Strategy Director - Sub Saharan Africa

Saint-Gobain Group; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,300,000 - 1,700,000; Full time

Job summary

Saint-Gobain Construction Products South Africa is seeking a senior regional leader to own and drive Sub-Saharan Africa growth strategy, translating regional plans into practical multi-year roadmaps. The role oversees market-entry strategies and coordinates Finance, HR, Legal, Supply Chain and external partners to deliver investment-ready country plans.

The ideal candidate brings 10+ years in strategic leadership, with strong M&A, financial modelling and stakeholder-management capabilities, and

Qualifications

• Degree in Commerce, Economics, Finance, Engineering or related field; MBA strongly preferred.
• 10+ years in strategic leadership with at least 5 years in senior management.
• Experience in M&A, investment-case development, financial modelling and managing external consultants.
• Strong executive communication and stakeholder-management skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own SSA growth strategy and roadmaps; translate into multi-year plans with resource, investment, milestones.
• Assess new-country opportunities and determine entry models (export, distribution, partnerships, JV, acquisition, greenfield).
• Lead strategic planning, M&A and partnership activity across SSA; screen targets, perform due diligence and integration planning.
• Present evidence-based growth strategies to SSA leadership and Group stakeholders in Paris; monitor macro developments and advise on implications.
• Ensure initiatives comply with governance, risk, compliance, sustainability and investment requirements.

Skills

Strategic leadership

M&A experience

Financial modelling

Stakeholder management

Executive communication

Education

MBA or equivalent

Degree in Commerce/Economics/Engineering

Job description

• Develop and own the Sub-Saharan Africa growth strategy and roadmap, applying the Start Up, Scale Up and Step Up framework to define how each market will enter, grow and transform.
• Translate the regional strategy into practical multi-year plans with clear resource, investment, return, stage-gate and milestone requirements.
• Assess new-country opportunities and determine suitable entry models, including export, distribution, partnership, joint venture, acquisition or greenfield investment.
• Build investment-ready country plans by coordinating Finance, HR, Legal, Supply Chain, Marketing, the Solutions team and external consulting partners.
• Lead strategic planning, M&A and partnership activity across the region, including target screening, valuation, due diligence, negotiation support and integration planning.
• Prepare and present evidence-based growth strategies and investment cases to SSA leadership and Group stakeholders in Paris.
• Monitor economic, political, regulatory, currency, competitor and industry developments across Sub-Saharan Africa and advise the SSA Executive Committee on their implications.
• Ensuring market-entry, partnership and growth initiatives comply with Saint-Gobain governance, risk, compliance, sustainability and investment requirements.

Is this job for you ?

You will need a degree in Commerce, Economics, Finance, Engineering or a related field. An MBA or equivalent postgraduate qualification in Strategy or Business is strongly preferred. You should bring at least 10 years' experience in strategic leadership, including a minimum of 5 years at senior management level, with a proven record of developing and executing growth or market-entry strategies. The role also requires experience in M&A, investment-case development, financial modelling and the management of external consulting partners. Strong executive communication, analytical thinking and stakeholder-management capability are essential.

A little more about us

Saint-Gobain Construction Products South Africa is a leading manufacturer and distributor of innovative construction solutions. Through trusted brands and sustainable building materials, we serve the residential, commercial and infrastructure sectors across Southern Africa. Our Alrode operation plays a critical role in delivering high-quality products, operational excellence and customer-focused solutions, while fostering a culture of safety, continuous improvement and innovation.

To make sure nothing is forgotten

This is a senior regional leadership opportunity for a commercially astute strategist who can turn Sub-Saharan Africa growth ambition into credible, executable and investment-ready plans. Success will require influence across countries and functions, disciplined governance, sound judgement in complex markets and the ability to build confidence with both regional and Group stakeholders.

Legal Statement

We value the importance of a diverse workforce as a cornerstone of our business success. Our primary focus in selecting the most suitable candidates for our roles is based on their skills, qualifications, and experience. We wholeheartedly embrace the principle of equal opportunity in our employment processes and are committed to eliminating any unlawful discrimination in our hiring practices.