Assistant Manager - Certifications and Research

About the role

The Assistant Manager – Certifications and Research will oversee coffee production on the estate, ensuring compliance with multiple sustainability certifications while driving quality, research trials and financial performance. This position blends agronomic expertise with people and budget management to keep the estate productive, certified and profitable.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and maintain certifications such as Rainforest Alliance, Café Practices, Nespresso AAA, 4C and Organic, managing audit cycles and corrective actions.
• Develop and enforce farm‑level SOPs for cultivation, harvesting, processing, drying, sorting, storage and transport.
• Monitor pest and disease incidence and implement timely control measures.
• Design, conduct and analyse scientific R&D trials across estate locations, sharing statistical findings monthly.
• Mobilise field workers for timely harvests and ensure strict safety standards throughout the estate.
• Implement rigorous quality‑control systems to guarantee premium coffee quality.
• Manage estate budgets, control costs, optimise stock of chemicals, inputs and coffee, and drive profitability.
• Maintain accurate daily, weekly and monthly data capture and reporting, including payroll processing.

Required profile

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Horticulture or Agribusiness.
• Minimum 5 + years progressive agribusiness experience, with at least 3 years in coffee production.
• Strong knowledge of coffee cultivation, processing techniques and sustainability certification programmes.
• Proven leadership ability to manage teams, field operations and stakeholder relationships.
• Demonstrated financial management skills, including budgeting and cost control.
• Excellent verbal and written communication in English and Swahili.