Takamoto Biogas is a rapidly growing
renewable energy company in Nairobi providing biogas systems to small-scale
farmers in rural Kenya.
Building on two years of market research and installation experience, we have developed a new business model and technology that will bring the many benefits of biogas energy to the masses in Kenya by eliminating the main hurdle to its adoption – the high upfront cost.
We have piloted the new technology in
Githunguri, installing over 70 systems in less than 4 months. Having
proven the demand, we are now preparing to scale up our operations.
Takamoto Biogas –Operations Manager Job Description
On its way to this goal, Takamoto
Biogas is looking for a motivated, proactive and energetic Operations Manager
to manage our installations and maintenance.
This is a rare opportunity to be part
of a rapidly growing company developing and scaling a new technology and an
innovative business model to bring energy to the millions at the base of the
pyramid in Kenya.
What would you do?
This is a two-part role that will
include:
Execute current operations:
- Manage inventory of appliances for sale
- Manage supply chain of biogas reactors and
components
- Manage sourcing and delivery of appliances for
sale
- Analyze daily meter updates to identify
systems for the repair teams to attend to
- Monitor meter responses to payments for biogas
credit to ensure that all payments are processed effectively
- Ensure we comply with local business
regulations
- Ensure we have the necessary insurance covers
in place
- Maintain relationships with MFI partners
supporting our clients (e.g., Kiva)
- Manage Field Managers and coach them in the
management of field operations including installations, repairs and shops
Improve processes to get us ready for
scale up:
- Build relationships with appliance suppliers
and find optimal shipping method
- Build relationships with installation material
suppliers and find optimal delivery method
- Analyze customer selection and segmentation to
refine customer selection practices
- Support the development of an automated
process to identify and rectify payments that are not processed
effectively
- Hire Field Managers and operations staff
- Develop all operations systems for scale up
The ideal candidate would:
- Have previous experience bringing a company to
scale
- Have previous work experience in Africa
- Have previous experience hiring a team
- Have previous experience working with third
party contractors
- Speak Kiswahili
- Be proficient in Microsoft Office products
To apply, please fill in the form for
Operations Manager atwww.takamotobiogas.com/join-us/careers
Please note: if your application does
not submit, try using a different browser such as Google Chrome or send an
email to info@takamotobiogas.com explaining the issue you are experiencing.
Hiring Sales & Marketing Agents
Company:Takamoto Biogas
Job Description:You will be an integral part of changing the lives
of Kenyan farmers by providing them with clean biogas for cooking!
You will attend marketing events, do
door to door sales and make endless phone calls to make sure that everyone who
needs biogas can have it with Takamoto Biogas.
Job requirements:
Job requirements:
- You LOVE doing sales and marketing
- You have a Certificate in Sales or Marketing
- You speak Kikuyu, Swahili and English
- You have at least 1 year previous sales
experience
- You have basic computer skills
- You live in Kiambu County
Remuneration: You will receive a fixed salary of Ksh 10,000 per
month plus commission expected at Ksh 30,000+
How to apply:
Apply by 1st of February 2015 to
info@takamotobiogas.com
Learn more at www.takamotobiogas.com
Technical Consultant Terms of Reference
Company: Takamoto Biogas
Objective: Improve the digester, piping and stove design and installation for Takamoto’s Biogas System.
Objective: Improve the digester, piping and stove design and installation for Takamoto’s Biogas System.
Background: Despite attempts to bring modern energy to rural
areas, widespread energy poverty persists in Kenya, where millions of people
still use firewood and charcoal to cook every day.
These fuels are harmful to health,
time consuming to collect and light, increasingly expensive to buy, and
contribute to climate change and habitat destruction. Without access to cheap,
reliable, clean and healthy energy millions of rural households remain trapped
in poverty.
At Takamoto Biogas,
we believe that everyone should have access to reliable, affordable and
sustainable energy. We have developed a biogas model called Lease-to-Own Biogas
where for a small installation fee and fixed monthly payments a farmer can own
a biogas system.
The biogas is produced simply from the
animal waste on their own farms. By providing financing, we allow more people
to access clean energy and escape poverty than other renewable energy options.
Summary
To scale up this technology and business we require a reliable technology and efficient operations from a technical perspective.
Summary
To scale up this technology and business we require a reliable technology and efficient operations from a technical perspective.
This means reducing leaks, breaks,
punctures, and other failures, improving installation practices and quality
control while maintaining or reducing upfront costs and reducing repair
costs.
The consultant will
- Analyze repair records kept by the operations
team
- Determine the failure mechanisms
- Determine which failure mechanisms to focus on
- Develop solutions to these failure mechanisms
- Test the solutions with the installation team
- Write a brief report
This process will be repeated
twice—in March and in September—to iteratively improve the biogas systems.
Qualifications
The consultant must have the
following qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in Engineering
- Previous experience testing, designing and
improving biogas systems
- Previous experience working and sourcing
components in Kenya
- At least 5 years work experience in
engineering or product design
Requirements
The consultant must meet the
following requirements:
- Make him or herself available in Kenya to meet
with the team on the ground, visit biogas systems and source components
for 2 periods of 10 days each during the project.
- Sign a confidentiality agreement and transfer
all intellectual property of the designs developed to Takamoto Biogas
- The designs and recommendations by the
consultant must fit within the financial and technical requirements of
Takamoto Biogas. These requirements will be discussed in detail before
contracting.
Deliverables
Interim report by 1 April 2015 of
recommendations for improvement of the design and installation including
- a list of parts (with supplier information) to
change that will decrease breakage and decrease cost
- installation changes that will decrease
breakage and decrease cost
Interim report by 1 September 2015 of
recommendations for improvement of the design and installation including
- a list of parts (with supplier information) to
change that will decrease breakage and decrease cost
- installation changes that will decrease
breakage and decrease cost
Final report by 1 December 2015 of
recommendations for improvement of the design and installation that will enable
Takamoto Biogas to attain the desired financial and technical targets. This
report should include estimated costs to achieve the targets.
Start and End: The project will start in March 2015 and extend
until December 2015.
Budget: The consultancy budget will be Ksh 400,000
including taxes and disbursements.
Application
Please apply by January 31, 2015
through the form attakamotobiogas.com/join-us/careers
Takamoto Biogas –Auditor
What would you do?
Protect company assets by ensuring compliance with internal control procedures, and regulations, make recommendations for improvements in internal financial controls and file with relevant authorities in Kenya.
Auditor Job Duties:
- Ensure compliance with established internal
control procedures by examining records, reports, operating practices, and
documentation.
- Verify assets and liabilities by comparing
items to documentation.
- Complete audit work papers by documenting
audit tests and findings.
- Appraise adequacy of internal control systems
by completing audit questionnaires.
- Maintain internal control systems by updating
audit programs and questionnaires; recommending new policies and
procedures.
- Communicate audit findings by preparing a
final report; discussing findings with auditees.
- Ensure company complies with legal
requirements by studying existing and new security legislation; enforcing adherence
to requirements; advising management on needed actions.
To apply, please fill in the form for
Auditor atwww.takamotobiogas.com/join-us/careers
Please note: if your application does not submit, try using a
different browser such as Google Chrome or send an email to
info@takamotobiogas.com explaining the issue you are experiencing.
Information for form:
Information for form:
- Name
- Email
- Phone Number
- Do you work for an auditing firm? If so which
one?
- Experience in auditing
- Write short cover letter here explaining why
you are the best candidate to support our business
- Attach CV
Takamoto Biogas –Field Manager
On its way to this goal, Takamoto Biogas is looking for a motivated, proactive and energetic Field Manager to manage our installations and maintenance.
This is a rare opportunity to be part
of a rapidly growing company developing and scaling a new technology and an
innovative business model to bring energy to the millions at the base of the pyramid
in Kenya.
What would you do?
The role will include:
- Site visits and meeting with clients: You will
be responsible for traveling to client’s homes and making assessments
based on your visits with them as to whether they will be good clients for
Takamoto Biogas. You will also be planning the systems out with the
client.
- Managing both day and contractual labor: You
will be responsible for the workers being on time, quality of work and
ability to accomplish the goals that are set out for them.
- Problem solving: There are always new issues
coming to light with new technology as well as recurring issues. You will
be responsible for finding good solutions for those problems by thinking
critically and observing the many facets of your work.
- Quality control for the work that is done by
your subordinates and possibly other members of the team.
- Inventory management oversight: ensure sure
that the amount of inventory is adequate at the beginning of each week for
that week and that ordering for new materials occurs on time.
- Installation planning and supervision. Each
installation will need to be inspected and reviewed by you with the
installation team. It will also be necessary for you to review the plan of
each installation that you created on the site visit with the technicians
in order to ensure the system is installed the way the client and you have
agreed.
- Field tours. You will be responsible for
meeting with people who are interested in our systems for various reasons;
from investment and technical to logistics and sales.
- Manage diagnostics and repairs. You will be
responsible for sending repair teams to diagnose and fix issues and you
will keep track of repair status.
Who are we looking for?
The ideal candidate will have:
- Technical skills necessary for assembling
digester, stoves, etc.
- Working knowledge of tools required for
installing biogas (Drill, PPR Welder and Cutters, Jigsaws)
- Experience managing casual workers and
employees
- Basic bookkeeping skills and the ability to
keep track of payments for field staff
- Experience coordinating the logistics
associated with working in rural Kenya
In addition, the ideal candidate will
be:
- Able to make sound judgments in the field
- Able to co-ordinate up to 10 people at a time
- Hardworking and able to work 60 hours per week
when necessary
- Computer literate (basic typing skills, basic
excel skills, email skills)
- Able to drive a motorbike in adverse weather
- A High School Graduate (preferably college or
university graduate)
- Be fluent in Kikuyu, Swahili and English
- Keen to work in a small, entrepreneurial
organization
To apply, please fill in the form for
Field Manager atwww.takamotobiogas.com/join-us/careers
Please note: if your application does
not submit, try using a different browser such as Google Chrome or send an
email to info@takamotobiogas.com explaining the issue you are experiencing.
