8 Jobs At Kenya Tea Development Agency
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Nairobi, Kenya
Job summary
Jobs At Kenya Tea Development Agency
About this role
Internal Auditor
Regional Auditor
Executive Assistant - (4) Positions
Manager Purchasing
Procurement and Supply Chain Analyst
Project Manager
Head of Innovation and Data Science
Head of Product Development and Diversification
7 Jobs at Kenya Tea Development Agency – Audit, Procurement, Projects and Innovation
The Kenya Tea Development Agency is looking for professionals across several areas of its operations, creating opportunities for people working in audit, administration, procurement, project management, data science and product development. The vacancies range from roles focused on strengthening internal controls to senior positions expected to influence purchasing, innovation and the development of new products.
These opportunities are based in Nairobi and require different levels of professional experience. Some positions are suited to experienced finance and administration professionals, while others are aimed at senior specialists who can lead teams, manage complex projects and contribute to long-term organisational strategy.
Taken together, the openings show how many different professional functions are needed to support a large organisation. Financial oversight, purchasing, executive support, engineering projects, data-driven innovation and product diversification all have a place in the organisation's operations.
Audit Work That Goes Beyond Checking Records
The Internal Auditor position is built around the need to examine how the organisation operates and whether established controls are working as intended. Reporting to the Senior Auditor, the successful candidate will take part in executing the department's audit plan by carrying out planned audit procedures.
The work involves examining records, reports, operating practices and documentation to assess compliance with established internal control procedures. This means the auditor has to look beyond individual transactions and understand how processes work within the wider organisation.
Where audit work identifies issues, the auditor will discuss the findings with relevant managers or heads of department and recommend corrective action or improvements to controls. The position therefore involves communication as well as investigation. Findings have to be explained clearly enough for responsible departments to understand what needs to change.
The role continues after an audit report has been submitted. The Internal Auditor will carry out follow-up work to determine how far recommendations have been implemented and will discuss outstanding issues with the relevant heads of department.
There is also room for investigative and ad-hoc assignments, together with research into emerging issues and good practices in auditing. Preparing working papers and weekly reports forms another part of the job.
The position calls for a bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Accounting or a related area, together with CPA(K) or ACCA qualifications and membership of ICPAK. At least four years of internal or external audit experience is required. The role also calls for integrity, independence, teamwork, problem-solving ability, communication skills and the ability to manage several responsibilities under pressure.
Regional Auditing Brings a Wider View
The Regional Auditor position has a similar professional foundation but operates with a regional focus. Reporting to the Senior Auditor, the successful candidate will help execute the regional audit plan and carry out audit procedures across the relevant operations.
This means the work can involve examining records, reports, operating practices and documentation while assessing whether established internal controls are being followed. Audit findings will be discussed with factory managers and recommendations made where corrective action or control improvements are needed.
The position also has a stronger coordination element. Audit findings may need to be presented to a supervisor for escalation, while unresolved recommendations are discussed with regional management and heads of departments.
Problem-solving becomes particularly important when an audit identifies issues that could have a significant operational impact. The Regional Auditor is expected to help address such issues while maintaining the independence and professional standards required of an audit function.
The position also involves participating in the development of risk-based audit plans, conducting investigative and ad-hoc assignments and researching emerging audit practices. Work papers need to document audit tests and findings, with weekly reports forming part of the reporting process. The successful candidate will also liaise with external auditors and share relevant reports.
Like the Internal Auditor opportunity, this position requires a bachelor's degree in Finance, Business, Accounting or a related field, CPA(K) or ACCA qualifications and ICPAK membership. At least four years of internal or external audit experience is required.
Supporting the Office at Executive Level
Not every opening is directly connected to finance or technical operations. The Executive Assistant opportunity provides high-level administrative and functional support within the office of the Group Company Secretary.
There are four positions available, making this one of the larger openings in the group of vacancies.
The work revolves around keeping a senior office organised and ensuring that information, correspondence, meetings and administrative processes are handled effectively. The successful candidates will work with correspondence, documents, data and other information, including preparing and formatting material and retrieving information when required.
Research is also part of the work. The Executive Assistant will help gather information, prepare statistical reports and handle information requests. The role also involves coordinating with other departments to support the smooth functioning of the office.
Managing schedules is another major responsibility. Meetings, conferences, teleconferences and travel arrangements all need to be planned and coordinated. The position also involves welcoming visitors and customers, responding to enquiries and directing requests to the appropriate people.
Confidentiality is particularly important in this environment because the employee will have access to information connected to senior management. The role includes protecting confidential information and ensuring the security of documentation and instruments under the custody of line managers.
The successful candidates will also help organise committee and board meetings, including preparing agendas and making the necessary arrangements. Maintaining filing and retrieval systems provides another way the role supports institutional memory and access to historical information.
Office supplies also fall within the scope of the position. The Executive Assistant will monitor inventory, anticipate requirements, place orders and verify that supplies have been received.
A bachelor's degree in business, social sciences or a related field is required, together with at least five years of relevant experience. The organisation is also looking for professionals who can work independently, manage competing responsibilities, communicate effectively and maintain confidentiality while working under pressure.
Purchasing With Cost and Supplier Management in Mind
At a more senior level, the Manager Purchasing position is responsible for managing sourcing and tender processes and coordinating the committees involved in procurement.
This role requires someone who understands that purchasing is not simply about finding a supplier. It involves balancing cost, quality, supplier reliability, organisational requirements and compliance with established procedures.
The manager will oversee sourcing of goods, works and services through tenders, proposals and quotations. Maintaining an updated supplies list, preparing tender documents and coordinating bidder enquiries will form part of the work.
The role also involves preparing agendas for management tender committee and Tender Board meetings and ensuring that procurement records are maintained appropriately.
Supplier relationships are another major part of the position. The manager will research domestic and international suppliers, evaluate potential vendors and negotiate pricing and contracts with contractors and suppliers. The role also requires identifying opportunities to reduce purchasing costs and examining purchasing patterns to determine whether the organisation can improve its buying power.
The successful candidate will contribute to the development of purchasing strategies and cost-reduction approaches while ensuring that suppliers understand organisational objectives.
Because this is a management position, the employee will also supervise subordinate staff, delegate responsibilities, monitor performance and identify training needs. Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, standards and guidelines is another important responsibility.
The role requires a bachelor's degree in supply chain, procurement, logistics or a related field, together with professional supply chain training and membership of KISM, CIPS or CSPS. At least eight years of experience is required, including at least three years in a similar position.
The organisation is looking for someone with supplier management experience, commercial awareness, strong analytical skills and the ability to manage budgets, resources, processes, projects and relationships.
Turning Procurement Information Into Better Decisions
The Procurement and Supply Chain Analyst position takes a more analytical approach to purchasing and supply chain management.
The successful candidate will support the wider procurement strategy by helping the organisation reduce costs, manage supplier risks and increase the value obtained from suppliers.
A significant part of the work involves examining procurement information. The analyst will participate in developing and tracking procurement metrics covering spending, the requisition-to-payment process, operational efficiency and supplier performance.
Market intelligence is also important. The position involves monitoring supply markets, understanding cost drivers and sharing relevant industry insights and benchmarks with stakeholders and senior management.
The analyst will contribute to research into price movements and innovation trends affecting goods and services purchased by the organisation. This information can then support sourcing decisions and help the business understand potential financial, technical or legal implications.
Supplier selection, bid evaluation and post-tender negotiations are also part of the position. The employee will provide business units with logistical and administrative information that can assist them in planning and budgeting their requirements.
Cost reduction is another central theme. The role involves identifying opportunities through process automation, standardisation, reducing unnecessary variety and reviewing the supplier base and purchasing cycles.
The successful candidate will need strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills. A bachelor's degree in supply chain, procurement, logistics or a related discipline is required, together with at least six years of experience, including three years in a similar position. Professional supply chain certification and membership of KISM, CIPS or CSPS are also part of the requirements.
Managing Projects From Design to Completion
The Project Manager opportunity moves into engineering and project delivery. Reporting to the General Manager of KTDA Power Company, the successful candidate will oversee design, construction supervision and commissioning of projects.
This is a senior position where project performance is measured through time, cost, quality and compliance. The manager will be expected to ensure that projects are delivered within approved budgets and schedules while meeting the required standards.
The work begins well before construction. The Project Manager will review feasibility studies and designs, participate in tendering and help prepare tender documents. Once a project moves into implementation, the role extends to construction supervision and commissioning.
Environmental, regulatory, health and safety considerations are also part of the responsibility. The manager will work with operations to ensure that statutory requirements are addressed during project development and delivery.
Financial control forms another important element. The position involves ensuring timely payments to contractors and consultants while maintaining effective control over departmental financial resources.
People management is also included. The Project Manager will supervise and appraise staff, identify development needs, participate in recruitment and provide mentoring and coaching.
The successful candidate requires a Bachelor of Science degree in Engineering or a related field, a postgraduate diploma in project management and at least eight years of relevant experience, including three years at a senior level in project management or maintenance. Registration with the Engineering Board is also required.
The position calls for leadership, planning, risk awareness, communication and the ability to manage multiple priorities. Knowledge of engineering software such as AutoCAD is also required.
Where Innovation Meets Data
The Head of Innovation and Data Science is one of the most strategically focused opportunities in the group.
The position is designed around using innovation, research, data and market information to identify new opportunities and improve performance across the tea value chain.
The successful candidate will develop and implement an innovation and data science strategy aligned with corporate objectives. The role also involves establishing and managing a prototyping or innovation environment where products, processes and engineering concepts can be tested.
Data will play a major role in decision-making. The position involves building a data ecosystem that brings together factory, farmer, market and consumer information. Dashboards and predictive models will be used to monitor innovation performance and return on investment.
The role also reaches into product testing and market experimentation. The successful candidate will support test marketing, A/B testing and market trials while using consumer and market data to identify opportunities for specialty teas, functional teas, ready-to-drink products, extracts and premium blends.
Innovation is not limited to products. The position also looks at factory processes, including opportunities to use data analytics and artificial intelligence to improve energy efficiency, throughput, quality consistency, predictive maintenance and waste reduction.
The successful candidate will work with research, engineering, marketing and factory teams and will need to understand how to turn technical information into practical recommendations.
The position requires a master's degree in Data Science, Business, Engineering, Food Science, Marketing or a related field. Certification in areas such as product management, AI/ML or innovation is preferred. Eight to ten years of experience is required, with at least five years in a senior innovation, data science or product development role.
Experience with AI/ML, Python, SQL, business intelligence tools, IoT, data modelling, product analysis and process analysis is part of the technical expectation.
Building the Next Generation of Products
The Head of Product Development and Diversification position has a different but equally strategic purpose. Rather than concentrating primarily on data and innovation systems, this role focuses on developing new products and diversification opportunities.
The position is intended to lead research and product development strategies that can create additional value while reducing reliance on traditional tea products.
The successful candidate will lead new product development and diversification teams and help build a pipeline of commercially viable products. Market and consumer insights will be important when deciding which ideas should move forward.
The role covers the journey from concept to commercialisation. This includes product formulation, pilot testing, sensory evaluation, regulatory approval, branding, market testing and eventual scale-up.
Research partnerships also form part of the work. The Head of Product Development and Diversification will liaise with research institutions, government agencies and private organisations while working with relevant teams on research and development initiatives.
The position extends beyond tea itself. Opportunities may include specialty teas, ready-to-drink products, tea extracts, tea-based foods, bio-products and other agricultural or related products.
Commercial thinking is essential because the role involves building business cases, working with marketing and sales teams, tracking product performance and ensuring that investments produce the expected returns.
The successful candidate requires a master's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Agricultural Economics, Chemistry, Business or a related field. At least eight to ten years of experience is required, including five years in senior new product development or research and development leadership.
The ideal professional will also understand product formulation, food safety, regulatory affairs, market research, business modelling, portfolio management and commercialisation.
Different Careers Within One Organisation
These seven opportunities represent very different professional paths.
The two audit positions are suited to finance and accounting professionals who enjoy examining systems, identifying weaknesses and helping strengthen controls. The Executive Assistant roles are focused on organisation, information management and executive support. The purchasing manager and procurement analyst positions move into supplier management, commercial decision-making, market analysis and cost control.
The Project Manager position is more technical and engineering-focused, combining project delivery, construction supervision, commissioning, budgets and regulatory requirements.
At the senior innovation level, the two final positions look toward the future. The Head of Innovation and Data Science combines technology, analytics, research and commercial thinking, while the Head of Product Development and Diversification focuses on turning research and market opportunities into products that can move toward commercialisation.
Despite these differences, the vacancies share several qualities. Professional integrity, communication, organisation, problem-solving and the ability to work with different teams appear repeatedly across the opportunities.
For professionals considering these openings, the most important step is to match their actual experience to the specific role rather than applying simply because the organisation has multiple vacancies. The audit positions require an audit background and professional accounting credentials, while the procurement roles require supply chain expertise. The engineering position requires the appropriate professional registration and technical experience, while the two senior innovation positions demand substantial leadership and specialist experience.
The range of opportunities also demonstrates how careers within a large organisation can extend far beyond one traditional professional path. Finance, administration, procurement, engineering, technology, research and product development all contribute to the wider operation.
For experienced professionals in these fields, the current KTDA openings provide several different ways to bring specialist knowledge into an organisation where operational control, purchasing, project execution and future-focused innovation all matter.
Application
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