Homegrown Job Vacancy: Senior Horticultural Manager (Lilies), Mt Kenya Region

Background

Homegrown is a market leader in the production and processing of flowers and vegetables for export and as part of the larger Flamingo Group their added value products supply markets in the UK, Europe and USA.

Flamingo is part of Finlays one of the largest agricultural organizations in East Africa and a wholly owned subsidiary of the Swire Group the largest privately owned company in the UK.

The company is one of the largest Lilly growers in the world and as our business is undergoing continual growth and change, we continue to support and strengthen our team in Kenya.

As a part of these planned changes, we are looking for a dynamic focused self starter who is able to underpin strategic horticultural business plans with operational best practice in order to deliver long term sustainable results.

Based in our Mt Kenya region, this is an exciting key management position which recognizes the need for a senior professional to lead and manage a team, continuing to develop an integrated and sustainable horticultural growing strategy within our Lilly operations.

The Job

Reporting to the Regional General Manager and working as part of the Operations Director’s team, the person will strategically manage a team to efficiently plan the Lilly supply and production operations to ensure we profitably maintain stakeholder satisfaction and customer service levels in a sustainable manner.

The key result areas for this position are outlined below.

• In collaboration with the regional, commercial, and operations teams, the job holder will plan, develop and implement a best practice Lilly strategy which aligns the company’s supply plans to horticultural best practice in a profitable and sustainable manner. Outside of growing, this will involve devising and implementing business-relevant planning strategy at a senior level.
• Through effective communication and mentoring, the job holder will lead, manage and develop individuals and the team. He/She will contribute to the management of the company, promoting a culture that enables people to think, be stimulated, enjoy what they do and have the perception that being a member of the Finlays team is of value to them.

The person

The ideal candidate must have:

• a university degree with ten years demonstrable senior horticultural (growing) management experience where experience with Lillies will be a distinct advantage.
• the depth of experience and skills such that sound people and line management competence is taken for granted.
• ability to be self driven, reliant and motivated, being energetic and positive in outlook with hands on and energetic approach in seeing things through to completion.
• highly developed numeracy and computer literacy skills.
• ability to structure a plan, marshal resources, work as a team and deliver on commitments.
• excellent interpersonal and presentation skills: persuasive and with the gravitas to gain senior management confidence.

If you fulfill the above requirements and wish to be considered, please send your detailed CV and copies of certificates and testimonials together with a daytime telephone contact to reach the undersigned not later than 11th September 2009.

Human Resource Director
Homegrown (K) Limited
Nairobi Business Park, Unit B
P.O box 10222-00400, Nairobi
careers.homegrown @ f-h.biz

Those who will not have heard from us by 1st October 2009 should consider their applications unsuccessful.

Finlays - Homegrown (K) Ltd is an equal opportunity employer