The Chief Operations Officer (COO) is end-responsible for the operations of Maua Mazuri Ltd, a Tanzanian daughter company of Growing Impacts BV. At this moment, the company’s operations consist of a tissue culture laboratory, 2 nurseries and a demo farm and employs nearly 80 staff members.

The COO will work from our Headquarters in Moshi.

After its startup, Maua Mazuri has now entered the phase of further professionalization and optimization of business processes. Expansion of activities to Kenya will take place in the near future, followed by further expansion within the East Africa region.

COO is member of the Management team and forms together with the CEO the Executive Team that on a regular base report to The Board of Directors of Growing Impact BV. 

1.Manage and continuously improve the full operational system of the tissue culture laboratory, the nurseries and demo farm; its processes & policies, monitoring and management reporting, information flow, business process and organisational planning.

2.Responsible for preparing operational planning and budgets (short and mid-term) and their
implementation and realization.

3. Build and motivate a team that ensures operational excellence and strict adherence to the company's standard of efficiency, quality, environment, health & safety and reporting as set out in the Standing Operation Procedures (SOPs) among others.


4. Secure product innovation; initiate and identify (new) product development together with 5.Keep abreast of the latest agricultural and scientific developments.

6.Ensure that the company’s operations are as planet-friendly as possible.

7.Develop and maintain a deep knowledge of the markets and industry of the company.

8.Develop cooperation/partnership with third party nurseries in other banana growing areas.
 
 9. Build and maintain trust relations with other (research and agriculture related) organizations, authorities and other stakeholders.

10.Create, together with the Management Team, a company culture that promotes great performance and high employee engagement.

11.Enforce and monitor adherence to legal guidelines and in-house policies to maintain the company’s legality and business ethics in line with the local and (international) standards and codes as required by Tanzanian law and Invest International.

12.Report together with CEO to the Board of Directors every quarter about the realized performance and the forecast for the coming period. Analyze problematic situations and occurrences and inform the Board as soon as possible.

13.Report twice a year together with CEO to Invest International (NL institution for impact investment).


 

Required qualifications & skills

1.The ideal candidate for the COO position has:
A master degree in Agriculture/Agronomy (minimum bachelor degree).

2.A working experience of 5-10 yrs within a medium size-large agricultural business in Tanzania or on the African continent.

3.Experience (min 3 yrs) in a senior management position.

4.Experience with track & trace and monitoring/reporting software and data-based decision making.

5.Always looking for innovation and has a good eye for feasibility.

6.Is able to build, inspire, motivate and train his team; is a strong team player and leader.

7.Is able to build consensus and relationships.

8. Is able to understand new issues quickly, makes wise decisions and is adaptive to new impulses and circumstances.

9.Is strict regarding the application of ethical business standards, in word and deed.

10.Is fluent in English and good in Swahili, both in written and in verbal form, and has excellent communication and presentation skills.

11.Is highly proficient in MS Word, PowerPoint and Excel
And last but not least: the preferred candidate has an entrepreneurial mindset and is always “ready to go for the extra mile”.