EPZ Manager

AAA Growers is one of the leading exporters of premium & prepared vegetables from Kenya and the largest commercial grower and exporter of chillies from Kenya.

We aim to provide quality products which redefine what innovative, healthy and delicious vegetables should be
Job objective

As the The EPZ Manager you will be fully responsible for the entire EPZ Area (covering the Veg and Roses Packhouses) and to ensure that Industry and Company standards are adhered to, with any corrective action implemented.

This includes overseeing site logistical operations, including equipment, machinery, and fabric maintenance.

The EPZ Manager will also oversee the expansion of new facilities and project management
Your tasks and responsibilities

Ensure facilities are clean and well run while ensuring high hygiene standards are maintained.
Ensure that the packhouse comply with all the applicable local and international standards.

Liaise with farm managers to ensure that crop harvesting and deliveries to the pack house are efficient and timely.

Monitor raw material utilization; ensure that waste/rejects are within acceptable limits and all dumps are authorized.
Effectively communicate with the sales team on stock levels, labour numbers, pack plan, and outload volume and packhouses packing capacity
Co-ordinate all preparations for audits and customer visits along with the Technical Teams

Facilitate daily logistics for Shipments to Airport and check shipments of both veg and roses to ensure no discrepancies arise.

Develop work plans and budgets.

Ensure that the packhouse management systems (Veg and Roses Manager) are used appropriately and that the reports generated from them are a true reflection of the packhouse operations.

Arrange for prompt repair and maintenance of Packhouse equipment and external machinery - Cold rooms, Water system and Solar system.

Monitor the efficiency of the cold rooms to ensure that the specified temperatures for the various products are maintained while ensuring to maintain the physical condition of the facility.

Liaise with Head Office for the procurement of all materials required for maintenance.

Manage and oversee Packhouse teams including management of casual staff and permanent employee numbers - Casual labour recruitment, Leave, Salaries, Overtime.

Maintain staff discipline and welfare in accordance with company policy.
Oversee performance management, workforce planning and recruitment within the EPZ.
Organise and follow-up on weekly meetings to discuss various issues at EPZ including Labour, Security etc.
Ensuring a timely communication on each ripening process. Follow agreed format on communication.

Ensure raw material with correct quality attributes for ripening is used i.e., correct dry matter content, correct size profile etc.

in liaison with the QA manager.
Ensure stocks for ripening consumables e.g., ethylene is adequate. Observe a re-order level for the consumables.
Liaise with maintenance manager to ensure scheduled maintenance plan for the ripening chambers is followed.
Maintain and updated ripening unit Planned Preventative maintenance data.

In charge of the overall security of the EPZ area while enduring adherence to EPZ/Customs access control required for all EPZ facilities.

Coordinate all the transportation requirements of the EPZ section, including logistical operations, release of trucks on schedule.

Your profile

Degree in Horticulture/ Agriculture or a related field.
Over 10 years of direct hands-on experience in a busy Packhouse/Site/Plant environment and fully conversant with factory operations in the food processing industry
A specialist in process engineering and process management with experience in organization,
production, and supply chain management
Self-motivated, strategic thinker with excellent crisis management skills and able to bring solutions to the table.
Ardent advocate of systems and procedures, good manufacturing standards and other social welfare standards
Fully proficient in Kaizen, Lean management, and processing techniques
Strong administration, site management and people management skills with proven delivery on targets within a strict timeframe
Ideally well versed in factory building and project management

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