Vacancies at Kenya Wine Agencies Limited (KWAL)

Job Purpose

This position is responsible for ensuring that the assigned machine runs optimally in terms of quality and quantity within a safe working environment. The role holder also ensures good collaboration with co-workers to help the team achieve high levels of productivity in alignment to KWAL and Heineken overall organisational goals and objectives.

Main Responsibilities

Machine operations 

• Operate the assigned machine in accordance with the operating procedures to ensure proper operation of the machine and safe working environment.
• Perform SKU & Products machine changeovers.
• Prepare all necessary tools, equipment and materials required for the assigned machine in compliance with the approved processes and procedures.
• Prepare and submit reports to the Line Controller of downtime and the product quality index at their station with the aim of driving enhanced performance.
• Perform the adjustments and setting of the assigned machine to ensure quality output at their station and reduction of product wastage while upholding safety and product quality standards.
• Inspect inputs and outputs for quality to identify causes of defects and rectify to ensure product quality and minimize wastage.
• Record all breakdowns.

Compliance with standards 

• Inspect the quality of dry goods to ensure conformance to the established standards for a high-quality product index.
• Monitoring of Critical Control Points (CCPs) and Operational Prerequisite Programs and reporting deviations and also taking corrective actions.
• Comply with all applicable quality, safety, health, and environmental standards such as ISO 9901, 22000/ HACCP where applicable.
• Comply with all applicable quality, safety, health, and environmental standards such as ISO 9901, 22000/ HACCP where applicable.
• Operate the assigned machine in accordance with the operating procedures to ensure proper operation of the machine and safe working environment.

Front Line Maintenance/ Autonomous Maintenance (AM)

• Liaise with maintenance for major breakdowns and to ensure that the machines are serviced on time and routinely to reduce plant downtime.
• Carry out minor/routine (autonomous) maintenance of the respective machine, ensure that cleaning is done before and after every production run, and comply with plant/equipment scheduled maintenance.

Quality at Source 

• Inspect inputs and outputs for quality to identify causes of defects and rectify to ensure product quality and minimise wastage.
• Participate in the actual changeover process to ensure the product quality is upheld in the next shift.
• Inspect and ensure quality control on the lines are adhered to and executed as per the agreed plans and strategies in place.
• Ensure that the assigned machine runs optimally in terms of quality and quantity within a safe working environment.

TPM and Continuous Improvement

• Support the TPM way of working.
• Support the implementation of the improvement activities.

Minimum Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Diploma in Electrical, Mechanical, Mechatronics or Production Engineering 

Experience 

• Entry Level, No experience Required

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Health and safety
• Maintenance and root cause problem solving skills
• Ability to control quality in a process
• Autonomous maintenance
• Documentation skills

Behavioural Competencies

• Ability to work effectively in a team
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs. This includes actively seeking feedback, anticipating customer preferences, and tailoring services to enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, ensuring clarity and understanding. This includes using appropriate channels and styles to convey messages and actively listening to feedback.
• Physical Stamina and Strength
• High level of integrity
• Ability to work under minimal supervision
• Seeks innovative ideas and approaches to improve products and processes
• Continuously seeks new opportunities to enhance products and services
• Utilise analytical skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions
• Ability to work under pressure
• Good Interpersonal skills

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Job Purpose

This position is responsible for  warehousing operations, raw materials and finished goods inventory management, control and planning to ensure that the stocking levels are able to meet the forecast production levels ensuring achievement of organizational goals and objectives, in a results oriented and timely manner and agreed performance targets in line with KWAL and Heineken policies and procedures

Main Responsibilities

Inventory Management

• Overall inventory management accountability to ensure that company assets and stocks are safeguarded from loss 
• Co-ordinate with supply planning on effective and efficient lead time management of inventory to always guarantee  stock availability 
• Perform inventory analysis and management to avoid low stock and overstock levels as per stock policy/ procedures 
• Generate and maintain monthly reports on inventory levels.
• Define and enforce adherence to minimum stock reorder levels
• Conduct continuous cycle counts and regular stock takes.
• Review and recommend for destruction of any non-conforming stocks
• Coordinate the efficient and cost-effective inventory distribution to all KWAL’s depots 
• Develop and operationalize policies, standard operating procedures (SOPs) and rules governing inventory operations to drive the achievement of organisational objectives

Warehouse Operations

• Co-ordinate daily operations, resource planning, and other optimizations across all warehouses to grow the business
• Optimize space utilization in the warehouse.
• Plan, verify, and approve all inter-warehouse stock transfers and authorize any stock movements as per laid down procedures
• Review, validate and approve all supplied stock invoices on authenticity and system receipts before payments
• Coordinate inbound, storage and outbound activities of shipments in a timely and cost-efficient manner
• Generate and maintain monthly management reports on inventory levels

Quality and Compliance

• Ensure effective implementation, maintenance, and sustainability of the quality management system (QMS).
• Safeguard company assets and stocks from loss.
• Ensure compliance with the set KWAL and Heineken and regulatory policies and procedures and quality standards
• Provide a safe working environment, adhering to Health, Safety and Environmental procedures and ensuring they are understood and practiced by the team at all times

Performance Monitoring and Improvement

• Establish key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Monitor ongoing performance and improve against set goals

Logistics and Distribution

• Coordinate efficient and cost-effective inventory distribution to KWAL’s depots

TPM and Continuous Improvement 

• Monitor and support the TPM way of working.
• Support the implementation of the TPM improvement activities.
• Drive continuous improvement 

People Management

• Manage human capital through day-to-day supervision
• Conduct performance management and training needs assessment
• Motivate staff and ensure overall staff well-being

Minimum Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Management or relevant field 

Professional Qualifications

• East Africa Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate Course (EACFFPC), CIPS

Experience 

• At least 5 years experience in warehousing operations with at least two (2) years in a supervisory level within a busy FMCG environment;
• Practical experience in use of MS packages and ERP systems

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Proficient in understanding the complete process flow from procurement to delivery within KWAL, ensuring efficient production, warehousing, and distribution.
• Adept at forecasting demand, planning inventory, and managing resources effectively to meet organisational goals.
• Utilise analytical skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions.
• Strong analytical capabilities to interpret data and make informed decisions.
• Proficiency in analysing data to extract actionable insights.
• Strong analytical approach to problem solving that generates cost-effective and commercially viable solutions taking into consideration company targets: 

Behavioural Competencies

• Support the professional growth of employees through guidance and feedback. 
• Demonstrate a commitment to enhancing processes and performance. 
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs. 
• Make informed and timely decisions that align with the company’s strategic objectives. 
• Utilize analytical skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions. 
• Continuously seeks new opportunities to enhance products and services. 
• Employ logical reasoning and critical analysis to evaluate information and make sound decisions. 
• Exhibit strong self-awareness and empathy, effectively managing personal emotions and understanding those of others. 
• Encourage innovative ideas and approaches to improve products and processes. 
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, ensuring clarity and understanding. 

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Job Purpose

This position is responsible for effectively controlling and managing inventory at the depot according to laid down Company policies and procedures, offer an effective and efficient customer service delivery, and ensure all statutory and regulatory requirements are adhered to.

Main Responsibilities

Inventory Management

• Receive in-bound finished goods from other warehouses to confirm the accurate transfer and condition of goods as per the stock policy and inspection of goods procedures.
• Daily planning of resources including labour, space and machinery in the depot to ensure maximum utilisation of the same in a cost-effective manner.
• Ensure the goods received are properly arranged or stacked in accordance with pre-marked lot/batch numbers with clear aisles / gangways left between adjacent stacks.
• Coordinate and accurately maintain and update (real-time) system posting for all the stock movements of goods in the assigned stores at all times.
• Accurately dispatch out-bound goods to the various company warehouses and customers and ensure correct documentation for each dispatched consignment.
• Keep proper custody of all stocks and store keys in the assigned store, responsible for opening and closing the store at the start and end of every-day shift in line with the warehousing policies and procedures.
• Ensure proper disbursement and accountability of the allocated depot petty cash as per laid down procedures.
• Plan and oversee the arrangement and cleaning of the assigned warehouse/store at all times as per the Healthy, Safety and Environment requirements.
• Ensure timely renewal of Depot licences in line with the required local laws and regulations.
• Ensure proper stock rotation is practised in the warehouse at all times and that First-Expiry-First-Out (FEFO) rule is strictly observed and adhered to eliminate expiries on shelf-life products as per stock policy/procedures.
• Conduct regular stock checks and weekly/monthly stock-takes of all stocks in the warehouse and account justifiably for any observed stock variances promptly as per laid down stock procedures.
• Carry out daily and or weekly ‘cross referencing’ on stock reconciliation/movements and ensure that the physical stocks and the System stock status/history transactions tally at all times. Any variances so detected must be reported to the Warehouse Supervisor at once with full justifications thereof for corrective action.
• Coordinate and prepare weekly analysis on work plans and resources mobilisation /requirements in liaison with the controlling Manager including accomplished tasks, pending tasks, scheduled assignments and stock order cycles.
• Coordinate handling of customer product returns from customer service/sales as per product return guidelines and customer complaint policy/procedures.
• To ensure compliance with system audits e.g. QMS and process audits within the depots.
• Provide a safe working environment, adhering to Health, Safety and Environmental procedures and ensuring they are understood and practiced by the team at all times

TPM and Continuous Improvement 

• Monitor and support the TPM way of working.
• Support the implementation of the TPM improvement activities.
• Drive continuous improvement 

Supervision

• Supervise, evaluate and review the performance of the store clerks in the assigned warehouse to create an environment where they can realise their full potential and contribute to the attainment of departmental and organisational goals.

Minimum Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Supply Chain Management or related field. 

Professional Qualifications

• East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarders Practising Certificate (EACFFPC) or a related certification

Experience 

• At least 3 years experience in a similar role
• Practical experience in use of MS packages and ERP systems

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• Proficient in using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to manage supply chain processes, enhance data accuracy, and improve overall efficiency.
• Demonstrate a basic understanding of managing financial records, and ensuring the accuracy and integrity of financial information.
• Demonstrate an understanding of managing inventory levels, ensuring accurate tracking, and optimising inventory turnover to support operational efficiency.
• Skilled in implementing and maintaining health and safety protocols, ensuring a safe working environment and compliance with regulatory requirements.
• Capable of managing change within the supply chain, ensuring smooth transitions and minimal disruption to operations.

Behavioural Competencies

• Exhibit strong self-awareness and empathy, effectively managing personal emotions and understanding those of others. This fosters a positive and collaborative work environment.
• Employ logical reasoning and critical analysis to evaluate information and make sound decisions. This includes considering various perspectives and potential impacts before taking action.
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs. This includes actively seeking feedback, anticipating customer preferences, and tailoring services to enhance satisfaction and loyalty.
• Communicate effectively with diverse audiences, ensuring clarity and understanding. This includes using appropriate channels and styles to convey messages and actively listening to feedback.
• Utilise analytical skills to identify issues and develop effective solutions. This involves a methodical approach to troubleshooting, ensuring minimal disruption and optimal outcomes.

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Job Purpose

This position is responsible for ensuring the operational management of all KWAL laboratory (Analytical and Microbiological) and Sensory activities, to support production process control and the laboratory in case of quality issues and NPI projects.

Main Responsibilities

Quality of the process and product

• Manage all the work and activities and ensure they are done in line with the quality standards (ISO9001, LSS, TPM etc.). 
• Collect and assess all quality data from the analysis activities (Analytical, Microbiological and Sensory) in the cellar.
• Support in case of quality issues and NPI projects.

Lab Process Management

• Manage all the laboratory processes (in-line and off-line) and execute the agreed plans and strategy.
• Manage the main and mini labs on the processes
• Plan and facilitate service / Calibration of all laboratory equipment
• Budget and requisition of new, replacement of obsolete laboratory equipment
• Manage laboratory assets, equipment and consumables (chemicals & glassware) including library samples (product)
• Ensure execution of the requested analyses.

Equipment Management

• Monitor and conduct analysis of all instruments (in-line and off-line) and ensure they are managed in desired way (standard working condition).
• Manage purchasing activities for the laboratory.

Safety, Food Safety and Sustainability

• Manage the laboratory facilities to ensure they are clean and tidy working areas without unnecessary losses of consumables/chemicals, in line with the defined and implemented safety standards 
• Ensure effective management of Pre-Requisite Programs (PRPs) including Pest Control, Waste Management, Drainage systems, Equipment and Personal Hygiene, Calibrations services and Supply of utilities
• Ensure the follow-up of 5S and HACCP standards at the workplace.
• Develop and update the QA/QC policies, procedures, protocols and checklists in line with Food safety and QMS standards
• Develop and facilitate sensory training for approved panellists in liaison and support from Heineken HBI
• Participate in (cross-functional) technical root cause, problem solving sessions relevant to Food Safety and Quality Non-conformances

Compliance Management

• Manage and approve of finished products to comply with extrinsic and intrinsic specifications as per internal, regulatory and statutory requirements.
• Collaboration with the internal stakeholder in Engineering, Production and Winery processes to achieve the conformance and improvements in GMP and hygiene standards impacting on food safety performance.
• Liaison with external stakeholders like KEBs on quality compliance, co-ordination and acquisition of the standardisation mark, product/regulatory standards, coordination and reporting on proficiency testing reports

TPM and Continuous Improvement

• Monitor and support the TPM way of working.
• Support the implementation of the improvement activities.

Reporting

• Collect  and process basic data and prepare reports within the scope of the laboratory activities.
• Provide timely reports on to the QSHE Manager for decision making related to process controls
• Collate and maintain all quality and food safety records and documents

People Management

• Supervise and provide feedback on the individual performance, assess training needs and overall QATs staff motivation
• Provide support to laboratory QATs and Microbiologists
• Create an environment where staff can realise their full potential and contribute to the attainment of departmental and organizational goals
• Create a sense of common purpose within QSHE to facilitate delivery of quality products 

Minimum Required Qualifications, Knowledge and Experience

Academic Qualifications

• Bachelor’s of Science in Food Science / Industrial and Analytical Chemistry/  Biotechnology/ Biochemistry, Microbiology or a related in field

Professional Qualifications

• Lead Auditor (ISO QMS, ISO FSSC/FSMS).
• Qualified Quality Systems Management (QMS) 
• Management systems- ISO 17025
• Lead auditor, Quality Management systems QMS 

Experience 

• At least 6 years, 2 years experience in management role in a manufacturing company with experience in food manufacturing and quality management processes

Competencies

Technical Competencies

• In-depth understanding of quality standards, food safety/HACCP systems. 
• Excellent communication skills (oral, written and listening).
• Understanding and knowledge in alcoholic beverage standards and training skills.
• Ability to work effectively with all levels of management and staff.
• Must be proactive and be able to anticipate issues rather than being reactive.
• Competencies on industrial Laboratory management
• Experience in Alcoholic beverages processing
• Documentation and reporting skills 

Behavioural Competencies

• Demonstrate strong leadership skills, including the ability to inspire and motivate teams, foster a positive work environment, and drive organizational performance, champion of diversity, equality and inclusivity practices
• High level of integrity
• Collaboration with the team members and other units within the department and function
• Strong understanding of business principles and practices and ability to assess business risks
• Ability to develop and implement long-term goals and initiatives that align with the company’s vision and objectives
• Demonstrate a deep commitment to understanding and meeting customer needs
• Ability to employ logical reasoning and critical analysis to evaluate information and make sound decisions
• Demonstrate Change management skills 
• Continuously seek new opportunities to enhance KWAL products and service, embracing new technologies and methodologies to drive growth and maintain a competitive edge
• Ability to support the professional growth of employees through guidance and feedback
• Demonstrate resilient, agility, ability to work under pressure with high integrity