Assistant Manager - Field Operations.

Location: Bomet

We are an organization located in a rural environment 60kms from Kericho town consisting of tea estates and two highly automated tea factories. We have an innovative approach to the growing and manufacture of black tea and pride ourselves in the quality of our personnel and our productivity.

Objective:

The role is responsible and accountable for proper professional maintenance of Self-propelled tea harvesters (VTH) and other Mechanized tea harvesters including two-man harvesters to ensure reliability, availability, efficiency and safety.

Give support as may be required in other mechanized field activities.

Participate effectively as part of the larger management team in order to attain business goals.

Key Accountabilities and Responsibilities:

• To prepare preventive maintenance schedules on VTH machines and ensure are adhered to.

• Assist mechanics whenever they need assistance especially when they are diagnosing faults. 

• To carry out / supervise all preventive maintenance schedules both at the workshop and in the field. 

• To ensure that repairs are done efficiently within set standard repair time limits and deadlines are met. 

• Develop both SOP and SWP for mechanics and operators and ensure full implementation.

• To Monitor consumption of VTH machines and ensure they operate as per the established consumption. 

• To ensure that all maintenance and repair of VTH machines are carried out as per Manufacturer specifications and recommendations.

• Maintain and update accurate VTH preventive and corrective maintenance, fuel use and other efficiency records and report daily to the section head.

• To enforce Health and safety policies by ensuring employees operate in safe environment, adhere to safe work procedures by enforcing task specific operating procedures (SOP) through training, awareness creation and proper use of PPEs provided by the company.

• In liaison with stores & procurement department initiate procurement of relevant spares and closely monitor availability of spares required for continuous operation and availability of VTH Machines.  

• To ensure tasks allocation to staff is done properly and further necessary duty rota is developed for smooth running of operations.  

• To maintain all machinery, equipment’s and tools inventory register and ensure necessary routine checks & stock take are done. . 

• To maintain a clean and organized working environment.

• Ensure all VTH operators in the fleets always have the necessary legal requirements.

• To follow up warranty issues with dealers/ suppliers in case new machine develop a problem within the warranty duration. 

• Management of human resource to ensure proper recruitment procedures, training and placement and resourcing all VTH Fleet operations to run efficiently. 

• To Budget and make requisitions for finance for VTH Fleet operations providing sound justifications and ensuring optimum utilization upon approval and operates within budget of each financial year.

• To ensure smooth, cordial and efficient inter departmental cooperation for efficient delivery of services and optimizing of Company resources.

• To organize and ensure all health and safety checks and routines are carried out on VTH machines and adhering to both company and statutory requirements. 

• To identify skills gaps on VTH mechanics and operators and advise the management on areas to train the staff to improve technical knowledge and job performance of the team. 

• To advise management on retention/disposal of assets and further recommends for acquisition of new equipment in order to increase efficiency of the fleet. 

• Ensure that the department is adequately staffed to achieve objectives and that mechanics & operators are aware of procedures for using new products and equipment.

• To Provide advice and technical assistance to team members.

• To carry out safe and effective training to apprentices and qualified VTH mechanics.

• Ensure that staff in the section are properly allocated to work and efficiently utilized for smooth running of operations. Maintain a disciplined and motivated team.

• Carry out continuous training and induct new VTH operators on safe operating procedures, effectiveness and efficiency .

• Ensure that breakdowns and downtime are reduced to a minimum through training and preventative maintenance; make sure that maintenance schedules are adhered to.

• Review and take action on reports from operators on equipment malfunctions and other issues that could impact on production and efficiency.

• Manage and control resources within the section and ensure that targets are achieved at the required cost.

• Enforce safety standards and adherence to company policies and procedures, existing social responsibilities and be involved in related committees as may be required

• Be involved in the protection of the environment, practice sustainability and continuous improvement.  

• Perform any other duties as may be assigned by management.

Minimum Requirements.

1. Graduate in Mechanical engineering, Automotive Engineering or Agricultural Engineering.

2. Minimum 5 years relevant experience . 

3. Proficiency in Microsoft office Especially MS Excel.

4. Good and proven administrative and management skills.

5. Excellent people and Industrial Relations skills.

6. High level of integrity.

7. Self-Motivation, with the ability to motivate others.

8. Good communication, data management, organizational and time-management skills.