About One Acre Fund

Founded in 2006, One Acre Fund equips 5.5 million smallholder farmers to make their farms more productive. Across nine countries that together are home to two-thirds of Africa's farmers, we provide high-quality farm supplies, tree seedlings, accessible credit, modern agronomic training, and a wide range of other agricultural services. On average, this model enables any farmer to increase their income and assets on supported land by more than 35 percent, while permanently improving their resilience. This is all made possible by our team of 9,000+ full-time staff, drawn from diverse backgrounds and professions. To learn more, please see our Why Work Here blog post.

Our Kenya program, founded in 2006, operates under the local brand Tupande. Close to 500 staff in our Kakamega headquarters support 1,747 field staff and serve more than 1 million farmers. In Nairobi, around 50 staff support global functions like procurement, recruitment, government relations, and communications.

About the Role

We are looking for a Microbiology Coordinator to help us build and run our brand-new food testing lab. You will make sure our food is safe for customers and help our farmers by ensuring their products meet high-quality standards. You will report to the Laboratory Specialist and lead a small team of 1 to 2 people.

Responsibilities

Pathogen Detection & Analytical Excellence

• Find Dangerous Microorganisms and Pathogens: utilising Microbiological methods, PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) platforms to detect microorganisms like Salmonella and Listeria.
• Check Food Freshness: Test for yeast, mold, and other signs to see how long food stays fresh.
• Verify Methods: Make sure our testing methods follow technical standards such as ISO/IEC 17025 and we get the testing results right every time. You are expected to be a real expert in microbiological testing methods and practice.

Factory Hygiene & Cleaning Checks

• Surface Swabs: Wipe down factory floors and machines to prove they are truly clean and sterile.
• Air & Water Testing: Test the air in packaging rooms and the water used to wash food to make sure no germs are hiding there.

Laboratory Care & Safety

• Prepare Testing Materials: Mix and sterilize the "media" (germ food) used for tests and make sure it works correctly.
• Machine Maintenance: Look after lab equipment like incubators and autoclaves to keep them working perfectly.
• Keep it Sterile: Follow strict "clean" rules to make sure no one gets sick in the lab and samples don't get mixed up.

Traceability & Chain of Custody

• Track Everything: Keep a clear list of every sample from the moment it arrives until it is disposed
• Report Problems: If a test shows a problem, note this down immediately and tell the manager.

Career Growth and Development

We have a strong culture of constant learning and we invest in developing our people. You'll have weekly check-ins with your manager, access to mentorship and training programs, and regular feedback on your performance. We hold career reviews every six months, and set aside time to discuss your aspirations and career goals. You'll have the opportunity to shape a growing organization and build a rewarding long-term career.

Qualifications

Across all roles, these are the general qualifications we look for. For this role specifically, you will have:

• 3+ years working in a microbiology lab (Food Industry is best).
• A Bachelor's Degree in Microbiology or Food Science.
• You know how to use PCR/ELISA machines and how to grow and test germs safely.
• You understand how to keep a lab safe and how to clean lab tools properly.
• You can manage 1–2 staff members and plan the daily work
• You can explain science in simple words and write good reports.
• You are great at following a plan and keeping track of details.

Preferred Start Date

As soon as possible

Job Location

Sagana, Kenya

Benefits

Health insurance, paid time off

Contract Duration

1 Year

Eligibility

This role is only open to citizens or permanent residents of Kenya.

Application Deadline

16 August 2026. Please note that we hire on a rolling basis which means that applications are reviewed and processed on a continuous basis until a hire is made.

One Acre Fund never asks candidates to pay any money or pay for tests at any stage of the interview process. Official One Acre Fund emails will always arrive from an @oneacrefund.org address. Please report any suspicious communication here (globalhotline@oneacrefund.org), but do not send applications or application materials to this email address.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI), and anti-racism are deeply connected to our organization's mission and purpose. One Acre Fund aspires to build a culture where all staff feel consistently valued, represented, and connected – so that our team can thrive as professionals, and achieve exceptional impact for the farmers we serve.

We are committed to equal employment opportunity regardless of race, color, ancestry, religion, sex, national origin, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, gender, gender identity or expression. We are proud to be an equal opportunity workplace.