Tupande PLC Operator (Fixed-term)

About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

Our Kenya program, founded in 2006, operates under the local brand Tupande. Close to 500 staff in our Kakamega headquarters support 1,747 field staff and serve more than 1 million farmers. In Nairobi, around 50 staff support global functions like procurement, recruitment, government relations, and communications

About the Role

Operates and monitors the pyrolysis (production lines) from the control room, keeping the process stable, safe, and in specification, and responding quickly and correctly when conditions change. The operator manages the process, not just the screen. Also provides responsive cover for operator breaks and surge support across the shift (Floater function) as directed by the Shift Supervisor.

Responsibilities

Control Room

• Run start-up, steady-state, and shutdown sequences in the correct order, confirming each critical step
• Monitor temperature, pressure, flow, and trends across both production lines, and adjust settings within approved bounds to keep the process in its optimal state.
• Watch feed and product quality indicators and coordinate with the Quality team on any deviation
• Identify performance deviations, alarm conditions, or anomalies and immediately alert the Shift Supervisor and relevant operator
• Keep accurate, timestamped shift logs and event records; maintain full data integrity
• Conduct first-line equipment care including cleaning, condition monitoring, and reporting any issues requiring attention to the technical team
• Give a complete, clear handover to the next shift: risks, open actions, and equipment status
• Follow all PPE, isolation, permit-to-work, and other critical safety controls without exception
• Escalate recurring control system faults to the Electrical Maintenance Lead

Floater

• Cover operator breaks on a rotating basis to maintain full line coverage.
• Provide hands-on support to operations, maintenance, feedstock, or Quality teams as directed by the Shift Supervisor.
• Respond to equipment stoppages or surge workloads anywhere on the floor.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You’ll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, 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’ll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

Must have

• Technical certificate or diploma in process/chemical, instrumentation, electrical, mechatronics engineering, or equivalent experience
• 2+ years operating a continuous or thermal process from a PLC / SCADA / DCS control room
• Awareness of combustible gas and carbon monoxide hazards
• Accurate logging and basic computer literacy.

Desirable

 

• Experience with high-temperature combustion, kiln, or boiler processes
• Exposure to flaring systems, scrubbers, or emissions-control system
• Familiarity with rotary kilns, dryers, conveyors, and screw feeders
• Basic first aid and firefighting skills
• Prior experience across multiple production roles in a manufacturing environment
• Willingness and ability to work rotating 9-hour shifts, including night shifts, on a rotation cycle
• Physically capable of working in a hot, dusty industrial environment throughout the shift, including conducting walkthroughs of the production line at regular intervals.

 

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Sagana, Kenya

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off 

Contract Duration

6 months

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Kenya.

Application Deadline

13 September 2026. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization’s mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.