Title: Operations Specialist
Reporting to: TBD
Location: Nairobi
About Food for 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 100 million meals since 2012 and are expanding to reach our goal of serving at least 1 million public primary school students in Kenya every day by 2027. Further, we will serve another 2 million children in other African countries through technical advice to African governments and share global best practices with other African school feeding partners.
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, question respectfully, and commit fully. When we understand the why, we are able to work with a purpose.
About the Role:
We are seeking to hire a dynamic operations specialist who will work in collaboration with the COO to design and execute operational strategies. The role will also establish clear KPIs and success metrics for all areas of centralized kitchen operations that align with the organization's strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning & Operational Efficiency
- In collaboration with the Chief Operating Officer (COO), design and execute comprehensive operational strategies aligned with F4E’s goal of feeding 1 million children by 2025.
- Together with the Finance Team, continuously analyze unit economics, monitor performance metrics, and adapt expansion plans to ensure cost efficiency and sustainability.
- Lead day-to-day operations across our central kitchens in planning across key areas: expansion, supply chain, kitchen production, quality assurance, food safety, logistics, and school feeding.
- Act as a key business partner to the COO, providing updates and insights into the overall expansion roadmap.
2. Team Leadership & Cross-Department Collaboration
- Champion a unified sense of purpose within the Operations team aligned with organizational goals.
- Work closely with the COO to align operational priorities with organizational strategy, especially around expansion planning.
- Facilitate and at times lead collaboration with departments such as Finance, Expansion, Tap2Eat Operations, Data and Analytics, and Tech, through consistent communication and collaboration.
3. Innovation & Continuous Improvement
- Introduce and integrate innovative ideas from diverse industries through structured pilots and experimentation to enhance F4E’s operational effectiveness.
- Monitor and manage operational financial performance, focusing on resource management and asset optimization.
- Continuously improve operational workflows, addressing inefficiencies and optimizing cost per meal in partnership with the finance team, Operations Associates, and Kitchen Managers.
4. Performance Management & Monitoring
- Establish clear KPIs and success metrics for all areas of centralized kitchen operations that align with organization's strategic objectives
- Build and execute performance monitoring systems, enabling data-driven improvements and operational excellence.
- Identify inefficiencies and lead continuous improvement initiatives to optimize systems and processes.
- Ensure structured hiring, staffing, and training of kitchen teams to guarantee smooth operations pre-launch and post-launch.
5. Risk Management & Resilience Planning
- Conduct comprehensive operational risk assessments across central kitchens.
- Develop and implement robust mitigation and contingency plans to ensure business continuity and organizational resilience.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Operations Management, Supply Chain, Business Administration, or a related field. Master’s degree preferred.
- Minimum of 5–7 years of progressive experience in operations or supply chain roles, preferably in the food production, FMCG, or social impact sectors.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and drive strategic initiatives from concept to execution.
- Solution-oriented, able to think on their feet, and quickly pivot.
- Independent-minded, entrepreneurial, and can thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Ability to handle multiple projects at the same time.
- Willingness and ability to handle any job assigned under your scope of work.
- Strong analytical, planning, and financial acumen.
- Experience working in fast-paced, mission-driven environments.
Key Skills & Attributes
- Strategic thinker and a self-starter, with a strong bias for execution
- Systems/processes-oriented and detail-focused
- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills
- Very comfortable with data-driven decision-making and performance tracking
- Passionate about food systems, social impact, and scalable solutions
We are an equal-opportunity employer
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, ancestry, color, 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.
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.