Harvest Technical & Safety Manager at Komaza Kenya

About the Team

The Coastal and Central Harvest teams are one of the most dynamic teams at Komaza and are expected to grow dramatically over the next few years - hiring dozens of staff, investing in mechanization, adding new teams in Kwale county, and multiple new teams to our Central Kenya program to support a significant infrastructure investment there. In this role, you will spearhead the implementation of training programs across the Harvest teams, and be responsible for the high standards of performance and safety across all teams. We are investing in building and developing high standards across the Harvest Team in preparation for scale, and our vision is to develop training programs and standards that are best in class across African and global forestry. 

The Harvest Department leverages data, mobile technology, training, and user-centred business systems to make Komaza the future of African forestry. We are equally comfortable whiteboarding new solutions to complex business problems, digging into Excel, SurveyCTO, Avenza Maps and GIS, and getting our boots muddy talking to farmers.

About the Role

The Harvest Technical & Safety Manager is a mid-level management role that is the primary support to the Harvest Director. The Harvest Technical & Safety Manager will be the standard-bearer of quality, ensuring that there is regular safety monitoring, training and reporting to senior management.

The Harvest Technical & Safety Manager is also critical in the training delivery to the Operational teams by managing the training calendar and providing sufficient support to the teams both in the classroom and in the field.

This role will be based in either Kilifi or Naivasha, Kenya with regular travel to the other locations Komaza operates in.

What You Will Do

• Harvest Excellence:
  • Regularly monitor and measure Komaza standards against national, regional and international forestry standards
  • Ensure that these standards of excellence are consistently implemented across each Regional Business Unit (RBU).
  • Support hiring and onboarding of new Harvest employees
  • Contribute to a Harvest culture that prioritises safety and professionalism
  • Advise on the development of inventory, marking and tree data collection tools, procedures and systems 
• Harvest Training:
  • Own and advance the Harvest training curriculum and calendar. Coordinate & ensure high quality Harvest onboarding training for all new employees
  • Act as primary assessor for the Harvest certification system
  • Facilitate training of trainers courses across each Regional Business Unit
  • Deliver regular new and refresher training content to new and existing staff across all Komaza Regional Business Units
• Harvest Risk Assessment Monitoring:
  • Support the Harvest Director and Komaza Design Team to develop and implement a risk matrix against all farms
  • Ensure that appropriate skill levels are catered for within felling, extraction and haulage teams to handle the requirements of each respective role 
  • Implement tools and process for regular health and safety assessment of all Harvest teams
  • Ensure appropriate first aid training, standards and protocols are in place across all Regional Business Units
• Harvest Inventory Oversight:
  • Ensure all Harvest teams are equipped with the appropriate equipment for the task at hand
  • Collaborate with providers to ensure that all Komaza equipment is well maintained & in good operational condition
  • Manage harvest equipment maintenance and service tools and schedules
  • Manage and keep a suitable inventory of spare/ replacement parts in stock across all RBUs.

What You Have

Desirable but not mandatory 

• Five plus years of forestry or operations experience
• At least two years of proven management and leadership experience 
• At least one year’s experience in a dynamic, high-pressure operational environment 
• Experience within a position holding responsibility for safety and standards
• Experience in organising, developing, and delivering training
• Bachelor’s degree in forestry, operations or a related field  
• Advanced felling / chainsaw certification
• Demonstrated experience in maintenance and servicing of chainsaws / mechanical equipment

You’re Also

• Strong written and spoken English and Kiswahili
• A team player who is adaptable in a dynamic work environment 
• Well organised and good at planning and coordinating projects 
• Energetic and enthusiastic, willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done 
• Comfort with ambiguity and uncertainty, as well as patience and perseverance in the face of serious logistical and environmental hurdles including problem solving 
• Excellent work ethic, positive attitude, and attention to detail 
• Proven ability to self-manage and deliver results
• Interest in sustainable economic development and / or agroforestry 
• Skilled in using a computer, proficiency in G-suits is an added advantage

What’s in it for you?

Great vision without great people is irrelevant, Jim Collins wisely stated. If you share Komaza’s vision and want to help make it a reality, apply today! We offer a competitive remuneration package and an opportunity to further your career. 

Komaza is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit and business need.