Operations Project Manager at Ecoplanet Bamboo Rwanda Ltd: (Deadline 15 February 2025)

OPERATIONS PROJECT MANAGER

ABOUT US

EcoPlanet Bamboo is leading the commercialization of bamboo as a sustainable, deforestation-free, climate friendly, alternative fiber for some of the world’s largest industries. We are a triple bottom line company putting equal emphasis on people, planet and profit, and building a team that is collaborative, entrepreneurial and passionate about driving sustainable development and long term positive impact through business.

Our operations are expanding with carbon-financed bamboo farms in Nicaragua, South Africa, Ghana, Rwanda and the Philippines. Our projects apply our successful model of landscape restoration, providing a solution to three of the world’s most critical environmental problems: the need for effective solutions to mitigate global climate change; holistic restoration of the world’s most degraded landscapes; and a growing population that requires sustainable alternatives for consumer products and markets that still contribute to deforestation and deforestation driven emissions.

In Rwanda, our projects are providing environmental solutions that protect watersheds through riparian plantings and expanding the habitat of endangered Mountain Gorillas. With over 1,600 km planted with bamboo and future plantings of 1000 km per year, our projects are creating long-term employment opportunities and establishing community development programs that work towards holistic and sustainable rural development.

We are looking for an Operations Project Manager who reports to the General Manager and has responsibility for our bamboo operations, ensuring that the project achieves its operational targets on time, on budget and meeting quality standards. This is a leadership role that requires the juggling of many moving parts within tight time frameworks based on distinct climatic conditions, sets, monitors and operates against key priorities, guides middle management and field teams in achieving targets and guarantees the quality and health of the farm through all stages of its development.

Location: Kigali, Rwanda with significant field time

RESPONSIBILITIES

Operational Planning & Implementation

• Manage and take responsibility for the implementation of the APO, undertaking adaptative management on a daily, weekly and month basis in order to ensure that operations are on time and on budget, and meet quality standards.
• Determine moving labor requirements for the operations, including coordinating hiring, training and resource balancing between a full time and a seasonal workforce.
• Manage project activities, contractors and data to be able to juggle many moving pieces and priorities with tight timelines aligned with seasonality, ensuring efficient use of labor, logistics and resources.
• Set daily, weekly and monthly targets for all operational activities that are well communicated, and understood by all staff, and ensure the GIS and planning team incorporate plans, targets and reports into mapping and data tools.
• Audit weekly randomized monitoring of nursery and field activities conducted by field teams, ensuring operations meet quality standards and developing action plans and mitigation measures where they do not comply.
• Audit quality checks on recently planted compartments conducted by the Mapping and Monitoring Officer to verify plant spacing, number of plants, health of the plants as well as determine any special management required for that location.
• Adhere to Annual Forest Management Plans, Standard Operating Procedures and Environmental Health & Safety Procedures as well as FSC principles. Where these documents do not exist, development them with approval from the corporate team.
• Ensure the protection of indigenous flora and fauna and maintain a strong environmentally friendly presence by abiding by and enforcing the Company’s Conservation Areas.

Nursery

• Manage nurseries and ensure operations within these contract nurseries meet performance standards for plant quality and timely delivery.
• Plan and oversee all nursery activities, including watering, weeding, fertilization, and addressing any plant health concerns to maintain high-quality standards.
• Ensure all nursery operations follow established SOPs.
• Ensure plant stocks are ready for planting based on schedules coordinated with planting operations.
• Maintain detailed records of nursery inventory, staff activities, and supplies.

Logistics

• Ensure all equipment and consumables are purchased and available ahead of operations, including field, nursery, and fire season activities.
• Manage warehouse personnel and stock.
• Oversee plant deliveries from local nurseries to final planting sites.

Management & Reporting

• Manage operational personnel, taking primary responsibility for building and improving the team on an ongoing basis, mentoring junior staff as well as ensuring the promotion of a positive, motivated and happy work environment with positive team culture, leading from the front.
• Provide weekly, monthly and annual operational reports to management and teams.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A bachelor’s degree in project management, forestry, agriculture or conservation or proven experience in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• 10+ years’ experience including 5+ years focusing on project management.
• Meticulous attention to detail, with the ability to shift priorities and rapidly realign project activities and under high pressure timeframes.
• Excellent communication and people skills, with the ability to communicate effectively from unskilled workers through to stakeholders to company investors.
• Acute sense of responsibility and problem solving skills, taking ownership of projects to ensure they are good quality, on time and on budget.
• Exceptional excel and software abilities, to effectively project manage multiple projects moving in parallel.
• Willingness to work in difficult and remote areas – rain or shine
• Driving license, with off road driving experience and clean driving record
• Ability to work in a fast paced environment as part of a multi-national entrepreneurial company
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools, specifically Word and Excel

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer a competitive remuneration package, growth opportunities and a platform from which to do exciting and meaningful work with an ambitious and passionate team in a vibrant global company that is working towards driving sustainable change.

TO APPLY

Interested candidates should email a cover letter expressing their interest in the position and how their background meets the requirements of the role, as well as a CV to [email protected] and [email protected]. Only qualified candidates will be responded to. Candidates will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled. No later than 15 February 2025