Head of Irrigation and Fertigation at AAA Growers in Nairobi, Kenya

    AAA Growers logo

    Head of Irrigation and Fertigation

    AAA GrowersNairobi, Kenya

    Posted

    4 days ago

    Apply by

    31 Aug

    Full Time
    On Site
    Mid
    Agriculture & Agribusiness
    Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

    Build your CV in minutes! Tailored for the Kenyan job market.

    Build My CV

    Job Description

    AAA Growers Limited is a leading horticultural producer and exporter committed to operational excellence and high-quality fresh produce. We are seeking an experienced and result-driven Head of Irrigation to lead and manage all irrigation and fertigation operations. Reporting to the Crop Protection & Irrigation Manager, the role will ensure efficient water and nutrient application, optimal crop performance, effective resource utilization, and compliance with agronomic, operational, safety, and company standards.

    Key Responsibilities

    • Develop and implement irrigation and fertigation programmes aligned with crop requirements, production targets, weather conditions, and agronomic recommendations.
    • Oversee irrigation and fertigation operations across greenhouses and open-field production areas, ensuring timely, accurate, and uniform water and nutrient application.
    • Monitor and maintain appropriate EC and pH levels, water distribution, pressure, and fertigation accuracy.
    • Supervise, allocate, and manage irrigation teams to achieve 100% effective labour utilization, productivity, accountability, and discipline.
    • Ensure efficient utilization of water, fertilizers, energy, labour, equipment, and other departmental resources.
    • Oversee the maintenance and operational reliability of pumps, filters, valves, drip lines, tanks, pipes, dosing systems, and other irrigation infrastructure.
    • Identify and ensure timely resolution of leaks, blockages, pressure variations, system failures, and other irrigation-related issues.
    • Ensure compliance with company SOPs, safety requirements, certification standards, 6S, and applicable operational procedures.
    • Work closely with Production, Agronomy, Engineering, and other technical teams to optimize irrigation efficiency, crop performance, and resource utilization.
    • Maintain accurate irrigation and fertigation records and prepare timely daily, weekly, and monthly reports.
    • Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, cost reduction, water efficiency, productivity enhancement, and improved team performance.

    Required Qualifications

    • Diploma or bachelor's degree in Irrigation, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Agronomy, Agriculture, or a related field.
    • At least 3–5 years' relevant experience in commercial horticulture, preferably in greenhouse or flower production, with experience in irrigation and fertigation supervision or management.
    • Strong practical knowledge of irrigation systems, including drip irrigation, pumps, filtration, fertigation, valves, and water distribution.
    • Sound knowledge of EC, pH, crop nutrition, and fertigation management.
    • Proven experience in labour planning, team supervision, coaching, performance management, and productivity improvement.
    • Good knowledge of irrigation maintenance, troubleshooting, resource management, and operational reporting.
    • Strong leadership, planning, analytical, communication, and problem-solving skills, with a high level of accountability and results orientation.

    Job Details

    Job Function

    Agriculture, Food & Natural Resources

    Minimum Experience

    3 years

    Education Level

    Bachelor’s Degree

    Area of Study

    Agriculture

    Field of Study

    Irrigation

    Additional Information

    How to Apply: Interested and qualified candidates should visit the AAA Growers website at www.aaagrowers.co.ke to apply.

    Show Irrigation Precision on Paper Before You Walk Into the Interview

    Hiring teams for this role want proof you can manage water and nutrients with precision, not just talk about it. They'll probe your hands-on experience with drip systems, EC/pH control, and team supervision under commercial pressure.

    1. Quantify your irrigation wins: On your CV, put numbers to your achievements—like reducing water usage by 15% or improving crop uniformity. Managers want to see you've delivered measurable results, not just performed tasks.

    2. Master the technical details: Be ready to explain how you'd adjust fertigation schedules based on weather and crop stage. Brush up on EC and pH management, and be prepared to discuss troubleshooting common system failures like blockages or pressure drops.

    3. Show your leadership style: This role involves supervising teams, so highlight your experience in labour planning and performance management. Give an example of how you motivated your team to hit productivity targets.

    4. Know the crop: Since it's horticulture, likely flowers, show you understand the specific water and nutrient needs of high-value crops. Mention any experience with greenhouse production—it's a big plus.

    5. Prepare for scenario questions: Expect questions like 'What do you do if a pump fails during peak season?' Walk them through your step-by-step response, showing you can stay calm and act fast.

    6. Emphasize compliance and safety: This role requires adherence to SOPs and safety standards. Talk about how you've maintained 6S or similar standards in past roles, and why it matters for quality and efficiency.

    7. Show you're a problem-solver: Give a concrete example of a complex irrigation issue you diagnosed and fixed. It could be a recurring blockage or a fertigation accuracy problem—show your analytical approach.

    8. Ask smart questions: At the end, ask about the team size, current irrigation infrastructure, or biggest challenges. It shows you're already thinking about how to add value from day one.

    CareerSasa Safety Alert: Never pay employers or agencies for interviews, training, or job placement. Does a job request payment? Report it immediately using the "Flag" button. While CareerSasa vets job postings thoroughly, always verify opportunities independently.
    Share this job:

    Boost Your Application Success

    1. 1

      Expert CV help that gets you noticed. Build Your CV

    2. 2

      A personalized cover letter for this role. Write Cover Letter

    3. 3

      Attract recruiters with a stronger profile. Boost LinkedIn

    Tags

    irrigation
    fertigation
    horticulture
    greenhouse
    EC