Organization Name: Chevron Tobacco Company
Job Title: Leaf Quality Technician
Role Purpose:
The successful candidate will be based in Harare and will be responsible for the comprehensive appraisal and classification of all purchased tobacco crop from contract floors and auction deliveries. This role is central to safeguarding crop value, ensuring correct grade positioning, supporting blend integrity, and protecting factory yield performance.
Primary Function:
The core responsibility of this role is the technical appraisal of tobacco leaf to determine intrinsic quality, correct grading, blend suitability, and commercial value.
Key Responsibilities
- Conduct detailed technical appraisal of all purchased tobacco, assessing colour, body, style, texture, maturity, aroma, and nicotine and sugar potential.
- Perform post-purchase classification to ensure accurate grade positioning and value optimisation.
- Evaluate suitability of leaf for intended blend specifications and recommend reclassification where required.
- Appraise both green leaf and processed tobacco to ensure conformity with quality standards.
- Conduct appraisal of packed stock to confirm alignment with lamina specifications and customer requirements.
- Work closely with factory teams to ensure green grades supplied for processing meet expected blend targets and lamina yield expectations.
- Monitor processing performance including lamina recovery, stem ratios, scrap levels, and moisture control.
- Support buying operations through quality assessment.
- Identify opportunities for value enhancement through strategic grade restructuring and blend optimisation.
- Maintain detailed appraisal and classification records.
Requirements
- Minimum of 7 years proven experience in tobacco leaf appraisal and classification.
- Strong practical knowledge of Zimbabwean tobacco grading standards and market positioning.
- Hands-on experience in factory processing environments.
- Demonstrated ability to evaluate green leaf, processed lamina, and packed stock with consistency and precision.
- Strong understanding of blending principles and lamina specification targets.
- Ability to conduct smoke tests will be an added advantage.
How to Apply
How to apply: Interested candidates should submit their CVs to [email protected]
Deadline: By close of business day 1 March 2026.
Deadline: By close of business day 1 March 2026.