Within the Special Initiative "Decent Work for a Just Transition", implemented by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, sequa implements the SME Support Scheme targeting growth-oriented SMEs in Rwanda. The project aims to facilitate business growth and decent job creation by increasing the competitiveness, productivity, and market readiness of Rwandan SMEs.

The SME Support Scheme supports selected medium-sized enterprises, including Zima Healthy Group Ltd, with growth and job creation potential. Zima Healthy Group is an agro-processing company that produces healthy, value-added foods, including cashew nuts, chia seeds, avocado oil, pumpkin seed oil, sesame oil, roasted seeds, flour, cookies, snacks, and other nutrition-oriented products from locally sourced crops.

The scope of this assignment is to strengthen Zima Healthy Group’s food-processing and production systems by optimizing production workflow, validating dryer/equipment needs, improving packaging and shelf-life, strengthening SOPs, quality control and traceability, and building practical production-management tools. The expert will focus on the practical on-site implementation of improved processing technologies, natural preservation methods, moisture and oxidation control, packaging science, shelf-life validation, product innovation, SOPs, templates, dashboards, and continuous improvement systems. 

Your Tasks / Responsibilities

• Conduct an on-site diagnostic of Zima's product portfolio, processing methods, drying, packaging, shelf-life performance, quality-control practices, and main production bottlenecks.
• Improve minimal-processing and natural preservation practices, including moisture control, oxidation control, hygiene, handling, drying, storage, and packaging methods that extend shelf life without synthetic preservatives.
• Identify gaps in the current machine setup and advise on the most beneficial additions for the company based on the initial buying price, productivity, and efficiency gains. 
• Develop practical SOPs, including optimized workflow, batch records, traceability records, product templates, quality-control checklists, maintenance routines and KPI dashboards.
• Support packaging and shelf-life improvement by reviewing moisture control, product handling, hygiene, packaging materials, retail/export requirements, testing routines and quality parameters for retail, hospitality and export markets.
• Work alongside Zima's staff on-site to coach and mentor them during implementation, leaving documented SOPs, templates, dashboards, an implementation roadmap, and train the production team on production planning, safe machine operation, quality control, traceability, maintenance, and KPI-based performance monitoring. 

Your Qualifications / Skills

• Education/training: Master’s degree preferred, or at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Processing, Industrial Engineering, Production Management, Quality Management, Agro-processing, or a related technical field. Training in HACCP/ISO 22000, packaging, shelf-life management, traceability, or equipment optimization is an asset.
• Languages: Full proficiency in English. Proficiency in Kinyarwanda is an advantage. 
• Other Skills: Strong practical knowledge of minimal processing, product innovation, natural preservation, moisture and oxidation control, packaging science, shelf-life validation, drying technology, SOPs, quality control, traceability, batch records, KPI dashboards, and on-site coaching. Experience with oils, seeds, snacks, flour, or healthy foods is an advantage.

Your Working Experience

• General professional experience: Minimum 6 years of progressive experience in food processing, agro-processing production systems, production optimization, quality management, or industrial engineering.
• Specific professional experience: Strong practical experience in minimal processing, product innovation, natural preservation, moisture and oxidation control, packaging science, shelf-life validation, drying technology, SOPs, quality control, traceability, batch records, KPI dashboards, and on-site coaching. Experience with oils, seeds, snacks, flour, or healthy foods is an advantage. 
• Regional experience: Experience working with or advising SMEs in emerging markets, preferably in Rwanda or East Africa.

• Conduct an on-site diagnostic of Zima's product portfolio, processing methods, drying, packaging, shelf-life performance, quality-control practices, and main production bottlenecks.
• Improve minimal-processing and natural preservation practices, including moisture control, oxidation control, hygiene, handling, drying, storage, and packaging methods that extend shelf life without synthetic preservatives.
• Identify gaps in the current machine setup and advise on the most beneficial additions for the company based on the initial buying price, productivity, and efficiency gains.
• Develop practical SOPs, including optimized workflow, batch records, traceability records, product templates, quality-control checklists, maintenance routines and KPI dashboards.
• Support packaging and shelf-life improvement by reviewing moisture control, product handling, hygiene, packaging materials, retail/export requirements, testing routines and quality parameters for retail, hospitality and export markets.
• Work alongside Zima's staff on-site to coach and mentor them during implementation, leaving documented SOPs, templates, dashboards, an implementation roadmap, and train the production team on production planning, safe machine operation, quality control, traceability, maintenance, and KPI-based performance monitoring.

• Strong practical knowledge of minimal processing, product innovation, natural preservation, moisture and oxidation control, packaging science, shelf-life validation, drying technology, SOPs, quality control, traceability, batch records, KPI dashboards, and on-site coaching.
• Experience with oils, seeds, snacks, flour, or healthy foods is an advantage.

• Master’s degree preferred, or at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Food Processing, Industrial Engineering, Production Management, Quality Management, Agro-processing, or a related technical field.
• Training in HACCP/ISO 22000, packaging, shelf-life management, traceability, or equipment optimization is an asset.
• Full proficiency in English.
• Proficiency in Kinyarwanda is an advantage.