Nairobi, Nairobi County, Kenya

Head Of Operations

 Job Description:

Ecodudu is a waste-to-value company that leverages the black soldier fly to produce insect protein for animal feed (mainly fish feed) and bio-fertilizer through a circular production model. We set out to provide sustainable and highly nutritious alternative protein throughout Africa, contributing to the betterment of animals and consequently healthier people.

About The Role
Ecodudu is looking to hire a stellar Head of Operations who will be responsible for achieving operational targets and improving metrics across our operating business units, from outbreeding center to our farming modules and to the manufacturing plant.

What do you need to do to be considered successful?
You will assist in set performance targets, ensure professional management standards are met, planning, preparing, implementing and monitoring operational budgets as well as ensuring business continuity. You’ll also be primarily responsible for the following:

  • Responsible for supervising the whole factory's operations - people, planning, systems, finances, production, equipment, machinery. Ecodudu’s Insect Farm: our people, our farmers, our products, our growth, our technology, all under your purview.
  • Achieve plant operation targets, including business unit output and KPIs, operational cost, quality, safety, hygiene & sanitation, team well-being, maintenance, manpower planning to deliver the required production output and other company goals.
  • Resolve production issues and delays effectively and pragmatically to avoid delays.
  • Coordinate, manage and monitor all production aspects, including Quality Assurance, Procurement, Supply Chain of raw materials, Inventory & Distribution, Finance, HR to ensure coherence and good teamwork to deliver results.
  • Develop a top-notch operations team - enable the team to run an excellent production system through performance dialogues, actionable feedback and effective team management.
  • Ensure all staff are trained and equipped with company policies, procedures, and safety protocols are complied with.
  • Lead the process on certification & meeting standards (HACCP, GMP, ISO, etc.).
  • Complete additional assignments, including performing any task assigned by the management from time to time.
How Important Are you to the bottom-line
You will steer the wheel for the team, directing the day-to-day activities at  Ecodudu’s facilities, leading the team and achieving operational excellence, product quality and overall safety.

Biggest Problem-Solving duties on The Job
You will have the daunting but albeit exciting challenge of turning operations at Ecodudu into a well-oiled engine that seamlessly delivers on all aspects of production and is capable of growing to meet operational and business targets as time passes.

What you need to have done in your Career
  • You should have an interest in sustainable food systems & innovation.
  • At least 6 years relevant experience, of which at least 3 years in a leading role managing production teams in the manufacturing environment.
  • Bonus if you have experience in the food value chain (food manufacturing, feed, farming especially livestock or aquaculture; biomass).
  • Minimum Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Science or other disciplines with excellent results.
  • You should have a track record of reaching and exceeding operational performance targets, achieve efficiencies, create safe and stable operations, manage budgets and costs and develop high - performance teams. 
  • Have an entrepreneurial mindset - people who understand that while different teams have different responsibilities the company only succeeds together or all fail. This also means that you think like an owner and don't wait for someone else to design your daily job scope.

What do you stand to gain
  •  Full support and budgets to iterate and execute roadmap and see your work having tangible impact across the production process and towards a better, more sustainable food system.
  • Competitive compensation including stock option participation (flexible depending on experience from more senior candidates).
  • No red-tape; No unnecessary admin work and endless meetings.
  • A dynamic, friendly, diverse, and fast-growing team.
  • A high-growth, Agritech and biotech startup environment.
  Required Skills:

HR Business Continuity Operational Excellence Supply Chain Inventory GMP Sanitation Bonus Product Quality Output Operations Budgets Business Units Assurance Raw Materials Metrics Machinery Compensation Participation Supply Quality Assurance Team Management Manufacturing Procurement Teamwork Materials Finance Engineering Design Planning Maintenance Science Business Management