Assistant Estate Manager - Coffee Estates

About the role

Tatu Coffee Company Limited, owned by Rendeavour and based in Tatu City, is one of Kenya's leading specialty coffee producers, cultivating Arabica on more than 6,500 acres of certified estates. It is looking for an Assistant Estate Manager to oversee day-to-day operations of its coffee estate, from field work to production quality and team management.

Key responsibilities

• Implement farm-level standard operating procedures covering growing, harvesting, processing, drying, sorting, storage and transport, following best practices and industry standards.
• Identify pests and diseases and escalate or implement timely control measures.
• Mobilise workers for field work and harvest on time.
• Ensure safety standards are followed 100% within the estate boundaries and during transport outside the farm.
• Implement and maintain quality control systems throughout production.
• Manage budgets, control wasteful costs, identify efficiency gains and drive profitability.
• Control stocks of chemicals, farm inputs, coffee and manpower.
• Capture daily, weekly and monthly data accurately and report on time; ensure payrolls are paid on time.
• Support environmental sustainability initiatives such as land management, water conservation and ethical farming.
• Manage a team of estate staff, supervisors, processing team, workshop drivers and mechanics and sanitation staff.
• Foster good relationships with local communities, government agencies and industry stakeholders.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Horticulture or Agribusiness.
• At least 5 years of progressive agribusiness management experience, including at least 3 years directly in coffee production.
• Leadership skills to lead teams and manage daily work.
• Fluency in English and Swahili, with satisfactory verbal and written communication.

Required skills

• Knowledge of coffee cultivation, processing techniques and quality standards.
• Familiarity with sustainability certification programs is an advantage.
• Financial management skills, including farm-level budgeting and cost control.
• Good problem-solving skills, escalating potential issues early to management.