Operations Manager

Operations Manager – Pineapple Fibre Processing

Location: Thika, Kenya

Company: Mananasi Fibre Limited

Mananasi Fibre Limited is seeking an experienced and hands-on Operations Manager to take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of our pineapple leaf fibre processing business in Thika.

The successful candidate will be responsible for managing production, people, equipment, quality and operational performance, with a strong focus on improving reliability, efficiency and production output as the business continues to scale.

Key Responsibilities

Take overall responsibility for the day-to-day operation of the fibre processing facility.

Plan and manage production to achieve agreed output, quality, efficiency and cost targets.

Lead, organise and supervise the production, maintenance and operational teams.

Monitor production performance and implement appropriate corrective actions where targets are not being achieved.

Ensure fibre is produced consistently to agreed customer quality specifications.

Oversee the operation and routine maintenance of decortication, drying, brushing, baling and associated fibre-processing equipment.

Coordinate preventative and corrective maintenance activities to maximise equipment availability and minimise production downtime.

Work closely with technical and engineering support personnel on equipment improvements, troubleshooting, commissioning and optimisation.

Manage raw material availability and coordinate the movement of pineapple leaves and finished fibre through the production process.

Develop and maintain appropriate operating procedures, production records and maintenance systems.

Monitor and report on key operational KPIs including production volumes, equipment availability, productivity, fibre quality, waste and operating costs.

Identify and implement opportunities to improve production efficiency, reliability, safety and product quality.

Ensure appropriate health, safety and environmental standards are maintained throughout the operation.

Manage operational staff performance, training, discipline and allocation of responsibilities.

Coordinate with suppliers, contractors and service providers where required.

Support management with production planning, budgeting, procurement requirements and future capacity expansion.

Qualifications and Experience

Degree or diploma in Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Production Engineering, Manufacturing, Agricultural Engineering or a related technical discipline.

Strong practical experience managing a manufacturing, processing or industrial production operation.

Demonstrated experience managing production teams and taking responsibility for day-to-day operational performance.

Good understanding of mechanical equipment, preventative maintenance and production troubleshooting.

Experience implementing and monitoring production KPIs.

Strong organisational, problem-solving and people-management skills.

Comfortable working in a hands-on production environment and resolving operational issues as they arise.

Good written and verbal communication skills.

Competent with Microsoft Excel and basic production reporting systems.

Experience in agricultural processing, natural fibres, textiles, food processing, biomass processing or other continuous production environments would be an advantage.

Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

Practical and hands-on.

Highly organised and accountable.

Comfortable taking ownership of operational problems.

Able to lead and motivate a diverse production team.

Technically minded with strong problem-solving ability.

Focused on continuous improvement rather than simply maintaining the status quo.

Able to work independently while collaborating effectively with senior management and technical advisers.

Role Objective

The primary objective of the position is to establish a well-managed, reliable and increasingly efficient production operation capable of consistently meeting Mananasi Fibre's production and quality requirements as the business scales.

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