Operations Manager - Food Production

Location: Athi River EPZA, Kenya.
Reporting to: Director
Terms: Fulltime
Industry: Manufacturing

About the company
Our client is a leading supplier of vegetable and fish oils, intended for the cosmetics, pharmaceutical, food, and feed industries, with a solid commitment to sustainable development through its daily activities.
They are looking for full-time operations for their recently created brand-new, rapidly expanding, fast-expanding subsidiary in Kenya.

Role Summary
The future operations manager candidate will be part of the leadership of the Kenya team, reporting to the director. It will play a vital role in the success of the company.
He/she will be in charge of production, maintenance, and utility management. He/she will also play an active role as a technical advisor for the management of the company.

Your key responsibilities will cover the following:

Production management:
●    Facilitate and manage the day-to-day operation of the manufacturing environment for the facility. Makes routine process checks and adjusts equipment or work practices according to standard operating procedures.
●    Develop and execute activities supporting manufacturing objectives including the development and implementation of strategies, processes, and programs.
●    Maximize productive capabilities to achieve operating costs and goals.
●    Review scheduled production based on requirements and communicate priorities across the shifts
●    Responsible for shift meetings with team members to ensure communication of expectations, discuss any issues related to safety, quality or productivity that need to be addressed
●    Maintain effective control over time and attendance, reflecting adequate information in the time-tracking system

Continuous improvement:
●    Lead efforts of organizations' operational excellence culture utilizing Lean Manufacturing
●    Utilize lean manufacturing principles to lead the organization in identifying areas for cost improvement
●    Develops plans to optimize Plant costs with a focus on raw material, plant maintenance, hourly labor, and salaried staff

Maintenance management:
●    Structure the maintenance department
●    Roll out preventive and prospective maintenance plans
●    Lead and organize the maintenance team
●    Optimize costs and efficiency

Engineering:
●    Play a role as technical advisor for the management of the company
●    Actively participate in the elaboration of the new activities and projects

Quality/food safety:
●    Develops initiatives to achieve manufacturing, quality, and safety standard goals.
●    Ensure every team member is properly trained, oriented and in compliance with the company’s safety, Food Safety, GMP’s, and Quality Policies

Safety:
●    Accident and incident investigation and reporting
●    Be conscious at all times of safety on the job by adhering to the established health & safety measures and practices of the company
●    Lead the achievement of a zero-injury workplace by ensuring safe work conditions

Reporting
●    Develop, follow, and improve scope KPIs
●    Report performance and activities to local and group management
●    Participate in the budget forecasting process

Project management
●    Responsible for the completion of projects within your scope
●    Play an active role in various projects
●    Create and manage projects to improve performance, quality and sustainability role’s scope
●    Utilize Project Management skills to organize activities to ensure project completion dates and budgets are achieved

People management
●    Participate in the recruitment of people under your responsibility
●    Manage and train your direct reports
●    Motivate, direct, coach, and develop a high-performing diverse, and engaged team to meet established goals and build organizational capability. Staff, train, and develop team members to reach this level.
●    Initiate or suggest plans to motivate workers to achieve work goals
●    Lead, motivate, participate, and train team members, to promote growth in a team-oriented environment

Other:
●    Responsible and accountable for KPI under the scope
●    Communicate and advise the management on any issues regarding production, maintenance, engineering, utility operations.
●    Any other duty assigned by the management

Candidate requirements
●    A university degree in Food science or production management or engineering.
●    The applicant would ideally have 5+ years in a similar position in a related field.
●    The ideal applicant should demonstrate a proven track record in the production/operations of a manufacturing company.
●    Experience with edible oils is preferred.
●    Excellent interpersonal and organizational
●    Creativity, curiosity, thoroughness, resourcefulness, adaptability, and pragmatism are all part of your vocabulary
●    You have excellent skills and have demonstrated
●    A company deeply committed to sustainable development and to its corporate values
●    A dynamic group that encourages new ideas and initiatives

Benefits of the position
●    A company deeply committed to sustainable development and to its corporate values.
●    A dynamic group that encourages new ideas and initiatives.
●    A company that cares about the well-being of its employees.

Are you looking for a job/career/position in an ambitious and challenging team? Do you like teamwork and would like to be part of a dynamic team? This job is meant for you!