General Manager

Job Details

Role and Responsibilities

The General Manager will play a pivotal role in advancing the Blue Alliance aquaculture program in Zanzibar, driving both revenue growth and positive impacts for biodiversity and local communities. Key responsibilities include:

1. Program Development: Build and expand the aquaculture program, initially focusing on the development of the key project involving hatchery, nursery, grow-out, and processing facilities for sea cucumbers ensuring scalability and sustainability through to the marketing of end products.

2. Business Plan Implementation: Take responsibility for updating and implementing the business plan (BP), ensuring alignment with the triple impact strategy and profitability objectives (positive impact on communities by improving employment and livelihoods, a positive impact on the environment by supporting marine conservation and protecting biodiversity, and ensuring long-term profitability).

3. Community Engagement: Actively collaborate with local communities to ensure inclusive participation, capacity building, and shared benefits from aquaculture initiatives.

Main tasks:

Management

• Manage the project development by overseeing the design and construction of hatchery facilities and manage their operational readiness in close coordination with the international experts and the Aquaculture Director.
• Operational Leadership: Manage day-to-day operations, including staff oversight, resource allocation, and compliance with quality and environmental standards.
• Participate in recruitment of local managers and field technicians.
• Assist in the updating and implementation of all standard operating procedures
• Monitor training, staff performance and implement solutions in conflict resolution.
• Outreach and engage with farming communities.
• Establish legal agreements with participating farmers that result in a profitable business model for hatchery-integrated community-based farming.
• Coordinate meetings and workshops with local stakeholders, local government, and national and international experts.
• Identify and recommend best commercialization options for our products.
• Inject a great deal of professionalism into the projects and nurture a company culture that will guarantee a high level of consistency of practice across all projects.
• Manage the local team, budget, logistics, and reporting.
• Ensure project milestones and key performance indicators (KPIs) are met.
• Handle local permits, supplier relationships, and problem-solving on the ground.

Financial, reporting and performance monitoring:

• Propose, design and implement the governance and controlled sets of rules to be implemented in each project.
• Document, monitor and gradually optimize the environmental, socio-economic and financial performance of the facilities and associated farming operations.
• Communicate openly and transparently to process all information relevant for reaching the project objectives.
• Elaborate a structured information system and reporting.
• Monitor and report impacts; common sets of metrics reported to the different investors.
• Monitor financial performance of the project, annual budgets as well as the organization of purchase and maintenance of equipment and assets.
• Supervise the correct deployment of the investment.

Reporting lines

The General Manager will directly report to Blue Alliance Aquaculture Director. The General Manager will be supported by a team of local managers and field technicians.

Requirements

• Graduate bachelor’s degree or Post-Graduate Degree with specialization in natural aquaculture or marine sciences.
• Ten years of work experience in the management, design, team coordination and implementation of aquaculture projects and/or food industry.
• Experience in collaboration and negotiation with government entities, communities, and the private sector.
• Demonstrated experience in managing complex projects, including responsibility for large budgets.
• Has an intrinsic desire to protect the marine environment and to improve the livelihood of local communities and their families, based on more sustainable and responsible use of marine resources.
• Must be motivated and have a collaborative nature, be a good team player, and be able to work independently and take responsibility for the completion of tasks.
• Has an interest in working on social, community-oriented topics and is willing to spend most of his/her working time with farming communities.
• Leadership skills and training in conflict resolution.
• Fluency English is mandatory, and proficient in Swahili is highly recommended.
• Has extensive knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite and database software.

Contact Information