With a rising global demand for luxury and sustainably sourced textiles, we aim to establish Kenya as a leading force in the silk sector through our innovative seritech platform. Sericulture is the rearing of silk worms to produce silk, a smooth fabric made from natural fibers. It’s known for its softness, sheen, and strength, and is commonly used in clothing and textiles. Our vision is to build Savannah Seritech, a tech-enabled sericulture platform establishing Kenya as a global export leader in affordable, high-quality silk while increasing livelihoods 5X for 100,000 farmers. We are looking for an experienced Operations Manager who can join us in our mission and execute on our ambitious growth plans.

The role Mulberry operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations for planting, harvesting and transport of mulberry, ensuring that operations are running efficiently and effectively. This includes managingthe processing staff and resources and ensuring that processing KPIs are met
• Organise capacity planning of mulberry, including scouting for land to plant and timely propagation of mulberry seedlings, ensuring that all our silkworm farming partners’ demand for mulberry will be met
• Identify, communicate and resolve operational issues, and implement quality control measures to ensure processing output meets the required standards
• Develop and implement processes and procedures to improve operational efficiency and productivity
• Monitor KPIs for mulberry planting and harvesting, and making necessary adjustments to ensure that these KPIs are met

Silkworm rearing operations

• Oversee daily worm rearing operations, ensuring that all SOPs and quality control processes are followed for the highest quality output
• Proactively surface and escalate operational bottlenecks or quality control issues to the management team
• Identify, communicate and resolve operational issues, and implement quality control measures to ensure processing output meets the required standards
• Develop and implement processes and procedures to improve operational efficiency and productivity
• Set and monitor KPIs for silkworm farming and cocoon output, and making necessary adjustments to ensure that these KPIs are met
• Ensure data collection is accurate and report weekly on KPIs and progress

Partner Management

• Manage contracts and relationships with mulberry farmer partners to ensure stakeholder alignment
• Manage relationships and compensation of silkworm farmer partners to ensure alignment

Skills and qualifications

• Bachelors degree in relevant field such as Agriculture, Operations Management, Project Management, or a related discipline
• 7+ years of experience in managing on the ground and in field operations, logistics, and supply chain functions within an organization in a rural agricultural setting, with a strongunderstanding of project management methodologies
• Exceptionally skilled at planning and scheduling labour and activities to achieve objectives
• Strong ability to independently develop and implement standard operating procedures
• Proven experience in managing community relations and mobilizing and training farmers
• Independent problem solver of operational challenges on the ground in a fast paced environment
• Strong leadership and team management skills, with the ability to motivate and develop staff
• Attention to detail and data-driven approach to constantly improve operations and ensure consistency in delivering value, day in, day out
• Strong communication and collaboration with both senior colleagues and more junior ones

Application details

• Apply here before January 5th 2025, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
• Salary and benefits are commensurate with experience.
• We are an equal opportunity employer and welcome candidates of all backgrounds to apply. Women are particularly encouraged to apply for this role.
• This is an on-site position and therefore applicants have to be willing to move to Roo or Sindo, Homa Bay county, full time.