Meds & Food for Kids is looking for a Technical Plant Manager for its food factory in Cap Haitian, Haiti. A minimum 12 month committment is requested.

Haiti has endured centuries of political unrest, foreign occupations, and natural disasters - all of which have left the country weakened and vulnerable. Malnutrition in Haiti is the result of many factors, including endemic poverty brought on by the nearly 80% unemployment rate and non-modern agricultural practices that prevent farmers from growing enough nutritious food to feed their families.

One in ten children in Haiti is acutely malnourished and one in five is underweight. One in 14 will die before reaching the age of 5. More than 9 million people live in Haiti; over a third of them are under age 14. With an average household income of around $400 a year, 76% of Haitians live on less than $2 per day.

Meds & Food for Kids (MFK) is a not-for-profit manufacturer of enriched, energy-dense peanut-based nutritional foods used for the treatment of malnutrition in Haiti. Currently, the primary products are Ready-to-Use Therapeutic (RUTF) and Supplementary (RUSF) foods used by UNICEF, the World Food Programme and other institutional care providers.

In July 2012, MFK through its partnership with LGT Venture Philanthropy (Liechtenstein), and Nutriset (France), the world's leading producer of these products, completed the construction of a 18,000 sq ft showcase facility in Cap Haitian (Haiti's second largest city) that incorporates new production machinery, food safety processes and increased production. MFK aims to combat malnutrition while creating economic development opportunities by employing local people and procuring locally sourced materials when possible, including processing local peanuts.

Since 2008, MFK's programs with donor organizations, NGOs, medical missions and healthcare providers has saved the lives of more than 50,000 of Haiti's most malnourished children. In 2013, MFK seeks to double production and explore new products, in partnership with Haiti's Ministry of Health to save more than 80,000 lives.

This position is responsible for optimizing the electro mechanical operation of the MFK food production facility in Cap haitien/ Quartier Morin Haiti. This includes trouble shooting, maintaining and and keeping all equipment and support systems operational to support the manufacturing process.

Responsible for maintaining effective relationships with equipment vendors suppliers.
Responsible for assuring production equipment is maintained in efficient operating condition.
Responsible for assuring all plant systems are maintained in efficient operating condition.
Create specific and clear departmental and individual accountabilities such that all employees have a clear understanding of what is expected of them and inter-functional cooperation is significant.
Participate in all management discussions among MFK staff to facilitate good communication and decision-making throughout the agency
Ensure all new product introductions are optimally coordinated and managed.
Creating and supervising maintenance schedules for all technical aspects of the machinery and electromechanical systems in the facility.
Mentoring Haitian workers on all systems with the view to Haitian self-sufficiency in the future.
Specific Responsibilities

Optinut System for production and packaging of Ready to Use Therapeutic Foods
Agricultural peanut processing equipment for sorting, blanching, roasting
Develop systems, procedures, data recording to assure stable operation
Maximize system throughput by eliminating down time and reducing start up time
Assure that necessary replacement parts are in stock and are indexed

Vendor Relations

Maintain effective relationships with equipment and packaging material vendors

Plant Systems

Assure plant systems are maintained and operating efficiently
Includes electrical system – generators, inverters, batteries
Air conditioning and ventilating systems
Drive down diesel fuel consumption

Peanut Processing Equipment

Assure peanut processing equipment is maintained in good condition

Buildings & Grounds and Vehicles

Assure buildings, vehicles and grounds are safe and maintained in good operating condition.

Selection Criteria

4 year degree in industrial or technical area

Experience in a manufacturing environment

Proven experience in successfully managing, influencing and leading others

Good problem-solving skills, interpersonal skills, and demonstrated leadership capability

Proven capability in meeting objectives and schedules

Proven capability to produce results in an international environment

Proven ability to work in a significantly changing environment where uncertainty and new obstacles are typical.

Will work in Cap Haitien

Ability to speak French or Haitian Creole a plus. If not, will commit to learn Creole.

Compensation

A monthly stipend of $500 to cover food and necessities, cell phone, access to computer

Housing in an apt complex with other MFK ex-pats

Health and Medical evacuation insurance

4 weeks vacation, (3 of the weeks to be taken at factory closing mid Dec. to Jan.7, 2012). Haitian holidays apply, not US holidays

2 round trip tickets from home to Haiti per 12 months.

Sharing of 3 vehicles with other employees and volunteers