Factory Manager Job Greenforest Foods

Production Jobs, Greenforest Foods Ltd Jobs. Factory Manager leads plant operations, requires a relevant Bachelor’s Degree and 7–10 years FMCG experience (4+ in plant management). 3-year contract role in Nairobi.

Department: Operations & Supply Chain Location: Nairobi – Head Office
Reports To: Operations Director /CEO

Role Summary

The Factory Manager oversees end-to-end manufacturing operations, plant engineering, quality assurance, inventory control, and workforce leadership across Greenforest Foods’ processing facilities. The role drives plant efficiency (OEE), mass-balance yield optimization, uncompromising food safety compliance (KEBS, HACCP, ISO 22000), and cost control within a lean manufacturing framework.

Key Responsibilities

Operations, Production & Capacity Planning

• Direct daily operations across honey processing, nut roasting, and peanut butter blending/filling lines to meet production schedules, volume targets, and delivery deadlines.
• Maximize Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE), minimize downtime, and oversee preventive/corrective maintenance for processing machinery, steam, power, and plant utilities.
• Monitor raw material mass-balance and batch conversion yields (raw materials honey/peanuts to finished goods) to eliminate waste, product giveaway, and rejections.

Quality, Food Safety & Regulatory Compliance

• Enforce strict compliance with ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, HACCP, and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) across all processing, sanitation, and storage areas.
• Maintain 100% compliance with KEBS, DOSHS, OSHA, and NEMA; lead internal/external quality audits and ensure on-time closure of Corrective and Preventive Action (CAPAs).

Supply Chain, Inventory & Cost Management

• Manage operational budgets, direct labor costs, and utility consumption to lower unit production costs without compromising safety or quality.
• Partner with Procurement and Stores to align stock levels of raw honey, groundnuts, and packaging materials with seasonal smallholder sourcing variations.

Leadership, Team Capability & Analytics

• Direct and develop production, quality, maintenance, and warehouse teams; optimize shift structures and labor allocation to control overtime.
• Foster a Kaizen/5S culture, track plant KPIs (OEE, Scrap %, Cost/Unit, OTIF), and participate in CAPEX planning and line expansion projects.

Requirements & Qualifications

Academic & Work Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science and Technology, Chemical Engineering, Industrial Engineering, Bioprocessing, or a closely related field.
• A Master’s degree in a relevant discipline is an added advantage.
• Professional certification in HACCP, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000 Lead Auditor, or Lean Six Sigma (Green/Black Belt) is highly advantageous.
• 7–10 years of progressive FMCG/food processing operational experience in East Africa, with at least 4+ years in a senior plant management role.

Key Competencies & Leadership Attributes

• Deep, practical working knowledge of KEBS certification protocols, ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000, HACCP principles, and Kenyan OSHA/NEMA statutory requirements.
• Strong grounding in Lean Manufacturing principles, 5S workplace organization, Root Cause Analysis (RCA), and Total Productive Maintenance (TPM).
• Hands-on experience using Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems (e.g., SAP, Business Central, Sage) for shop-floor tracking, inventory control, and operational reporting.
• Ability to interpret cost-of-goods-sold (COGS) breakdowns, operational variances, line utility costs, and factory financial statements.
• Combines high-level operational planning with an active shop-floor presence to troubleshoot machine, process, and line bottlenecks swiftly.
• Rigorous commitment to uncompromising food safety standards, ethical workforce management, and full regulatory compliance.
• Calm under pressure, capable of making sound operational tradeoffs between production speed, unit cost, and quality.
• Strong communication and coaching skills to engage, motivate, and upskill shop-floor technicians, machine operators, and line supervisors.

How to Apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit their applications by sending their CV to hr@greenforest.co.ke by 1^st November 2026 before 5:00pm EAT.

Greenforest Foods Limited is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds, regardless of gender, age, disability, or ethnicity, are strongly encouraged to apply.

By submitting your application, you consent to the collection, processing, and secure storage of your personal data solely for recruitment and selection purposes, in accordance with the Kenya Data Protection Act, 2019. Your details will be handled with strict confidentiality.

Note: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Greenforest Foods does not charge any fee at any stage of the recruitment process.