Textiles production manager in Malawi

Volunteer as a textiles production manager for 24 months, based in Malawi

Background An estimated 4.6 million people in Malawi live with a disability - a large number of the total 15.4 million population. Bangwe Factory is a manufacturing unit of Malawi Council for the Handicapped (MACOHA) established in 1975 to provide on the job training and employment for people with disabilities. The factory has developed its strategy to become a commercially viable project as well as remaining a sheltered employment unit providing rehabilitation and medical care and welfare for people with disabilities. Bangwe factory employs approximately 105 people with hearing, visual and speech impairment, albinism and physical-challenges. The factory has three departments namely weaving, tailoring and tie-dye and screen printing. A Textiles production manager is required to help move Bangwe Factory forward to become efficient and effective in its sustainability.

What does the role involve?

The Textiles production manager will work within Bangwe weaving factory and oversee the planning and organisation of the different factory related activities, plus manage the resources (i.e. human, financial and equipment) needed in the production process to control costs, increase productivity and maximize revenues. To do this you will: • Oversee management of production: review weaving factory operations, develop production procedures, staff schedules, inventory and budget. Prepare regular reports and oversee quality and control. Improve efficiencies of weaving machines and equipment and reduce breakdown hours. Implement modernisation plan to improve productivity and quality.

• Production quality management: develop and implement total quality assurance procedures for all departments, resolve quality and wastage issues and resolve breakdown issues with machines.

• Human resource management and development: reduce absenteeism and increase production staff motivation, implement health and safety requirements relating to noise, ventilation and materials handling, plus facilitate training for production supervisors on work plans, targets and monitoring outputs.

Skills, qualifications and experience required

You’ll have a degree level qualification in textile production and design, plus have substantial experience working in product development in the garment manufacturing/textile industry. You’ll be experienced in resource mobilisation in the textile industry and previous knowledge of working in a developing country would be a bonus. It is desirable that you also have qualifications in business administration, knowledge of hand weaving, embroidery and screen printing. You’ll have demonstrable experience transferring skills to others and able to motivate and lead a team of senior staff, who will critically examine their current context and set a strategy. You’ll be an independent thinker, have excellent analytical and problem solving skills, plus the ability to analyse markets – both existing and potential. Experience having developed training manuals and textile/printing/manufacturing schedules would be advantageous.

And the rest....

Bangwe is a few minutes drive outside the urban centre of Limbe, a twin-town ‘extension’ of Blantyre, which is the main commercial city of Malawi. We’ll ask you to commit to 24 months to make a sustainable contribution to our development goals. In return, we’ll provide you with extensive training before your placement, and our financial package includes a local living allowance, return flights, accommodation and insurance. When you return to your home country, we'll support you to resettle.

How to apply:

To find out more....or to apply go to http://www.vsointernational.org/volunteer/ and reference M0076/0008/0001 in your application. On average it takes a minimum of 4 months to go through the application process.