Finlays Technical Manager Job in Kenya

Finlays is a vertically integrated and geographically diversified agri-business that takes a leadership role in sustainability.

The group has established itself as a reliable, responsible, innovative and sustainable producer with a deep knowledge and passion for its products.

Sustainability is pivotal to the group’s success and it lies at the heart of what Finlays does and stands for.

Finlays is Kenya’s largest agricultural export group employing over 22,000 people and annually exporting over 300 million stems of flowers, 7 million kilos of vegetables, 26 million kilos of black tea and 3 million kilos of tea extract.

The organisation is geographically located in Nairobi, Naivasha, Kericho, Mt. Kenya and Mombasa and works with 1,200 vegetable out growers and 10,000 tea out growers.

A vacancy has arisen for a senior food technologist who is a dynamic and self focused self starter with a passion for excellence, customers, people development and quality products.

Location

The position is based at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, an operation which employs 1,100 people. Processed vegetables are packed in more than 150 different formats and are loaded daily through a dedicated air-bridge.

The Job

Reporting to the Director for Vegetables & Freight, the person will work as an integral part of the team in order to strategically provide technical service and expertise to our vegetable business by assisting to meet sales, profit and other targets.

Supported by the Group Technical Director, the person will set standards of safety, quality and trust to protect and enhance our own and our customers’ Brand Integrity.

The key responsibilities include:

·       providing leadership, direction, coaching and development to the vegetables technical team;

·       working with the Group Technical Director to establish the Kenya Vegetable business Technical Policy that meets customers’ and our own aspirations;

·       translating Finlays Fresh Produce and Customers Technical Policy into an implementation plan for the Kenya Vegetables business and our suppliers;

·       ensuring that our vegetable products, systems and procedures are compliant with customers’ codes of practice and specifications;

·       providing customer facing and supplier facing technical expertise;

·       representing the company on technical issues with customers and suppliers;

·       managing technical issues as necessary to minimise impact on customers and our own Brand;

·       keeping up to date with technical developments and encouraging the continual development of products and processes;

·       ensuring Quality Management Systems (QMS) for GAP and GMP are implemented both internally and by suppliers and utilising the QMS data to monitor and review performance, taking appropriate action and implementing product and process improvement;

·       developing and implementing innovation and research plans;

·       working closely with Finlays Fresh Produce team to deliver supply base strategy;

·       providing up to date technical advice for specific areas of technical responsibility;

·       effectively liaising and communicating with customer, technical, laboratory, development QC, commercial and operations teams; and

·       provide leadership and direction as the lead technical manager for nominated suppliers.

The person

The ideal candidate must possess the qualifications / competencies outlined below.

·       Should be a graduate in a food related science with experience in technical aspects of a reputable vegetable business being a distinct advantage;

·       Ten years demonstrable technical & managerial experience, devising and implementing business relevant strategy, preferably within a large company.

·       Depth of skill including problem solving and experience should ensure that sound people, line management and functional competence can be taken for granted;

·       Self driven, reliant and motivated, being energetic and positive in outlook with hands on approach to see things through to completion;

·       Highly numerate and computer literate;

·       Experience in handling and planning across a multi-site operation with good project management and preferably lean manufacturing knowledge;

·       Able to structure a plan, marshal resources, work as a team and deliver on commitments; and

·       Excellent interpersonal and presentation skills: persuasive and with the gravitas to gain senior management confidence.

Application Procedure

If you meet the above requirements and are interested in applying for this role, please send your CV with a covering letter to the

Human Resources Director,
P.O. Box 10222, Nairobi 00400.
Email: hrd.kenya@finlays.net to reach not later than 19 August 2011.

Those applicants who will not have heard from us by 1 October 2011 should consider their applications unsuccessful

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