Mechanisation Specialist

FinAgra delivers mechanised field operations — land preparation, planting, crop protection, spreading and harvesting — through contracted service providers on REP and leased land. The Mechanisation Specialist is the technical owner of machinery standards, ensuring every contracted machine meets specification, assessing and certifying completed work, building the vetted per-cluster service-provider list, and training Field Officers to enforce SOPs and checklists.

• Own and maintain the required machinery specifications for each activity, aligned to SOPs and contracts; translate agronomic requirements into verifiable equipment/operating specs for RFQs and SLAs.
• Inspect contracted tractors/implements against the Equipment Inspection Checklist before mobilisation; certify or reject; share requirements with providers in advance.
• Verify equipment meets spec in field conditions (working depth, calibration) before work starts; technically assess and approve any scope/spec change.
• Assess completed work against the contracted spec and quality standards (depth, coverage, uniformity, ridge geometry, calibration, acreage, finish).
• Issue/sign off the Work Completion Certificate (WCC) only for compliant work; withhold it and require zero-cost rework for substandard work.
• Provide technical basis for KPI reviews at each WCC; enforce mobilisation 48hr and breakdown-backup 24hr terms; investigate incidents and drive preventive action.
• Work with Field Officers to build a per-cluster list of service providers; assess each provider's machinery; compile qualified list and share with Procurement.
• Train Field Officers to inspect machinery, assess work and enforce SOP/checklist adherence; coach providers to lift network quality.
• Give Procurement Manager technical specs for RFQs/SLAs, assessed provider lists, and technical evaluations; advise on machinery selection, capacity and seasonal needs.
• Maintain equipment, provider-assessment, inspection and WCC records in ERP and farm management system; report machinery performance and risk to leadership (Excel, Slack).

• Degree/Diploma in Agricultural Engineering, Agricultural Mechanization, Farm Power & Machinery, Mechanical Engineering (agricultural application) or related.
• Experience with farm-machinery operations, specifications, calibration and maintenance (commercial/contracted mechanization ideal), across tillage, seeding/planting, spraying and spreading.
• Familiarity with Kenyan service providers and field conditions is an advantage.
• Strong command of machine operations and the optimal standard per activity (depth, speed, rate/spacing, calibration, ridge geometry, finish); able to assess both machinery specs and completed-work quality against the standard.
• Equipment inspection, calibration and basic troubleshooting.
• Tech-savvy with a farm management system, ERP equipment master, inspection, WCC, Excel, Slack and digital checklists; drone/precision-ag and GPS/RTK an advantage.
• Able to write SOPs, checklists and training materials; aware of chemical safe-use and KCAA drone compliance.
• Trainer/mentor who builds Field-Officer and provider capability; firm on standards with integrity — assesses work objectively and resists pressure to certify substandard work; field-ready (most time on farms); driving an advantage.
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili with clear records and training; organised and self-directed across multiple clusters.