Production Manager at Kericho Gold Tea

About the Role

Kericho Gold Tea seeks a dedicated Production Manager to lead manufacturing operations and drive operational excellence across our production facility in Nairobi, Kenya.

Key Responsibilities

• Production Planning & Execution – Schedule and manage production to meet demand and achieve OTIF targets while ensuring adherence to blend sheets, specifications, and production standards
• Operational Efficiency & Cost Control – Deliver productivity, waste, and yield targets; reduce downtime; and manage production costs within budgets
• Quality & Food Safety – Enforce compliance with ISO, BRC, HACCP, FSSC, and internal QA standards; maintain zero tolerance for quality deviations; and implement CAPA actions
• People Leadership – Lead, coach, and manage production supervisors and line teams; embed discipline, performance management, and skills development
• Safety & Compliance – Enforce OSH standards, ensure safe machine operation, reduce LTIs, conduct safety audits, and perform risk assessments
• Reporting & Documentation – Produce accurate reports on efficiency, OEE, wastage, downtime, and labor; maintain documentation for audits and management reviews

Key Decision-Making Areas

• Daily labor and machine allocation
• Workflow prioritization and sequencing
• Immediate actions to address quality, safety, or efficiency issues
• Team and supplier management

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in Manufacturing, Engineering, Food Science, or related field
• 7–10 years of FMCG production experience
• Proven ability to manage teams in high-speed production environments

Key Competencies

• Strong leadership and discipline
• High operational rigor and attention to detail
• Analytical and data-driven thinking
• Excellent communication and coordination skills
• Knowledge of HACCP, BRC, FSSC, ISO, GMP, and ETI (advantageous)