Vacancy: Raw Materials Production Manager

We boast over 15 years of experience in the horticulture sector and have found our niche in the production, sourcing and supplying of, as well as trading in, country fresh fruits and vegetables; we provide an integrated supply chain from the grower source to various market segments and customers globally.

We have recently injected a significant amount of private equity capital which will see us realize our very ambitious growth plan in the next couple of years, indeed, moving some of our operations from our current base upcountry to Nairobi.

Job Purpose

Workign with a team of professional agronmoists, you will be responsible for all things agronomy in the organisation particularly developing best practice crop husbandry standards and enforcing compliance on on-farms and contract farms.

Main Tasks and Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sustainable and/or time-bound strategies and operational plans for extension services for selected crops.
• Ensure that production intensification approaches are environmentally sustainable and market relevant.
• Facilitate innovation and use of technology to improve yield and post-harvest handling.
• Supervise, support and hold accountable the agronomists and their field teams on efficient and effective delivery of training programmes at field level to improve crop productivity, post-harvest handling, and incomes of smallholders.
• Engage the regional and district government in strategizing and planning to improve agriculture programs and practices.
• Support the market development unit to facilitate linkages of program producers groups to relevant value chain actors for improved profitability for farmers.
• Ensure organization and implementation of farmer field days, farmers exchange visits, exposure visits for government officials and other partners as well as such similar learning and awareness creation endeavors.
• Facilitate the development of learning and training materials as well as information and communication bulletins.
• Supervise in conjunction with other Agronomic staff as may be required, field surveys related to agriculture and livelihood such as yield measurement, adoption rates, impact of extension services etc
• Write monthly, quarterly summaries and annual reports to the sector managers as may be required for the purpose of program documentation, M&E and reporting to board of directors
• Contribute to organisation’s quarterly and annual planning meetings and budgeting process by furnishing timely information on the agronomic aspect of crop cultivation.
• Ensure adequate and useful communications linkages are maintained between the project management, the communities and other stakeholders in a transparent manner that eliminates confusion.
• Planning for the hiring and management of Farm operation staff.
• Logistic planning and execution for inputs and produce for own-farm crops
• Liaise with Production team in production planning and ensure implementation of area production plan
• Organize for the training and supervising farmers, area technical assistants and clerks and other staff
• Planning and organizing the carrying out of demos and trials and analysing demo results for production planning.
• Development and ensuring implementation of spray programs

Qualifications

• Bachelors Degree in Agronomy related field
• Minimum of 7 years experience, at least 3 in management, preferably in a horticulture farm
• Experience of long term planning including financial and manpower planning
• Experience in implementing and enforcing quality systems and health and safety standards
• Experience of working with multiple stakeholders including government officers, community leaders, etc
• Good communication skills both oral and written
• Strong planning and organizational skills

How to apply:

Your application should include a cover letter demonstrating why you are the most suited candidate for this role; a detailed CV highlighting relevant experience, details of current and expected salary, a daytime phone contact, email address, and the names of three professional referees to:

P O Box 6416, Nairobi, GPO 00100

Email: recruit@adeptsystems.co.ke

Web: www.adeptsys.biz

Closing Date: Monday 16^thMarch2015

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please note that we do not charge fees for receiving or processing job applications. Visit our website for more vacancies.