Description

FarmMoja Limited is a certified grower, packer, and exporter of premium-quality Hass avocados from Kenya, supplying international markets across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The company operates from a modern packhouse in Nairobi, supported by an extensive network of smallholder and commercial growers compliant with GLOBALG.A.P., GRASP, and Rainforest Alliance standards.

Purpose of the Role:

To strengthen our export operations and guarantee consistent delivery of high-quality fruit, FarmMoja seeks to recruit a Packhouse Manager. This role will oversee all technical, operational, and administrative activities within FarmMoja’s partner packhouse. The Packhouse Manager ensures that all fruit received, processed, and dispatched meets international quality standards and buyer specifications—while maintaining efficiency, traceability, compliance, and worker safety in line with GLOBALG.A.P. and GRASP protocols.

Key Responsibilities:

A. Packhouse Operations Management

• Plan, organize, and oversee daily packhouse operations including receiving, grading, sorting, packing, and dispatching of avocados.
• Manage workflow to ensure maximum efficiency, minimal wastage, and compliance with export packing standards.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each operational stage (receiving, washing, sorting, cooling, loading).
• Supervise calibration and packaging consistency to meet buyer size and presentation requirements.

B. Quality Assurance & Food Safety

• Implement and maintain quality management systems (QMS) aligned with GLOBALG.A.P., GRASP, and Rainforest Alliance standards.
• Ensure proper handling, maturity testing, fruit traceability, and defect control throughout the process.
• Monitor and maintain hygiene, temperature, and sanitation of the packhouse in line with food safety requirements.
• Work closely with the Quality Assurance Officer to ensure daily pre-shipment inspections and quality audits.
• Oversee issuance and review of non-conformity reports and corrective actions.

C. Certification & Compliance

• Maintain documentation and audit readiness for certification schemes (GLOBALG.A.P. CoC, GRASP, RA).
• Coordinate internal and external audits, corrective action implementation, and compliance reporting.
• Supervise worker welfare, occupational health, and safety measures in line with GRASP and national labor laws.
• Liaise with certification consultants and auditors to ensure continuous improvement and compliance integrity.

D. Personnel Management & Training

• Manage a multidisciplinary packhouse team including quality controllers, sorters, loaders, cleaners, and technicians.
• Oversee recruitment, induction, and performance monitoring of packhouse staff.
• Conduct routine training on Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), Occupational Safety (OHS), and Quality Control procedures.
• Foster teamwork, motivation, and adherence to company values.

E. Logistics & Inventory Management

• Coordinate inbound logistics (receiving fruit from farms) and outbound logistics (container loading, cold chain management).
• Ensure real-time tracking of fruit volumes, losses, and yield per batch or consignment.
• Oversee inventory of materials including cartons, labels, PPE, and consumables.
• Prepare standard consignment documentation in-line with local regulations and buyer destination requirements (Phyto, EUR.1, etc.).
• Work closely with freight forwarders, cold storage, and customs agents to ensure timely shipment dispatch.

F. Data Management & Reporting

• Maintain accurate digital and physical records of daily packhouse operations, batch codes, and traceability logs.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly reports covering volumes packed, rejection rates, shipment schedules, and operational KPIs.
• Provide management with data-driven insights for production forecasting, efficiency optimization, and cost control.

G. Equipment Maintenance & Facility Management

• Ensure calibration of weighing scales and sensors according to regulatory standards.
• Supervise preventative maintenance and servicing of packing line equipment, cold rooms, and facility utilities.
• Ensure facility safety, waste management, and environmental responsibility.

Qualifications and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Horticulture, Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience managing a fresh produce or fruit packhouse (preferably avocados, mangoes, or similar export crops).
• Familiarity with GLOBALG.A.P. CoC, GRASP, SMETA, HACCP, or equivalent systems.
• Strong understanding of post-harvest handling, cold chain management, and quality control.
• Proven experience with local and international export regulations for various destinations.
• Excellent leadership, planning, teamwork, communication, and decision-making skills.
• Competent in Microsoft Excel, digital record-keeping, ERP/inventory software, and traceability tools.

Skills

• Adaptability

• Plan, organize, and oversee daily packhouse operations including receiving, grading, sorting, packing, and dispatching of avocados.
• Manage workflow to ensure maximum efficiency, minimal wastage, and compliance with export packing standards.
• Develop and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for each operational stage (receiving, washing, sorting, cooling, loading).
• Supervise calibration and packaging consistency to meet buyer size and presentation requirements.
• Implement and maintain quality management systems (QMS) aligned with GLOBALG.A.P., GRASP, and Rainforest Alliance standards.
• Ensure proper handling, maturity testing, fruit traceability, and defect control throughout the process.
• Monitor and maintain hygiene, temperature, and sanitation of the packhouse in line with food safety requirements.
• Work closely with the Quality Assurance Officer to ensure daily pre-shipment inspections and quality audits.
• Oversee issuance and review of non-conformity reports and corrective actions.
• Maintain documentation and audit readiness for certification schemes (GLOBALG.A.P. CoC, GRASP, RA).
• Coordinate internal and external audits, corrective action implementation, and compliance reporting.
• Supervise worker welfare, occupational health, and safety measures in line with GRASP and national labor laws.
• Liaise with certification consultants and auditors to ensure continuous improvement and compliance integrity.
• Manage a multidisciplinary packhouse team including quality controllers, sorters, loaders, cleaners, and technicians.
• Oversee recruitment, induction, and performance monitoring of packhouse staff.
• Conduct routine training on Good Hygiene Practices (GHP), Occupational Safety (OHS), and Quality Control procedures.
• Foster teamwork, motivation, and adherence to company values.
• Coordinate inbound logistics (receiving fruit from farms) and outbound logistics (container loading, cold chain management).
• Ensure real-time tracking of fruit volumes, losses, and yield per batch or consignment.
• Oversee inventory of materials including cartons, labels, PPE, and consumables.
• Prepare standard consignment documentation in-line with local regulations and buyer destination requirements (Phyto, EUR.1, etc.).
• Work closely with freight forwarders, cold storage, and customs agents to ensure timely shipment dispatch.
• Maintain accurate digital and physical records of daily packhouse operations, batch codes, and traceability logs.
• Prepare daily, weekly, and monthly reports covering volumes packed, rejection rates, shipment schedules, and operational KPIs.
• Provide management with data-driven insights for production forecasting, efficiency optimization, and cost control.
• Ensure calibration of weighing scales and sensors according to regulatory standards.
• Supervise preventative maintenance and servicing of packing line equipment, cold rooms, and facility utilities.
• Ensure facility safety, waste management, and environmental responsibility.

• Adaptability
• Leadership
• Planning
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Decision-making
• Microsoft Excel
• Digital record-keeping
• ERP/inventory software
• Traceability tools

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Horticulture, Agribusiness, Post-Harvest Technology, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years’ experience managing a fresh produce or fruit packhouse (preferably avocados, mangoes, or similar export crops).
• Familiarity with GLOBALG.A.P. CoC, GRASP, SMETA, HACCP, or equivalent systems.
• Strong understanding of post-harvest handling, cold chain management, and quality control.
• Proven experience with local and international export regulations for various destinations.