Location: Roo Bay Farm, Homabay

The ideal candidate for the Agricultural Technician role will assist the Food innovation and indigenization Manager prepare plans and schedules for planting and harvesting and ensuring staff understand expectations, oversee the ground work, monitor crops and handle various administrative tasks as directed by the Manager

Roles & Responsibilities:

• Oversee crop management from preparation of land, propagations, seeding (including nursery) up to and including harvesting
• Assist the Food Innovation and Indigenization Manager in managing all Novel-ingredient and Groundskeeping on-farm activities including planning of all seeding, nursery propagations, growing and harvesting, sorting, packaging, pruning, pest control, Live-stock and record keeping.
• Ensure safety protocols are followed from time to time and that every staff is aware of critical control points (CCPs)
• Ensure proper assigning of duties, such as Propagations, planting, weeding, scouting, cultivation, irrigation, harvesting, packaging, grading and equipment maintenance.
• Ensure efficient utilization of farm labor to avoid high wage bill and cutting down on unnecessary farm costs.
• Assist in stock-taking of farm Inputs, assets and keep track on when re-order levels are due.
• Implement a farm records management system, and ensure timely updates to management on project progress status under the guidance of the Food Innovation and Indigenization Manager
• Embrace innovative ways to farming, advising on best practice.
• Oversee post-harvest processing including storage and packaging in preparation of sale.
• Ensure proper maintenance and repair of farm machinery equipment I.e. Brush cutters and Shredder machine.
• Assist in Planning activities for training staff, mentoring and monitoring
• Ensure maintaining and monitoring the quality of yields as well as understanding the implications of the weather and making contingency plans
• Ensure compliance of the farm activities with internal and external (government) set standards.
• Responsible for maintaining knowledge on pests and diseases and an understanding of how they spread and the best way to organically treat.

Skills and qualifications:

• Degree /Diploma in agricultural economics, agronomy, agribusiness, and a related field.
• 4+ years’ experience in a commercial farm environment, managing farm assets and farm labor.
• Knowledge on agrochemicals and the permissible residue levels for various markets is desirable.
• Strong understanding of greenhouse and open field farming technology required.
• Strong personality and managerial competencies to manage large group of workers
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work with cross-functional departments and ensure timely resolution of challenges.
• Capable of effective resource allocation to meet operational demands while adhering to budgetary constraints.
• Strong understanding of safety protocols and critical control points (CCPs) with the ability to enforce SOPs, ensure team training on safe harvesting operations
• Knowledge of governing regulations, both internal and external, with a strict adherence to compliance requirements

Benefit:

• Visibility into the world’s fastest growing aquaculture company.
• Ideal for a candidate looking to dive into a mission-oriented Organization.
• The team is committed to the candidate’s success and will provide coaching, mentorship, and unique exposure to people and experiences that come from the most successful leaders in the entrepreneurial community and the social sector.

About Victory Farms

Victory Farms (VF) was established on Lake Victoria in 2016 with both on-shore and off-shore facilities. The head office is in Nairobi, and its Farm site is in Homa Bay County, with distribution across Kenya. VF has since become one of the fastest growing companies in aquaculture globally – in its first eight months of operation, the Company became the largest aquaculture producer in Kenya. Victory Farms aims to become the leading tilapia farm in Africa over the next 5 years while maintaining the highest environmental and social standards; as the most sustainable tilapia farm in the world, adhering to global standards and best practices, and producing affordable, sustainable protein to feed millions of people across Africa. Today, it is the largest commercial aquaculture player in East Africa and operates one of largest hatcheries on the continent.

The Company is continuing to rapidly expand its vertically integrated model: production, processing, and sales & distribution, to keep pace with the rapid growth in demand for protein. To support this, Victory Farms employs world class technologies, people, and processes to build its model for sustainable protein production on the continent. VF strives for the highest standards in performance, execution, culture, and integrity.

VF’s growth trajectory provides enormous opportunity for excited professionals to uplift their careers and make an impact within a diverse operation. We recognize the utmost importance which contributions by individuals and teams have to the success of Victory Farms. We work to create a fantastic environment for our employees. An environment where employees have an opportunity to develop professionally and personally.

How to Apply

Please send your CV and cover letter expressing your interest and qualifications to recruit@victoryfarmskenya.com by 30^th December, 2024. Indicate the Job Title as the email subject – Agricultural Technician