Sarah Makurunje

• Processing an average of 1300t tilapia per month into various product lines
• Managing the process plant to the highest of quality, hygiene, and safety standards
• Responsible for managing and maintaining the process plant budget
• Maintenance of key raw material supplier relationships and procurement of such
• Warehousing and stock management using Sage
• Liaison with the Commercial Department to meet customer requirements.

• Implemented and maintained PHL quality systems in various operational processes including egg collection and incubation, animal husbandry practices for all animal age groups, abattoir operations, Skins Management, Stores, Feed production and storage, and Technical Operations
• Reported non-conformances observed and assisted in investigating identified problems
• Conducted activities leading to effective root cause analysis, corrective and preventive actions
• Reviewed systems that monitor ongoing processes and identified improvement opportunities
• Worked in close liaison with the Operations teams to ensure that all operations were in line with existing quality standards.

• Oversaw all grow-out cages on the lake, which had a sitting biomass of 1800t and an annual turnover of 3.5 times
• Optimized all operations to achieve the required FCR (Feed Conversion Ratio) and growth rates
• Managed biosecurity protocols for the operations, including the all-in all-out system to manage disease outbreak
• Liaised with the factory on harvest orders and planned and executed cage stocking, cage-to-cage transfers, and vaccination
• Coordinated with the Engineering team on all vessel planned and breakdown maintenance
• Acted as liaison with the government (Lake Navigation) on Statutory requirements for vessels operating on the lake
• Served as an internal auditor for the processing plant.

• Oversaw and optimized regular hatchery operations, including breeding, egg collection, transfers, feeding, sex reversal, and water quality management
• Collected and maintained robust hatchery data and actively supported initiatives to implement production software
• Trained and developed staff through hands-on training and basic academic instruction
• Maintained biosecurity protocols for the hatchery
• Prepared weekly, monthly, quarterly, annual, and ad-hoc hatchery management reports for communication to the CEO
• Produced specific reports on internal trials and experimentation
• Managed the breeding program for broodstock
• Served as an internal auditor for the processing plant.

• Managed an EU-approved processing facility, ensuring compliance with regulatory, quality, and company requirements
• Estimated, negotiated, and controlled budgets while leading cost-efficiency and continual improvement programs
• Managed line OEEs, wastages, and conversion costs through effective monitoring, review, and control
• Led plant maintenance and repair, implementing best practices, and managing costs within budgeted levels
• Identified and executed productivity improvement opportunities while ensuring a safe and equitable work environment
• Liaised with buyers, sales, and marketing staff and partnered with HR regarding personnel issues
• Complied with and enforced adherence to ISO 9001, 14001, 18001, and HACCP systems requirements
• Developed and maintained safety instructions, procedure manuals, and accident prevention programs
• Collaborated with the Executive Team to achieve set targets and evaluated systems and procedures, recommending changes as necessary
• Conducted in-house food safety and Health and Safety audits and managed supplier quality assurance audits
• Managed quality assurance inspectors and technicians and documented the company's QMS
• Provided training on food safety and hygiene and identified root causes of non-conformances, implementing corrective action.

• Expertly planned and scheduled production to meet local, regional, and European Union orders, achieving acceptable cost per kg levels within the budgeted cost of processing
• Maintained strong relationships with key raw material suppliers and expertly procured necessary materials
• Implemented rigorous quality control measures and took corrective actions as necessary to ensure product quality and safety
• Managed finished product stock and ensured a safe work environment for all employees
• Effectively managed budgets, machine and labor efficiency, and mass balance control
• Optimized operations to maximize utilization of freezing and chilling capacity, while expertly controlling raw material and packaging material yields
• Demonstrated expert knowledge in safety, health, and environmental management and expertly managed human resources.

• Managed end-to-end logistics quality and controlled critical control and defect action points
• Created and managed departmental budget, ensuring cost control within production targets
• Established and maintained relationships with the Competent Authority and official veterinarian to ensure compliance with food safety regulations
• Collaborated with marketing to resolve customer feedback and concerns
• Designed and delivered food safety and hygiene training for employees
• Conducted supplier quality assurance audits and ensured root cause-based corrective action for non-conformances
• Maintained HACCP records and monitored hygiene of the processing environment
• Supervised quality assurance team and documented QMS for LHA
• Managed technicians and assistants for the effective execution of tasks.

• Leading an EU, FDA and Global GAP approved processing facility.

• Ensuring all fresh orders are dispatched timeously on a daily basis

• Stock management and reporting for the process plant

• Ensuring the process plant maintains is EU and FDA approval by ensuring observance of the necessary quality standards.

• Ensuring cold chain is maintained for all product from the time of stock receipt to the point of dispatch.

• Leading a multiculturally diverse production team to meet targets.

• Mentoring of key staff members into leadership roles.