reviews and have credible succession coverage.
• Operational blockages are resolved through active coordination with teams including Logistics, Supply Chain, Food Safety and Quality, Facilities, Finance and People.
• Senior leadership receives timely, direct updates on regional performance, and newly launched regions operate with full accountability from day one.