Location: Roo Bay, Homabay
We are seeking a highly skilled Crane Operator to join our Lake Operations team at Victory Farms Kenya. This role is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of cranes and lifting equipment to support our large-scale aquaculture operations, ensuring the seamless movement of feed, cages, nets, equipment, and other heavy materials across our lake sites.
You will play a critical role in supporting production uptime and on-water logistics through precise lift planning, effective load control, and strict adherence to lifting and safety standards. This is a hands-on role for a safety-conscious professional who thrives in a fast-paced operational environment and is committed to maintaining a zero-harm workplace.
Key Responsibilities:
- Crane Operations
Safely operate overhead cranes ranging from 1.5-ton up to 10-ton capacity, together with other associated lifting equipment, to move products, equipment, and materials, verifying load weight, rigging, path, and signals before each pick.
2. Assembly & Setup
Partner with the Lake Logistics team on the assembly, positioning, and disassembly of the crane on site, ensuring correct anchoring, alignment, and rigging before any lift is performed.
3. Daily Maintenance & Inspection
Complete pre-start and end-of-shift checks on the crane; cable alignment and wear, hydraulic hoses, oil and fuel levels, greasing of moving parts, tightness of bolts and attachments, condition of hooks, slings, and shackles, and washing of the machine. Record findings in the daily log and immediately escalate any defect that affects safe operation
4. Material Handling
Transfer materials to designated storage or staging areas, stack loads safely and efficiently, and verify counts of items received, moved, or dispatched against paperwork.
5. Safety & Compliance
Uphold a safe work environment by following Victory Farms’ lifting-operations and HSE policies, Safe Work Procedures, lock-out/tag-out (LOTO), and good housekeeping standards. Stop working immediately whenever conditions are unsafe.
6. Team Coordination
Communicate clearly with the Lake Logistics Supervisor (or Designee), fellow operators, and riggers on lift plans, schedules, daily priorities, and load-handling assignments, using standard hand signals and radio protocols.
7. Support special projects, planned maintenance shutdowns, and other duties reasonably assigned by the supervisor.
Skills and Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE), Mean Grade D+ or higher, or its recognized equivalent.
Minimum of two (2) years’ verifiable, hands-on experience operating overhead cranes in the 1.5-ton to 10-ton capacity range within an industrial, marine, or aquaculture environment.
At least two (2) years’ experience operating lift trucks / forklifts under active loading and unloading conditions.
Certifications & Licenses
Valid Crane Operator / Overhead Lifting-Equipment Operator certification issued by a recognized institution or regulatory body.
Valid First Aid and Basic Fire Safety training certificates are an advantage.
Ability to read, interpret, and apply load charts, rigging tables, and manufacturer safe-operating limits.
Physical & Medical Requirements
Proven ability to operate a Gantry Max lifting system.
Prior working experience in marine / lakeside operations or large-scale aquaculture facilities.
Basic mechanical knowledge is sufficient to identify hydraulic, electrical, and structural faults during daily inspections.
Willing and able to work rotating day and night shifts, including weekends and public holidays as operations require.
Added Advantage
Proven ability to operate a Gantry Max lifting system.
Prior working experience in marine / lakeside operations or large-scale aquaculture facilities.
Basic mechanical knowledge is sufficient to identify hydraulic, electrical, and structural faults during daily inspections.
Skills & Behavioral Competencies
Strong attention to detail, precision, and accuracy underload.
Proven safety record and a zero-incident mindset; empowered to stop work when conditions are unsafe.
Ability to plan, prioritize workload, and adapt to changing operational demands.
Ability to perform in a high-volume, fast-paced, outdoor environment.
Strong communication and teamwork skills; able to work independently and as part of a team.
Sound knowledge of load charts, rigging principles, standard hand and radio signals.
Basic mechanical aptitude for daily inspections, defect reporting, and coordination with maintenance.
Benefit:
- Visibility into the world’s fastest growing aquaculture company.
- Ideal for a candidate looking to dive into a mission-oriented Organization.
- The team is committed to the candidate’s success and will provide coaching, mentorship, and unique exposure to people and experiences that come from the most successful leaders in the entrepreneurial community and the social sector.
About Victory Farms:
Victory Farms (VF) was established on Lake Victoria in 2016 with both on-shore and off-shore facilities. The head office is in Nairobi, and its Farm site is in Homa Bay County, with distribution across Kenya. VF has since become one of the fastest growing companies in aquaculture globally. In its first eight months of operation, the Company became the largest aquaculture producer in Kenya. Victory Farms aims to become the leading Tilapia farm in Africa over the next 5 years while maintaining the highest environmental and social standards; as the most sustainable Tilapia farm in the world, adhering to global standards and best practices, and producing affordable, sustainable protein to feed millions of people across Africa. Today, it is the largest commercial aquaculture player in East Africa and operates one of largest hatcheries on the continent.
The Company is continuing to rapidly expand its vertically integrated model: production, processing, and sales & distribution, to keep pace with the rapid growth in demand for protein.
To support this, Victory Farms employs world class technologies, people, and processes to build its model for sustainable protein production on the continent. VF strives for the highest standards in performance, execution, culture, and integrity.
VF’s growth trajectory provides enormous opportunities for excited professionals to uplift their careers and make an impact within a diverse operation. We recognize the utmost importance which contributions by individuals and teams have to the success of Victory Farms. We work to create a fantastic environment for our employees. An environment where employees have an opportunity to develop professionally and personally.
How to Apply:
Kindly send your 2 – page CV and cover letter expressing your interest and qualifications to pauline.aete@victoryfarmskenya.com. The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. Indicate the Job Title as the email subject – Crane Operator.