Factory Manager at Mulindi Factory Company Ltd, Deadline 7th March 2025
FACTORY MANAGER
Established in 1960, Mulindi Tea Factory (MFC) holds a pioneering legacy in Rwanda’s tea industry as the largest, oldest and first 100% smallholder-owned factory in the region, with an impressive capacity of 5,000 MT of tea production. To drive operational excellence and optimize the factory’s performance and profitability, we are looking for a highly qualified and motivated individual join our team as Factory Manager. This is an exciting opportunity for a results-driven professional passionate about making a positive impact in a dynamic environment.
Job Purpose:
The Factory Manager is responsible for overseeing the entire tea manufacture and production process, ensuring smooth operations, quality control to the highest standard and effective management of resources, while properly and efficiently managing the factory team and ensuring safety and environmental compliance. The Factory Manager will be employed by The Wood Foundation Africa who will have oversight of this position but reporting to the Director General.
Key Responsibilities
Production Management
- Oversee the daily operations of the tea factory, ensuring careful monitoring of processing parameters, efficiencies and costs.
- Supervise the processing of tea leaves, including withering, rolling, fermenting, drying, and sorting, packing and timely dispatch.
- Develop and maintain production schedules to ensure timely manufacturing and delivery of contracted teas.
- Implement best practices in production to optimize efficiency, improve quality and reduce waste.
- Prepare and submit regular production reports as may be required.
Quality Control
- Ensure that tea production meets industry, market and buyer standards for quality.
- Consistently monitor and report on the quality of raw materials (Green leaf) delivered to the factory .
- Conduct regular inspections and testing to maintain tea quality and consistency.
- Troubleshoot and resolve any issues related to product quality.
- Implement and oversee quality assurance procedures ensuring proper record keeping of production related reports e.g. production batches, inspections and test results, quality control logs and inventory reports.
Maintenance and Management of equipment and assets
- Ensure that all production machinery is in good working condition and coordinate regular maintenance and repairs to minimize downtime.
- Support installation of new processes and machinery as may be required and take charge of engineering and maintenance.
- Be accountable for proper upkeep and maintenance of all Company assets.
Budgeting & Cost Control
- Develop and manage the budget for factory operations. Ensure annual revenue budgets and capex proposals are prepared in a timely manner and adequate expenditure controls are in place.
- Monitor production costs and find ways to optimize expenditure without compromising quality.
- Report on financial performance and suggest areas for cost savings.
Buyer & Stakeholder Relations
- Promptly address buyer/customer complaints or queries related to product quality or delivery.
- Liaise with Field Manager to ensure supply of good quality green leaf.
- Liaise with Sales and Marketing Manager to follow up on latest market trends, dynamics and requirements.
- Effective communication with staff, suppliers, stakeholders and customers.
Safety and Compliance
- Enforce safety standards and ensure compliance with industry regulations. This includes ensuring environment guidelines and sustainability practices are followed.
- Develop, implement and monitor standards for production operation to ensure compliance with relevant quality management standards. The role is also responsible for the implementation of certifications such as FSSC, RA, FDA or any others the Company deems necessary.
- Review, develop and continuously update factory policies and procedures in line with best practice.
- Promote and maintain a safe working environment for all factory staff by enforcing all company policies and procedures including Health and Safety and Safe Operating procedures.
- Conduct risk assessments and implement necessary safety measures.
Inventory & Supply Chain Management
- Maximize fuelwood efficiency and ensure sustainable supply of fuelwood sourcing for the factory including oversight of MFC-owned woodlot as well as MFC-management government forests.
- Manage inventory of raw materials, packaging, and other factory inputs/supplies.
- Coordinate with Cooperatives/Green leaf suppliers to ensure good quality raw material.
- Monitor stock levels to avoid shortages or overstocking.
Staff Management
- Lead and manage factory staff, including production workers, support staff and supervisors.
- Provide training on factory operations, safety protocols, and quality standards ensuring a high level of performance and safety awareness.
- Delegate tasks and supervise staff to ensure adherence to production standards and schedules.
- Recruit, develop and retain an adequate number of skilled factory staff. This will include identifying any training requirements to build the capacity of staff on tea processing and improve their performance against set deliverables and in so doing, maximize on tea quality and production.
- Maintain a positive and productive work environment, fostering teamwork and collaboration.
Key Qualifications and Skills
- Graduate in Agriculture, Agribusiness, Food Science, Production Technology, Mechanical/ Electrical/Production Engineering or related agricultural field.
- At least ten (10) years progressive work experience in tea manufacturing or related areas out of which four (4) should be at a senior managerial level in a reputable tea factory.
- Proven track record of ability to manage tea production operations.
- Must have good knowledge and understanding of tea production machinery and processes as well as tea market dynamics.
- Knowledge and experience in Environmental, Occupational Health and safety in the work place.
- Leadership: Ability to lead and motivate the MFC Factory team.
- Problem Solving: Strong problem-solving and analytical skills, with the ability to make data-driven decisions. This should include the ability to identify issues in the production line quickly implement solutions.
- Budget Management: Experience in cost control and resource management.
- Quality Assurance: Strong focus on quality control and maintaining high standards.
- Resilience: Ability to work under pressure and handle multiple tasks simultaneously.
- Communication: Excellent communication, interpersonal and organizational skills. Fluency in both Kinyarwanda and English required.
- Willingness to live and work at Mulindi Tea Factory Site, located in Gicumbi District in the Northern Province of Rwanda.
Location
The role shall be based full time at the Mulindi Factory Company in Gicumbi District, Northern Province.
Job Application procedure
All interested and qualified candidates are invited to send their applications with a cover letter, Curriculum Vitae, copies of their academic and professional certificates via the apply button below no later than 7th March 2025. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.