Recycling Supervisor
TakaTaka Solutions
Quick Take
Lead daily recycling operations at a Kiambu facility, managing mixed waste sorting, plastic/glass segregation, and baling while overseeing a diverse team to hit efficiency and safety targets.
Team leadership and occupational health & safety enforcement in a manufacturing/processing environment, plus proven ability to monitor and improve operational KPIs.
Competitive mid-to-upper range salary, hands-on impact at Kenya's leading recycling company (95% diversion rate), and opportunity to drive sustainability and process innovation.
Job Description
TakaTaka Solutions is a pioneering waste management company based in Kenya, renowned for achieving one of the highest recycling rates in the world — diverting up to 95% of collected waste away from landfills. Through a combination of in-house processing and partnerships with local recyclers, TakaTaka Solutions is transforming how Kenya thinks about and handles waste.
We are seeking a results-driven and experienced Recycling Supervisor to lead daily operations at our Kiambu facility. In this role, you will oversee a diverse team engaged in mixed waste sorting, plastic and glass sorting, pig food segregation, and baling — ensuring efficiency, quality, and safety across all processes. This is a hands-on leadership role suited to someone passionate about sustainable operations and continuous improvement.
- Oversee and coordinate daily recycling activities including mixed waste sorting, plastic sorting, glass sorting, pig food sorting, and baling operations.
- Plan staff schedules, manage attendance, and ensure adequate workforce deployment across all sorting lines.
- Implement and monitor quality control measures to ensure sorted materials meet company standards and regulatory requirements.
- Enforce health, safety, and environmental regulations to maintain a compliant and safe working environment at all times.
- Monitor sorting processes continuously to optimise throughput, minimise downtime, and drive operational efficiency.
- Coordinate the scheduling and utilisation of forklifts and other material-handling equipment in support of recycling operations.
- Maintain accurate records of sorted materials, equipment usage, and individual staff performance metrics.
- Prepare and submit weekly and periodic reports covering productivity, efficiency, OEE metrics, and key OKR targets.
- Manage petty cash requests, including submission and follow-up on approvals and payments.
- Monitor inventory levels and coordinate with the logistics team to ensure timely removal and transport of processed materials.
- Conduct regular inspections and audits of plant equipment to ensure optimal functionality and compliance.
- Implement and refine process control systems to drive consistency and quality across operations.
- Collaborate with the engineering team on new equipment design, procurement, and installation projects.
- Use data analysis to inform decision-making and identify opportunities for process enhancements.
- Conduct market research to explore opportunities with existing and new recycling machinery.
- Generate innovative ideas to unlock untapped material flows and expand the company's recycling portfolio.
- Ability to lead, motivate, and manage a diverse team of sorting and recycling staff in a fast-paced processing environment.
- Demonstrated experience enforcing occupational health and safety protocols in a manufacturing or waste processing setting.
- Proven track record of monitoring and improving operational KPIs including throughput rates, downtime reduction, and OEE metrics.
- Competency in collecting, analysing, and reporting operational data to drive evidence-based decisions.
- Experience coordinating equipment scheduling and logistics in a plant or production environment.
- Ability to conduct equipment inspections, identify faults, and liaise with engineering teams for timely resolution.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills for report writing and cross-departmental coordination.
- Diploma or degree in Mechanical Engineering, Environmental Science, or a closely related field.
- Minimum of 3–5 years of supervisory experience in a manufacturing, processing, or waste management environment.
- Proficiency in basic inventory management and petty cash administration.
TakaTaka Solutions offers a competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience, estimated in the range of KES 80,000 – 130,000 per month for a qualified candidate. The company also provides a mission-driven work environment with real opportunities to contribute to environmental sustainability in Kenya.
Ideal candidate: You are a practical, detail-oriented operations professional with proven supervisory experience in a processing or manufacturing plant. You understand waste or recycling systems, thrive in dynamic environments, and have a genuine interest in environmental impact. You are comfortable working outdoors and on-site, managing teams directly, and driving continuous improvement through data.
Please do not apply if you have no hands-on supervisory experience in a production or processing setting, if you are uncomfortable working in a physical waste-handling environment, or if you lack a relevant technical qualification in engineering or environmental science.
Interested and qualified candidates should apply through the TakaTaka Solutions careers page or the job platform where this listing was found. Submit an updated CV clearly highlighting your supervisory experience, relevant qualifications, and any measurable operational achievements. Applications close on 30 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Note: Never pay any fee, notarisation charge, or assessment cost as part of any recruitment process — legitimate employers do not charge candidates.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Team leadership experience managing 10+ staff in a fast-paced processing or manufacturing environment
- Demonstrated knowledge of occupational health, safety, and environmental regulations in waste or manufacturing
- Proven track record monitoring and improving operational KPIs (throughput, efficiency, OEE, downtime)
- Experience with quality control and process optimisation in a sorting or recycling facility
- Ability to manage schedules, attendance, and equipment coordination (forklifts, material handlers)
Nice to Have
- Experience with data analysis and reporting on productivity and OKR metrics
- Familiarity with recycling machinery design, procurement, or equipment audits
- Background in pig food segregation, mixed waste sorting, or glass/plastic processing
- Market research experience in recycling or waste processing sectors
Don't meet every requirement? Tailor your CV to close the gap →
Salary Context
Competitive mid-range salary for a supervisory recycling role in Kiambu.
The KES 80,000–130,000 range reflects a supervisory position in Kenya's growing waste management sector. Pay varies with facility size, team headcount, and operational complexity; larger facilities and those with advanced equipment typically offer the upper end. TakaTaka Solutions' scale and innovation focus suggest candidates at the higher end can expect above-market compensation.
About TakaTaka Solutions
TakaTaka Solutions is Kenya's leading waste management innovator, renowned for diverting up to 95% of collected waste away from landfills — one of the highest recycling rates globally. Operating from Kiambu, the company combines in-house processing with strategic partnerships to transform Kenya's approach to waste through mixed waste sorting, material recovery, and baling operations. Joining TakaTaka means working for a mission-driven organisation at the forefront of African circular economy leadership.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Tell us about a time you led a diverse team through a significant operational change or efficiency improvement. What was the outcome?
- 2
How do you approach enforcing health and safety protocols when team members resist or compliance slows production?
- 3
Walk us through how you would identify and close a bottleneck in a mixed waste sorting line to improve throughput.
- 4
Describe your experience with scheduling, attendance management, and handling underperformance in a high-turnover processing environment.
- 5
What process improvements or innovations have you implemented using data analysis, and how did you measure success?
Application Tips
Quantify your leadership impact: mention team size managed, safety incident reduction, and KPI improvements (e.g. 'increased throughput by 15%' or 'reduced downtime by 20%').
Highlight hands-on experience in waste, recycling, food processing, or manufacturing — show familiarity with sorting, baling, or material-handling equipment.
Emphasise your data-driven mindset: reference specific metrics you've tracked (OEE, efficiency rates, productivity reports) and decisions you've made based on them.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- Reputable, mission-driven company with measurable impact (95% diversion rate) — genuine sustainability mission, not greenwashing.
- Competitive salary range (KES 80–130k) with clear upper tier potential for experienced supervisors; above many entry-level supervisor roles in Kenya.
- Hands-on, technical leadership role with scope for innovation: collaboration with engineering, market research, and process design — clear growth into operations or engineering management.
- Clear KPIs and reporting structure: weekly/periodic reports and OKR alignment signal professional operations and potential for transparent performance reviews and advancement.
Watch Out
- The job description is truncated at the end ('Proven track record of monitoring and improving operational KPIs including thr...'), making it unclear if there are additional critical requirements or responsibilities not shown.
- No mention of benefits (health insurance, pension, training budget), transport allowance, or non-salary perks — clarify these before accepting.
- Petty cash management is listed as a responsibility; ensure clarity on limits, approval processes, and financial accountability to avoid personal liability.
A Day in the Life
Your week at TakaTaka's Kiambu facility starts with a 6 a.m. shift meeting reviewing workforce deployment, sorting line targets, and safety briefings. By mid-morning, you're walking the floor — checking quality control on plastic and glass batches, coordinating forklift movements, and troubleshooting a jammed baler with your engineering partner. Afternoons involve schedule adjustments for absenteeism, chasing logistics on waste removal timelines, and compiling daily throughput data into spreadsheets. Twice weekly, you conduct equipment audits and submit KPI reports; monthly, you meet with leadership on OKR progress and brainstorm ways to unlock new material streams or improve efficiency. Thursdays often include a market research task or collaboration on new machinery procurement, keeping your role varied and forward-looking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to become a Recycling Supervisor at TakaTaka Solutions?
You'll need proven team leadership experience in manufacturing or waste processing, solid knowledge of health, safety, and environmental regulations, and a demonstrated ability to monitor and improve operational KPIs. A secondary education diploma or higher is typical; formal qualifications in operations, supply chain, or HSE are a plus.
Is the Recycling Supervisor role at TakaTaka Solutions remote or on-site?
This is a hands-on, on-site role at the Kiambu facility. You'll spend your days on the processing floor overseeing sorting lines, equipment, and staff — remote work is not an option for this position.
How much does a Recycling Supervisor earn at TakaTaka Solutions?
The posted salary range is KES 80,000–130,000 per month, depending on experience, facility size, and performance. The upper end is competitive for supervisory roles in Kenya's waste management sector.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
You can progress to Operations Manager or Facility Manager roles overseeing multiple sites, or transition into Process Engineering and Continuous Improvement, leveraging your hands-on understanding of recycling systems. TakaTaka's innovation focus also creates opportunities to lead new equipment projects or market expansion initiatives.
Free Match Score
See how well you match this job
Upload your CV and get an instant AI score showing exactly how well your experience matches this Recycling Supervisor role. Free, takes 30 seconds.
Get My Match Score — FreeNo credit card needed
Boost your chances
AI-tailored for: Recycling Supervisor at TakaTaka Solutions