THE ROLE
As the Value Stream Manager for NPD and Convenience Foods, you will oversee the entire value stream for Caswell’s NPD and Convenience Foods portfolio, which encompasses the Beverage Plant, Ready-to-Eat (RTE) operations, Extrusion and Puffed Snacks, FRK production, and Fried Snack manufacturing.
You will oversee the overall health of the stream—monitoring flow, cost, quality, food safety, workforce capability, and the capacity to efficiently introduce and commercialize new products. Reporting to the Head of Manufacturing & Engineering, you will spearhead a team comprising supervisors, shift leads, and production operators, while serving as the primary manufacturing execution lead within Caswell’s NPD Stage-Gate process.
This position is focused on building operational excellence within a rapidly expanding manufacturing environment. Your responsibilities will include introducing streamlined, efficient processes where none currently exist, establishing consistent standards, and developing scalable systems that enable Caswell to deliver new products efficiently and with high reliability.
Oversee a comprehensive range of duties encompassing strategic planning, operational execution, and performance evaluation to ensure organizational objectives are met efficiently and effectively. Lead cross-functional teams in executing projects, monitoring progress, and delivering measurable outcomes aligned with company goals. Collaborate closely with senior leadership to identify opportunities for improvement, implement best practices, and drive continuous growth. Develop and maintain robust processes that enhance productivity, quality, and compliance while fostering a culture of accountability and innovation. Serve as a key liaison between departments, stakeholders, and external partners to facilitate seamless communication and alignment. Analyze data-driven insights to inform decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and mitigate potential risks. Mentor and develop team members through targeted coaching, professional development initiatives, and performance feedback mechanisms. Ensure adherence to industry regulations, company policies, and ethical standards in all operational activities.
We seek a dynamic leader to drive operational excellence through Value Stream Flow and Lean methodologies. In this role, you will spearhead the identification and elimination of waste, optimize processes, and enhance overall efficiency across the organization. Your expertise in Lean principles will guide teams in implementing continuous improvement initiatives, fostering a culture of innovation and accountability. Additionally, you will collaborate with cross-functional stakeholders to align strategies with business objectives, ensuring sustainable growth and performance improvements. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record in Lean leadership, strong analytical skills, and the ability to inspire teams toward operational excellence.
Map, oversee, and enhance the complete journey of materials and information across the convenience foods value stream, transitioning from the existing state to an optimized future state.
Leverage lean methodologies such as take time optimization, standardized work processes, visual management techniques, 5S implementation, Kaiden initiatives, and pull-based systems to methodically eliminate waste throughout the value stream.
Oversee structured accountability protocols through consistent daily, weekly, and monthly tier management routines, ensuring alignment and responsibility are firmly established across all levels of the workflow.
Drive the development and maintenance of the stream’s capacity model and ONE program, pinpointing key contributors to losses while spearheading targeted improvement initiatives.
Led by a Senior R&D Engineer, the NPD Commercialization & Scale-Up team accelerates the transition of innovative products from development to full-scale production. This cross-functional group drives critical scale-up activities, including pilot plant trials, manufacturing process optimization, and regulatory compliance preparation. The team collaborates closely with manufacturing, quality assurance, supply chain, and external partners to ensure seamless integration of new technologies into existing operations. Success in this role demands expertise in process engineering, strong project management capabilities, and a proven track record in scaling novel solutions efficiently.
As the manufacturing lead within Caswell’s NPD Stage-Gate process, you will oversee the entire product development lifecycle—spanning feasibility evaluations, line trials, process validation, and final commercial launch approval.
Oversee the complete transition from a validated pilot phase to full-scale commercial production, crafting manufacturing standards, standard operating procedures, yield objectives, and critical quality control checkpoints for each new product.
Maintain a structured New Product Development pipeline tracker and serve as the manufacturing readiness advocate at each Stage-Gate milestone.
Leads technical initiatives and oversees process enhancements, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and industry best practices. Drives innovation by identifying opportunities to optimize systems, workflows, and methodologies. Collaborates with cross-functional teams to implement scalable solutions and foster continuous improvement. Establishes clear performance metrics and monitors progress to achieve operational excellence. Requires extensive experience in technical leadership, process optimization, and stakeholder management, along with strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Offer strategic technical guidance and expertise spanning extrusion processing, the production of puffed snacks, seasoning and flavoring systems, frying technologies, beverage processing, and ready-to-eat food manufacturing.
Optimize process parameters across every production line to enhance product quality, increase throughput and yield, and reduce costs—collaborating closely with Engineering and Maintenance teams to bolster equipment reliability and ensure adherence to planned maintenance schedules.
The role is responsible for enhancing and maintaining efficient operational performance to drive productivity and achieve organizational goals. Key duties involve monitoring performance metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing strategic initiatives to optimize workflows. The position requires strong analytical skills to assess data trends, experience in process optimization, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams to execute operational enhancements. Additionally, the individual will manage reporting, ensure compliance with operational standards, and support continuous improvement initiatives to sustain high performance standards.
Establish and achieve performance benchmarks across critical operational metrics—including safety, quality, output, Overall Equipment Effectiveness (ONE), waste reduction, labor productivity, and manufacturing cost—for all facilities within the designated production stream.
Demonstrate leadership in structured problem-solving methodologies, including 8D, 5-Why, and Root Cause Analysis (RCA), across all organizational levels to systematically address and permanently resolve production losses and quality deviations.
Ensures compliance with food safety regulations and maintains the highest quality standards throughout all production processes. Develops and implements robust quality control systems, conducts regular inspections, and performs thorough audits to identify and mitigate potential risks. Collaborates closely with cross-functional teams to address quality issues, drive continuous improvement initiatives, and uphold stringent food safety protocols. Requires expertise in HACCP, GMP, and industry-specific quality standards, along with a minimum of three years of relevant experience in food manufacturing or quality assurance. Strong analytical skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with both technical and non-technical stakeholders are essential.
Provide robust food safety oversight throughout the entire value stream, encompassing HACCP, GMP, allergen management, traceability, and food defense—extending to both existing operations and new product trials.
Develop robust systems designed to secure globally recognized food safety certifications, including FSSC 22000, BRC, KEYS, or comparable standards.
Cost and margin analysis plays a crucial role in driving financial decisions by evaluating profitability, identifying cost-saving opportunities, and ensuring sustainable business growth. This position involves meticulously tracking expenses, analyzing financial data, and providing actionable insights to optimize resource allocation and improve bottom-line performance. Key responsibilities include monitoring cost variations, assessing pricing strategies, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to implement cost-effective solutions. Strong analytical skills, proficiency in financial software, and a keen understanding of market trends are essential requirements for success in this role.
Accountable for the entire spectrum of manufacturing costs, including raw materials, utilities, labor, packaging, and waste, with heightened focus on the cost-to-manufacture for new product introductions.
Enhance manufacturing margin by implementing and sustaining yield improvement initiatives, as well as eliminating waste, with measurable outcomes.
We are seeking an experienced professional to join our People & Capability team, where the focus is on enhancing organizational performance through strategic talent management and capability development. The ideal candidate will possess a proven track record in designing and implementing initiatives that improve employee engagement, performance, and retention, along with expertise in learning and development programs. Responsibilities include identifying skill gaps, developing targeted training solutions, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The role requires strong analytical skills to assess workforce trends, along with excellent interpersonal and communication abilities to collaborate effectively with stakeholders at all levels. A minimum of five years in a related field, preferably within human resources or organizational development, is essential, along with a deep understanding of modern HR practices and frameworks.
Lead, cultivate, and assemble a top-tier team comprising supervisors, shift leads, and operators, fostering an environment of accountability and a relentless commitment to continuous improvement.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Bringing a decade or more of progressive experience in food manufacturing, including a minimum of four years in a senior leadership capacity within a value stream, plant, or operations environment.
Proven expertise in implementing Value Stream Management or lean manufacturing methodologies within a food or FMCG setting, encompassing activities such as value stream mapping, take time optimization, and systematic waste reduction.
Proficiency in practical technical skills within the snacks, extrusion, convenience foods, ready-to-eat (RTE), or closely related food sectors is mandatory and non-negotiable.
Demonstrates successful end-to-end execution of new product development commercialization, overseeing manufacturing processes from initial line trials to process validation, yield optimization, and seamless scale-up to full-scale production.
Certified expertise in food safety systems is required, with a minimum of HACCP certification; preference will be given to candidates holding FSSC 22000 or BRC certification.
Lean Manufacturing or Six Sigma Green Belt certification would be highly beneficial.
Proven expertise in cost management, demonstrated through tangible improvements in manufacturing cost efficiency and profitability margins, is essential.
A bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Engineering, or Industrial Engineering is mandatory for this position.
WHY CONSIDER ALIGNING YOUR CAREER WITH CASWELL INDUSTRIES LTD?
At Caswell, we are committed to cultivating brands and operational frameworks that sustain families and communities alike. As a Kenyan FMCG enterprise with a rich heritage and ambitious expansion goals, we foster a vibrant workplace where accomplished professionals can drive transformative change. Joining Caswell means:
Assuming responsibility for an entire value stream at the senior leadership level, with full accountability, a dedicated team, and the necessary resources to elevate it to world-class excellence.
As a valued member of a globally recognized food industry leader, distinguished by its unwavering consumer trust and an esteemed portfolio of household brands, you will contribute to a dynamic organization committed to excellence and innovation in the marketplace.
Leading at the crossroads of lean manufacturing, food technology, and the commercialization of new product development—a uniquely rare combination in the Kenyan market.
In a dynamic, results-oriented setting where your choices yield tangible and immediate business outcomes, you will thrive while driving measurable success.
Crafting tangible advancements in products that serve millions of households across Kenya, you will play an integral role in driving innovation and expansion. Your contributions will be pivotal in shaping offerings that meet the diverse needs of Kenyan consumers while fostering sustainable growth. This position requires a strategic mindset and a commitment to delivering impactful solutions that resonate with a broad audience.
At this pivotal juncture in the company’s trajectory, you will play a key role in establishing the operational frameworks that will drive the organization’s expansion over the next ten years.
Qualifications
BA/BSc/HND , Professional Certificate
Experience Required
8 - 12 years
