Title: Decentralised Regional Coordinator
Location: Rift Valley Kenya (with regular travel across counties)
Reports to: Decentralised Operations Manager
About Food 4 Education
Food for Education (F4E) is an African-led, women-led social enterprise that uses technology, smart operations and logistics to provide low-cost, high-quality meals that improve nutrition and education outcomes for primary school children in Kenya.
We are growing quickly. Our mission is to scale models that prioritise efficient supply chain management and sustainable sourcing, so we can continue lowering the cost of school lunches. We have delivered over 40,000,000 meals since 2012 and are expanding to reach our goal of serving at least 1,000,000 public primary school students in Kenya every day by 2027.
Position Overview:
The Decentralized Regional Coordinator for Rift Valley Kenya will be responsible for overseeing kitchen operations, inventory management, and meal production in all counties within the region. The role ensures that kitchens adhere to central guidelines and standards while supporting local program analysts and associates. The coordinator will conduct regular audits, collect and compile operational data, and facilitate training initiatives to ensure operational excellence across the region.
Our Values
At Food for Education, our values are guiding principles that provide us with purpose and direction and set the tone for our interactions with all stakeholders:
- Build with excellence and curiosity - We’re not afraid to try new things and iterate as much as we can to find the best and most efficient way to get results;
- Be the change you seek - We acknowledge that continuous improvement is a shared responsibility;
- We do what we say; and say what we do - We embrace an ownership mentality;
- Ask why; and commit- Share openly and question respectfully and commit fully. When we understand the why, we are able to work with a purpose.
Key Responsibilities:
Operations Management
- Review kitchen operations through the looker and/or tablue and flag any trends and issues associated with quality and kitchen performance
- Guide analysts in implementing and overseeing kitchen trends and problem-solving during and after operations
- Oversee analyst's adherence to their Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and conduct regular checks to ensure compliance
- Track the number of meals cooked and consumed weekly, ensuring compliance with set KPIs for meal production.
- In close collaboration with finance teams, identify key regional vendors and distributors that keep the cost of produce low and maintain a high quality in sourcing and distribution of perishable and non-perishable SKUs
- Creating plans for expansion and scaling in different Regions
- In collaboration with operations compliance conduct monthly assessments of the current operational gaps and priorities for F4E activities in the region.
- Develop and execute operational improvement plan across the region and cascade critical strategies to all teams within the region
- Manage the warehouse & inventory analysts, ensuring compliance with all warehouse processes and procedures.
- Oversee vendor selection and interview process
- Evaluate the selection logistics and warehouse process and workflows to improve efficiency
Team Leadership and Capacity Building
- Set out region-specific training schedules and materials for all teams within the region in accordance with the organisation's objectives and team OKRs
- Facilitate ongoing training and capacity-building initiatives for program analysts and Program support teams, focusing on reporting, troubleshooting and KAIZEN Lean methods
- Manage individual performance for direct and sub-level reports through appropriate performance management systems and assessments.
- Develop a capacity-building and training plan for program analysts to ensure their continuous improvement
- Conduct timely reviews and appraisals in accordance with company objectives and goals
- Work closely with the people team on disciplinary cases involving all teams within the region ensuring company policies are adhered to
- Support and guide program analysts on leadership principles and support on capacity building and training development of their county teams
Financial Budgeting and Production Planning
- Develop and manage region-specific budgets and purchase schedules
- Develop monthly financial performance reports, highlighting differences in Cost per Meal across different programs within the region
- Collate all financial performance data across the different regions
- Develop and own kitchen-specific strategies to reduce and improve financial performance
- Review and approve program analysts' budget proposals, reviewing quotations and justification for expenditures
- Develop and own justification for expenditure documentation for critical purchases that affect kitchen operations within the region
Desired Candidate Profile
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain Management, Food and Beverage Management, or related field.
- Proven experience in managing decentralized operations, preferably in food production or large-scale kitchen environments.
- Strong understanding of inventory management and stock control systems.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
- Ability to work in a dynamic environment and manage multiple tasks efficiently.
- Proficiency in data management tools and operational reporting systems.
We are an equal opportunity employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, colour, family or medical care leave, gender identity or expression, genetic information, marital status, medical condition, national origin, physical or mental disability, political affiliation, race, religion, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected by applicable laws, regulations and ordinances.
Career Growth and Development
We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You will have weekly check-ins with your manager, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You will have the opportunity to shape a growing organisation and build a rewarding, long-term career.
Deadline: 28th February 2025
We aim to contact all our applicants, but due to the high volume of applications only shortlisted candidates are contacted. If you do not hear from us within two weeks your application might not be successful on this occasion. This does not mean you will not be considered for future roles so please keep an eye on our job board and apply for positions that match your skills and experience.