Operations Lead [Black Soldier Fly Project]

Good Neighbors; Montalban; On-site; PHP 600,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Job summary

Good Neighbors is seeking an Operations Lead for a Black Soldier Fly project in the Philippines.

The role manages all production activities from waste intake to larval rearing, harvesting, and finished products, while ensuring safety, efficiency, and protocol adherence on the production floor.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Biology, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field.
• 2–4 years in production, agriculture, livestock, waste management, or food processing – at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
• BSF experience not required but highly valued; willingness to learn hands-on from Korean specialists is essential.
• Enjoys working with biological production systems.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily, weekly, and monthly production operations including larval rearing, feeding schedules, organic waste feedstock management, and harvest cycles.
• Directly supervise 2 Production Technicians and future hires; assign daily tasks and conduct training and mentorship.
• Create weekly shift schedules covering 6-day operations; manage overtime approvals.
• Maintain daily production logs; track KPIs such as yield, mortality, and feed conversion; report to Enterprise Manager.
• Lead root-cause investigations for safety incidents or quality deviations with input from the Korean specialist when needed.
• Participate in monthly operations reviews with the Korean specialist, international team, and BSF Enterprise Manager.

Skills

Hands-on leadership

Biological production systems

Data recording

Troubleshooting

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture/Biology/Environmental Science/Engineering

Tools

Dryers

Grinders

Conveyors

Pumps

Job description

Operations Lead [Black Soldier Fly Project]

Background:

The Operations Lead is responsible for leading all daily BSF production activities – from waste intake to larval rearing, harvesting, and product output (dried larvae, frass). This role ensures operations are safe, efficient, consistent, and works with standard protocols. This is a multi‑year project with significant potential for long‑term engagement – we are looking for someone who wants to grow with the facility and build a career in sustainable agriculture. You will be at the forefront of establishing a pioneering BSF facility in the Philippines, with opportunities to develop expertise, mentor a team, and scale operations over time. This role requires a highly proactive, hands‑on leader who is comfortable working directly on the production floor, keen observant, and uses data in making decisions. We are looking for someone with actual experience operating a business or production unit in agriculture, livestock, aquaculture, waste management, or related sectors, combined with hands‑on experience managing biological production systems. The role progresses based on facility readiness.

There are two phases:

1. Pre‑production: Design and draft all operational standards, protocols, and workflows before production begins. Test and validate these systems through small‑scale trials. Procure operational supplies and source initial waste feedstocks.

2. Post‑production: Run daily operations, train the local team on those standards, adapt Korean technical methods to Philippine conditions, continuously recommend protocol improvements based on actual data, and scale production. Training component: You will be provided formal BSF training to learn advanced rearing techniques, waste processing, and biosecurity protocols. After training, you are expected to develop and apply standards that fit the local environment. Critical expectation: You serve as the on‑site partner to the Korean Technical Specialist. Success means trialing, evaluating, and building a documented, replicable, locally‑adapted operating system. Collaborative mindset. You will have strong problem‑solving skills and will take initiative without waiting for instructions.

Key Responsibilities

• Development of Operational Standards & Protocols (Pre‑production Phase)
• Lead the drafting of all operational standards, protocols, and SOPs based on Korean technical inputs and local conditions.
• Design and document step‑by‑step workflows for every production station: waste intake, grinding, feeding, rearing, harvesting, drying, separation, and frass processing.
• Draft quality standards and inspection criteria for incoming waste, larvae at each stage, dried final product, and frass.
• Develop biosecurity protocols, hygiene standards, and safety procedures tailored to the Montalban facility.
• Create monitoring systems and forms (daily logs, KPI trackers, checklists) to capture production data consistently.
• Design feeding schedules and feedstock management protocols optimized for locally available waste materials and tropical climate.
• Establish larval health indicators, mortality thresholds, and corrective action procedures.
• Develop draft training materials for production technicians.
• Run pilot trials of all proposed protocols before submitting for approval. Revise based on trial data.
• Submit all draft protocols to the BSF Enterprise Manager for review, feedback, and final approval.
• Organize all approved standards into clear, illustrated SOPs in Tagalog/English for operator use.

Production & Process Management (Production Phase)

• Oversee daily, weekly, and monthly production operations, including larval rearing, feeding schedules, organic waste feedstock management, and harvest cycles.
• Jump into any production station (waste grinding, separation, drying) when short‑staffed or troubleshooting.
• Track KPIs for yield, mortality rates, feed conversion ratios, and product quality via daily logs.
• Analyze production data to identify inefficiencies, troubleshoot biological or mechanical issues, and implement corrective actions.
• Recommend protocol improvements to the BSF Enterprise Manager based on operational data, new insights, or changing conditions. Implement changes only after approval. Collaboration with Korean Technical Specialist and International Team – Local Adaptation
• Knowledge Transfer Learn advanced BSF techniques from the Korean Technical Specialist. Actively assess which techniques are suitable for your local environment, waste characteristics, and resources. Document what works, what fails, and why.
• Local Adaptation & Modification Modify protocols as needed – adjusting feeding schedules for tropical humidity, substituting locally available feed materials, simplifying procedures for local skill levels.
• Pilot & Validate Run small‑scale trials of adapted methods. Compare performance against both Korean benchmarks and local baselines. Use data (yield, quality, cost, labor hours) to decide whether to scale, reject, or modify further.
• Feedback Loop Provide structured, honest feedback to the Korean Technical Specialist, International team, and BSF Enterprise Manager about local challenges.
• SOP Localization Translate jointly developed and adapted practices into clear, illustrated, step‑by‑step SOPs and training materials that reflect local conditions, available tools, and operator language (Tagalog/English mix).

Quality Assurance & Compliance

• Ensure all products meet established quality standards for animal feed, agriculture,and/or industrial applications.
• Perform daily quality checks – inspect incoming waste (reject contaminated loads), monitor dried larvae moisture, check frass for maturity.
• Maintain compliance with hygiene, feed safety, environmental health & safety, and any relevant national certification standards.
• Lead root cause investigations for safety incidents, quality deviations, or production failures, involving the Korean specialist for technical input when needed.
• Collect samples (larvae, frass, water) for lab testing as required.

Facility & Resource Management

• Manage inventory of raw materials (organic waste), supplies, and finished goods.
• Note any malfunctioning equipment (dryers, sieves, fans) and request maintenance through the BSF Enterprise Manager.
• Record temperature, humidity, and run hours of climate control – flag unusual spikes.
• Provide input to the operations budget (labor, materials, utilities) to the BSF Enterprise Manager.

Team Leadership & Development

• Directly supervise 2 Production Technicians (and future hires) – assign daily tasks, check work quality. Recruit, train, mentor, and supervise the production team (recommend hiring; Site Manager makes final decision).
• Create weekly shift schedules covering 6‑day operations (technicians rotate weekends); request overtime approval from the Enterprise Manager.
• Foster a "curious and honest" culture where operators are encouraged to report what is not working without fear of blame.
• Give daily verbal feedback; participate in formal performance evaluations led by the Enterprise Manager. Enforce PPE (gloves, boots, masks) and stop any unsafe act immediately.

Reporting & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain daily production logs – waste in, larvae out, frass out, mortality, issues – submitted to BSF Enterprise Manager.
• Submit bi‑weekly (or agreed schedule) trial results (if any adaptation tests running) to Korean specialist and BSF Enterprise Manager.
• Maintain documentation of Korean production practices, local modifications, trial results, and final decisions.
• Participate in monthly operations reviews with the Korean specialist, international team, BSF Enterprise Manager, and relevant departments.

Qualifications

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Biology, Environmental Science, Engineering, or related field (or equivalent experience).
• 2–4 years in production, agriculture, livestock, waste management, or food processing – at least 1 year in a supervisory role.
• BSF experience not required but highly valued. Willingness to learn hands‑on from Korean specialists is essential.
• Enjoys working with biological production systems a plus.

Technical Skills:

• Ability to operate and perform basic troubleshooting on dryers, grinders, conveyors, pumps.
• Basic data recording (Excel or paper logs).
• Understanding of moisture content, temperature control, and biological safety principles.

Soft Skills:

• Intellectual honesty: Willing to report failure without blame‑shifting.
• Curiosity: Asks “why” before changing a protocol.
• Patience with local context: Does not force Korean methods that clearly fail in Philippine environment.
• Clear communication: Can explain technical concepts to Korean specialist (English) and to local technicians (Tagalog/English mix).
• Hands‑on leadership: Leads from the front – works alongside technicians, not just directing.