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Tupande Pyrolysis Operator ( Fixed-Term)

Rukanga, Kenya

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 a designated stage of the pyrolysis production process; feedstock feeding and drying, core carbonization, or biochar discharge and cooling.

Responsibilities

Feeder and Dryer Stage

  • Load feedstock into the feed system at the correct rate
  • Monitor and control the drying system to maintain target moisture levels
  • Ensure a consistent and uninterrupted feed to the carbonizer

Carbonizer Stage

  • Monitor and control pyrolysis temperatures, airflow, and combustion conditions
  • Adjust system parameters to maintain optimal and stable operation
  • Respond immediately to process deviations

Discharge and Cooling Stage

  • Monitor and control the cooling system
  • Maintain consistent biochar product flow from the discharge point to storage or packaging
  • Detect and clear blockages safely and promptly

All Stages

  • Record process data, readings, and observations in the shift log at defined intervals
  • All stages: Report equipment faults, unusual readings, or safety concerns to the Production Supervisor immediately
  • Perform equipment pre-checks at shift start and assist with start-up, shutdown, and cleaning procedures
  • Follow all Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) hazard awareness protocols at the assigned workstation throughout the shift

Other

  • Support the Maintenance Officer during equipment stoppages or cleaning related to the assigned process stage

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:

  • Certificate or diploma in a technical, mechanical, chemical, or process engineering field preferred
  • Prior experience in pyrolysis, kiln operation, biomass processing, or high-temperature industrial processing is a strong advantage (particularly for the carbonizer stage)
  • Ability to read gauges, meters, and basic instrumentation and record data accurately
  • Reliable, attentive, and able to follow SOPs precisely under minimal supervision

Other

  • Shift availability: 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

Rukanga, Kenya

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off 

Contract Duration

3 months

Eligibility

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

Application Deadline

05 October 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.

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One Acre Fund maintains a strong policy of equal opportunity employment. The following information is used to determine if our equal employment opportunity efforts are reaching all segments of the population. Individuals seeking employment at One Acre Fund are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation or identity, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other protected status. Answering this question is voluntary. There will be no impact on your application whether or not you choose not to answer this question. 

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