Technical Assistant

POSITION SUMMARY & PRIMARY OBJECTIVE

• The incumbent of this role shall under the general guidance of the company Technical manager and within the limits of Dreyna Fresh limited policies & procedures, see to it that farms adhere to the company Code of practice and production is of required quality and quantity raw material in a safe and efficient manner.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Ensuring production of good quality product as per the specifications, monitor crop health, soil conditions and ensure compliance with o export standards.
• Daily issuance of ticket plans (Seed, fertilizer, chemical) via the Crop management system. E.g Greenlight Grower management (GLGM).
• Daily confirmation at the farm level of the ticket plans of whatever issued through the system has been applied.
• Daily positive releasing a block for harvesting through the Earliest harvest date report generation.
• Coming up with the PPPL and ensuring that the farms use the updated PPPL.
• Assist in technical customer correspondences.
• Assist in following on and coming up with a corrective action in case of any non-conformance.
• Scouts support on operational farm scouting records.
• Preparing periodic reports as per standards` requirements from time to time.
• Ensuring the farm has all the required structures as per the requirement of the standards.
• Provide technical assistance and advice to growers when required.
• Conduct spot checks on quality of produce both in the field and at farm or packhouse Intake
• Reports after monitoring on the prevalence of pests and diseases in the farm and particularly where they may affect product quality /crop yield potential.
• Monitoring and reporting on trials of new varieties and crop production practices.
• Assist in preparing farm for both internal and external audits. I.e., Global Gap Certification & Tesco Nature, M&S, Leaf Marque, Smeta etc.
• Ensuring full compliance to food safety and all relevant documentation.
• Collection and following up on water, crop and soil samples for analysis when needed as per sampling schedule.
• Training and Guidance-provide technical advice to farm workers on best practises in herb cultivation.
• Promote and maintain ethical and professional standards in line with company staff regulations, ETI and other codes of conducts to enhance worker welfare.
• Health and Safety – Ensure all duties are performed safely and responsibly in consideration to Environmental, Health and Safety Company policies.
• Farm Hygiene following up to ensure farm hygiene is maintained
• Data Collection (record crop yields, soil tests and weather patterns (Humidity & Temperature) to support decision-making.
• Implement eco-friendly farming methods, including composting, water conservation, and integrated pest management
• Capturing minutes in any production meetings.
• Any other responsibilities as may be assigned by their manager from time to time.

QUALIFICATIONS / EXPERIENCE / KNOWLEDGE

The following qualifications, knowledge and experience are required of an employee in this role.

Essential

• Degree/Diploma in Agronomy, Horticulture or other related field.
• 5 years or more experience in the industry 
• Should have excellent strategic planning skills.
• Must have strong communication skills.

Desirable

• Should have the ability to multi-task, work under pressure and meet deadlines.
• Must be process driven, self-motivated, develop and work as part of a team and possess strong management, organisational and communication skills.
• Thorough knowledge in usage and handling of agricultural equipment, chemicals and fertilizers.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Compliance
• Food safety

CORE COMPETENCIES

The following Core competencies are the skills, knowledge and behaviours expected of an employee in this role.

• Communication Skills :- Communicates clearly and professionally in written and oral forms to both internal and external clients.
• Initiative and Confidence :- Generates and acts on new ideas that add value to the business. Looks at different ways to solve problems and address difficulties.
• Achievement Drive :- Sets goals and strives to achieve them with enthusiasm and determination.
• Business Acumen:- Has a good understanding of the business environment and the impact their behaviour has on the reputation of the company.
• Respect:- Treats colleagues and customers in a manner which demonstrates integrity, honesty and fairness.