Technical Officer at Olivado EPZ Limited

Overview: Reporting to the Field Relations Officer, the T.O will be responsible for Farmers Liaison Officers, assisting them in: -

• Field staff recruitment
• Orchard management
• Guide farmers on seedlings planting and management
• Inspection
• Farmer visits
• Farmer complaints handling
• GPS and other data collection as assigned
• Harvesting activities
• Crop estimates
• Advise farmers on cultural practices
• Competitor activities in the region
• Submitting reports to the office
• Record maintenance and completion
• Implementation and maintenance of Olivado Internal Management System and other statutory requirements
• Other duties as assigned by immediate supervisor.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Technical and farmer relation activities

• Mentoring, motivating, and training of Farmers Liaison Officers.
• Support Farmers Liaison Officers recruit and train harvesting supervisors and pickers.
• Continuous verification of Farmers Liaison officer’s completed tasks (Farm verifications at least once every two months).
• Support Farmers Liaison Officers team with farmers group trainings.
• Ensure and maintain good relations between farmers, Farmers Liaison Officers and the company.
• Support the Farmers Liaison officers in training the farmers on good agricultural practices including fertilizer use and management, crop protection, Integrated pest management and integrated crop management.
• Support Farmer Liaison on the operation of Olivado Internal Management System.
• Prepare and submit all records and documents as required by the Internal Management System in a timely manner.
• Act as the Company’s Representative with other external Stakeholders in the areas of operations e.g., the HCD Staff, the County Agriculture Officers, the KEPHIS Staff.
• Provide intelligence information to the Company on Competitor activities.
• Take Charge of the Company assets and equipment in their control.
• Regularly advise the management on ways of enhancing farmers relationship, increasing efficiency, optimizing production and profit.
• Any Other duties as assigned by the management from time to time.

Farm inspection and certification duties

• Inspection of farms and other Olivado facilities to verify compliance against statutory and voluntary standards and produce timely and accurate reports.
• Following up on closure of non-compliances identified during the internal inspections.
• Address areas for improvements noted during the internal inspections or during on farm verification.
• Coordination of external certification audits in the zones.
• Implement Corrective Action requests from the Certification bodies.

Data collection duties

• Verification of collected data in their areas of operation.
• Informing the company of activities of competitors and other activities that may affect the company’s operations, including county government activities.
• Provide the data team with weekly reports on technical assistance and verification activities as outlined in the Internal Management System.

JOB SPECIFICATION:

• Degree or Diploma in Agriculture or related discipline with a bias to fruit and vegetable production.
• Two years’ experience in the production of horticultural crops in a smallholder scheme or exporter out grower scheme.
• Good knowledge of the key or potential avocado production areas of Kenya.
• A good understanding of the labour regulations in Kenya.
• At least one day practical inspection course setting out basic principles of inspection.
• At least two witness inspections accompanying an auditor could be Global Gap, or Organic, Fair Trade or others.
• Food safety and good agriculture practice (GAP) training.
  • Training in HACCP principles.
  • Food hygiene training.
  • Plant protection, fertilizer use and integrated pest management training.
• Excellent Kiswahili and English reading, writing, and speaking skills.
• Proficient in computer application packages including MS- Word and Excel.
• Technical report writing skills.
• Training as a trainer of trainers (TOT).
• Knowledge in business management skills such as budgeting, expenditure accounting and resource allocation.
• Charismatic with good marketing and convincing skills.
• Ability to train, mentor and motivate the Farmer Liaison Team.
• Ability to work independently and within a team under minimal supervision.
• Ability to contribute to the planning of the company’s future relationships with farmer suppliers and future strategic development of the company.
• Valid motorcycle riding license and a valid motor vehicle driving license.