Operations Manager – Water Bottling Plant

A. Production & Plant Management (55%)

1.     Oversee daily bottling operations, ensuring production targets are met efficiently and safely.

2.     Manage, schedule, and supervise machine operators and temporary staff (cleaners, loaders).

3.     Ensure optimal operation and basic preventative maintenance of purification, filling, capping, and labelling machinery.

4.     Manage raw material and packaging inventory (bottles, caps, lids, chemicals) to prevent stockouts and minimize waste.

5.     Plan production schedules based on sales forecasts.

B. ERP System Champion & Data Management (45%)

1.     Lead the hands-on implementation and adoption of the new ERP system within operations.

2.     Be the primary user for all production and inventory modules—recording batch production, material usage, machine downtime, and quality test results in real-time.

3.     Train and support machine operators on basic ERP data entry related to their tasks.

4.     Generate daily/weekly operational reports (e.g., production volume, yield, efficiency) from the ERP for management review.

5.     Ensure data integrity and champion a culture of accurate and timely information flow through the system.

Qualifications & Skills:

1.     Diploma/Degree in Food Science & Technology, Mechanical/Production Engineering, Chemistry, or related field. A background in Food/ Beverage production is a MAJOR advantage.

2.     Minimum 2-5 years of experience in a production supervisory role, preferably in a food, beverage, or pharmaceutical environment where hygiene and compliance are critical.

3.     Non-negotiable: Proven experience or strong aptitude for using business software/ERP systems (e.g., SAP, Odoo, QuickBooks Enterprise). You must be comfortable with technology and data.

4.     In-depth knowledge of quality control procedures and HACCP principles.

5.     Strong leadership and people management skills.

6.     Excellent problem-solving, organizational, and communication skills.

7.     Resident of or willingness to relocate to Kisumu County (Muhoroni area).