Mechanisation Specialist

Overview

Based in Nairobi, Kenya, this field-centric position involves frequent travel across various agricultural clusters including Kaptagat, Laikipia, Ol Joro Orok, Ol Kalou, Kilgoris/Meru–Timau, and others. Reporting directly to the Head of Agronomy & Operations and collaborating closely with Procurement, Field Officers, the REP Program, Finance & Controls, and Tech & Data teams, the Mechanisation Specialist ensures high standards of mechanized farm operations.

Role Purpose

This role is central to managing mechanized field activities such as land preparation, planting, crop protection, fertiliser spreading, and harvesting. The Specialist acts as the technical authority on machinery standards ensuring each contracted machine adheres to SOPs and service contracts, certifies completed work quality, builds a vetted list of qualified service providers per cluster with Field Officers, and trains officers to enforce procedures effectively.

Key Responsibilities

• Define and uphold machinery specifications per activity consistent with SOPs and contracts, translating agronomic demands into verifiable equipment and operational standards.
• Conduct pre-operation inspections on contracted tractors and implements against established checklists; certify or reject equipment before deployment to avoid unnecessary mobilization expenses.
• Verify machine compliance under field conditions, including working depth and calibration, approving any changes to scope or specifications ahead of use.
• Assess completed agricultural work for quality adherence based on depth, coverage, ridge geometry, calibration, acreage, and finish; issue Work Completion Certificates only for compliant work and require complimentary rework if standards are unmet.
• Provide technical assessments for KPI reviews associated with Work Completion Certificates; enforce mobilization and backup equipment terms; investigate mishaps and initiate preventative measures.
• Collaborate with Field Officers and Procurement to map and qualify service providers by evaluating their equipment and activity scope, maintaining an updated cluster-specific approved provider list.
• Train Field Officers in inspection, evaluation, and SOP adherence, while also mentoring providers to improve overall network quality.
• Support Procurement by supplying technical specifications for RFQs/SLAs, providing evaluated provider lists, and advising on machinery selection and capacity planning.
• Maintain detailed records of equipment inspections, provider assessments, and work certifications within ERP and farm management systems; regularly report on machinery performance and risks to leadership via Excel and Slack.

Desired Outcomes

• Prevention of unsuitable machine deployment through rigorous pre-use checks.
• Issuance of Work Completion Certificates strictly for work that satisfies contracted quality standards, enabling verified payments.
• Development of a reliable pool of qualified service providers per cluster, ensuring consistent operational standards.
• Empowered Field Officers capable of independently performing inspections and quality assessments, reducing disputes, rework, and downtime.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• Degree or Diploma in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Mechanization, Farm Power & Machinery, Mechanical Engineering with an agricultural focus, or related fields.
• Practical experience with farm machinery operations, specifications, calibrations, and maintenance, ideally in commercial or contracted mechanised farm environments involving tillage, planting, spraying, and spreading activities.
• Knowledge of Kenyan agricultural service providers and field conditions is beneficial.

Technical Competencies

• Deep understanding of machinery operation standards related to depth, speed, application rates, calibration, ridge geometry, and finishing quality; adept at evaluating equipment and work outputs against these benchmarks.
• Skilled in equipment inspection, calibration, and basic troubleshooting techniques.
• Proficient with digital farm management systems, ERP modules handling equipment and inspection records, Excel, Slack, and digital checklist tools; exposure to drone technology, precision agriculture, GPS/RTK systems is advantageous.
• Ability to develop SOPs, checklists, and training materials; awareness of safe chemical application practices and compliance with Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) drone regulations.

Personal Attributes

• A capable trainer and mentor who enhances the skills of Field Officers and service providers.
• Firm commitment to quality standards with integrity, objectively evaluating work without yielding to pressure to certify deficient results; field-ready status with frequent on-farm presence; driving ability preferable.
• Fluent communication in English and Kiswahili with clear documentation skills; highly organized and self-motivated managing activities across multiple locations.

Employment Details

The position is a full-time role within the Agronomy & Operations team, requiring extensive travel to various clusters with a field-based work environment.