PAUL GATHARA
Nairobi,Kenya
Summary
I am a result-oriented, dedicated, adaptable, resourceful industrial chemist with over eleven (11) years of demonstrated expertise in offering chemical safety and security application strategies. Team leader in operations and providing industrial technical expertise, projects financial management, proposals budget development, overseeing compliance to all business regulations and managing laboratory business development operations in Kenya. Skilled Operations Team Leader bringing self-directed and confident management style developed over 11 years of experience. Oversees training, documentation and financial reporting. Excellent problem-solving, conflict management and project coordination skills.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Operations Team Leader and Technical Marketer
CSI International Limited
Nairobi, Kenya
01.2016 - Current
- spearheaded the company’s accreditation process on ISO 17025:2017 on a vast schedule. https://kenas.go.ke/cabs/entry/csi-international-limited/
- assisted in improving revenue and customer numbers by overseeing the implementation of diverse sales and service initiatives.
- bid, managed tenders and coordinated key experts in meeting tender deliverables on the following government of Kenya projects:
- reviewed and updated the Priority Concerns Related to Chemical Residues in Food-GEF/UNDP/GOK Project-Participated in setting up a national monitoring protocol for persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and other priority chemicals in the ambient environment (air, water, and soil)
- provided consultancy services for the Assessment of Existing Analytical, Consulting, Training, and Equipment Resources and Services Present in the Regions of Project Priority Sites-Global Environment Facility (GEF) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
- provided consultancy services for water quality monitoring and assessment of Nairobi rivers–African Development Bank (AfDB)
- update and review of ISO Standards at the Kenya Bureau of Standards Petroleum and Petroleum Products Technical Committee (KEBS/TC 046)
- supervised roles in environmental, petroleum, and energy sector tenders from the National Oil Corporation of Kenya and ensured quality delivery of all the TORs.
- built strong client relationships during all project executions.
- performs periodic inspection checks for management system compliance, earning high customer satisfaction rankings on post-visit surveys.
- training staff on chemical safety and security, waste management, decontamination, food and water safety.
- increased overall efficiency and productivity of the team by revamping jobs, schedules, and daily assignments.
- enhanced operational performance and reduced labor expenses by developing and optimizing standard practices.
- motivated and trained employees to maximize team productivity.
Volunteer, lead trainer
Kenya Chemical Society, (KCS)
Nairobi, Kenya
12.2015 - Current
- I am a member of the National Training Authority (NITA) on chemical safety and security, and as such, I conduct training and sensitization workshops for members.
- conducted training in chemical risk levels and mitigation strategies at an industrial site in Hargeisa (Somaliland) and Nairobi, Kenya, resulting in a sensitization workshop on chemical safety and security training.
- pioneered the setting up of the Somaliland Chemical Society.
- Liaise communication and information from the KCS Governing Council meetings to the Society members
- prepare training proposals for grant applications from CRDF Global.
- organized two international conferences, five Annual General meetings, a series of webinars and workshops in Kenya.
- prepare meeting minutes, project proposals, collaborations, transmittals, and memorandums for organizational support.
- increased office efficiency by modernizing document organization systems and effectively implementing governing solutions.
- patron the Kenya Chemical Society Youth Hub, which mentors young chemists from different Kenyan universities.
- In 2021, I conducted a chemical safety and security talk to the Chemistry Research and Innovation Club at Taita Taveta University.
- collect informative content for the publication of the Kenya Chemical Society Journal.
- create an Experts database To ensure that the society has a resource pool and that members have access to the wealth of knowledge,
- volunteer with groups and organizations to help make measurable differences for program recipients.
Chemist (Quality Control Laboratory Technician)
SGS
Jubail
11.2014 - 11.2015
- Leveraged computerized management system and labeling process to conduct an inventory of fuel samples, reagents, chemicals, and supplies
- Resolved routine issues and escalated non-standard or critical issues to management for corrective action
- Conducted workload assessments and devised new operational processes that led to a 40% increase in laboratory productivity
- Collected, identified, and packaged hazardous and non-hazardous waste products to comply with HAZMAT regulations
- Developed laboratory testing programs and data analysis while adhering to SOPs and work instructions
- Managed quality assurance program, including on-site evaluations, internal audits, and customer surveys.
Laboratory Technician
Supreme global service solution
06.2011 - 08.2014
- Managed quality assurance program, including on-site evaluations, internal audits, and customer surveys
- Documented analysis reports in daily logs to uphold company standards and meet regulatory recordkeeping requirements
- Offered technical guidance on substandard fuel products to comply with regulatory applications and quality program implementation
- Inspected laboratory and Bulk Fuel Installation equipment for recommended repairs and scheduled maintenance and calibration actions
- Offered technical guidance on substandard fuel products to comply with regulatory applications and strategy implementation
- Achieved meeting customers' fuel demands by ensuring the presence of all products on standby
- Awarded employee of the month
Education
Certificate in Methods for Analysis of Food Contaminants - Methods For Analysis of Food Contaminants
Université Laval
Canada, QuebecBachelor of Science - Industrial Chemistry
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology
Juja06.2012
Skills
- Team leadership and coaching
- Coordination skills
- Communication Skills
- Cyber Security Skills and Networking Skills
- Team leadership and supervision
- Operations leadership
- Staff Management
- Strategic planning
- Policies and procedures
- Marketing
- Social Media
- Key performance indicators
- Relationship building
- Operations management
Accomplishments
- Trained on Information Security Awareness in Chemical Facilities and Laboratories by the Office of Weapons of Mass Destruction Terrorism Department of State and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- Completed a six months competency enhancement program in food laboratory science, supervised by the TRASE initiative (Trade in Africa safely and efficiently) implemented by Venture 37 – Land ‘o’ lakes, in countries of the East Africa’s Economic Community (EAC) and the Global Food Regulatory Science Society (GFoRSS), a non-for-profit corporation incorporated in Canada and hosted by the Food Risk Analysis and Regulatory Excellence Platform (PARERA) jointly operated by the Department of Food Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences and the Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF) of the Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
- Completed a Continuing Professional Development course in Hazardous Materials: Spills & Soil Contamination – Western Business Media Limited and The Institute of Fire Safety Managers (IFSM)
- Internal Quality Auditor
- October 2020 — Present, Securing Innovation in Advanced and Emerging Technologies – Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey, California, U.S.A
- January 2022 — Present, Excel 2016 Essential Training - LinkedIn
- April 2021 — Present, Information Security Awareness – Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
- August 2021 — Present, Kenya Chemical Society
- Individual Membership
Certification
Occupational Health and Safety
Fuels testing
International Introduction to Work place Health and Safety
Certificate in Fuel Testing, Intertek
Chemical Safety and Security
Affiliations
The Kenya Chemical Society
Life Member – LM19, from December 2015
AOAC International
Individual Member - iMIS ID 183718
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Quote
Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don’t.
Bill Nye, the Science Guy
Timeline
Operations Team Leader and Technical Marketer
CSI International Limited
01.2016 - Current
Volunteer, lead trainer
Kenya Chemical Society, (KCS)
12.2015 - Current
Chemist (Quality Control Laboratory Technician)
SGS
11.2014 - 11.2015
Laboratory Technician
Supreme global service solution
06.2011 - 08.2014
Certificate in Methods for Analysis of Food Contaminants - Methods For Analysis of Food Contaminants
Université Laval
Bachelor of Science - Industrial Chemistry
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture And Technology
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