Purpose of the Role:

• The Plantation Officer will be responsible for planning, implementing, monitoring, and supervising all plantation-related activities across assigned project locations in Eldoret, Kenya. This includes nursery management, plantation site preparation, sapling planting, maintenance, record-keeping, team coordination, understanding and implementing SOP for plantings and community engagement. The role demands both technical competence in agroforestry/horticulture and the ability to work with diverse stakeholders including local communities, forest departments, partner NGOs, and vendors.

Key Roles & Responsibilities:

Planning & Implementation

• Support in preparing and implementing plantation plans in alignment with project objectives and timelines.
• Identify suitable plantation sites and be able to assign mode of plantation strategy in coordination with local stakeholders and technical experts.
• Conduct land preparation, pit digging, soil testing, and other pre-plantation activities along with data entries of the activity on a daily basis.
• Ensure timely procurement and transportation of saplings, biofertilizers, tools, and other materials from HQ.

Sapling Management

• Coordinate with nursery partners to ensure quality planting material (QPM) is available as per plantation schedules.
• Maintain inventory and records of sapling types, numbers, survival rates, etc.
• can plan the daily distribution of saplings for the plantation sites

Plantation Execution & Monitoring

• Supervise plantation field staff and daily wage labourers during plantation activities.
• Ensure correct spacing, planting technique, and species selection as per project norms as per the farm design.
• Monitor daily field/ farm level activity and make sure the work details get updated.
• monitor the application of  biofertilizers, micronutrients, and organic treatments as per standard protocol.
• Developing SOP for different activities related to  land preparation and plantation.
• Conduct regular monitoring of plantation sites for growth, pest issues, irrigation needs, etc.
• Maintain detailed records on survival rates, GPS coordinates, and plantation logs.
• Maintain worker related records, muster rolls etc at the field and communicate the information real time for project management.

Data Management & Reporting

• Collect, document, and update data related to plantation progress, sapling health, and site conditions.
• Prepare weekly, monthly, and seasonal reports with qualitative and quantitative data.
• Use digital tools (mobile apps, GIS tools, Excel) for tracking and analysis as per the methodology and process.

Community & Stakeholder Engagement

• Liaise with community members, local leaders, SHGs, and farmers to ensure participation and buy-in.
• Conduct field awareness sessions or training programs for farmers on plantation techniques, care, and maintenance.
• Coordinate with partner NGOs, government departments, and consultants on field-related activities.

Maintenance & Post-Plantation Care

• Ensure proper fencing and firelines,  watering schedules, mulching, weeding, and pest/disease management at all plantation sites.
• Implement strategies for increasing survival rates and long-term sustainability.
• Coordinate replacement planting for saplings that do not survive.

Compliance & Quality Assurance

• Ensure adherence to quality standards, SOPs, and environmental safeguards.
• Assist in audit and compliance processes with documentation and field visits.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, Horticulture, Forestry, Environmental Science or related field.
• 0–2 years of experience in plantation/agroforestry/horticulture-related fieldwork
• Familiarity with local agro-climatic conditions, soil types, and native species.
• Experience in managing contract related works, working with communities, and interacting with local government bodies. Basic knowledge of biofertilizers, organic inputs, and sustainable land use practices.

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong planning and organizational skills
• Field operations management
• Interpersonal skills for community engagement
• Data collection and documentation
• Problem-solving and adaptability
• Willingness to travel and stay in remote areas
• Basic computer literacy and knowledge of GPS/GIS tools (preferred)

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Swahili and English.