Director – Nursery Operations

Redefining Sustainability | Innovating for the Future | Creating a Lasting Impact Botanica is a subsidiary of Red Sea Global and is part of the Red Sea Global Group of companies. We specialize in providing dedicated sustainable greenery across Red Sea Global’ s destinations ensuring careful integration of new species with local flora. As a subsidiary, Botanica benefits from shared strategic goals and collaborative initiatives within the Red Sea Global group of companies, enhancing our ability to serve our clients effectively. Spanning over 1 million square meters, driving our planet-first approach to sustainability. Since 2020, we have cultivated over 5 million plants, with an ambitious goal of 30 million by 2030, shaping the natural landscapes of The Red Sea & Amaala. With a team of passionate professionals—40% from the local community—and an unwavering commitment to ecological harmony, we are pioneering new global benchmarks in sustainable development. Why Join Us? • Sustainability at Scale: Be part of a project that’s transforming landscapes and preserving biodiversity. • Innovate & Grow: Work with industry experts in a fast-evolving environment. • Global Recognition: Join a company shaping the future of sustainable tourism and development. • Work in a Natural Paradise: Contribute to world-class projects in breathtaking locations. Be the Change. Join the World’s Most Visionary Developer Job Purpose: • Lead the operational backbone of the 180-hectare (1,850,400 m²) Botanica site: field operations and plant maintenance, plant protection, irrigation and water management (2,000–4,000 m³ per day from TSE and desalinated sources), soil mix and growing media, logistics, receiving and dispatch, and facilities, fleet and workshops. • The role ensuresthat plants stay healthy, ordersleave on time and complete,and the site runs safely and efficiently for every business unit. Job Responsibilities: Field Operations & Plant Maintenance: • Keep all nursery areas organized and ready: planting zones (1,533,100 m²), shading (173,800 m²) and mother stock areas. • Run routine maintenance of nursery stock (weeding, pruning, spacing, cleaning) and monitor plant health daily. • Apply plant protection measures under the IPM and biosecurity programme set by R&D & Biosecurity. Irrigation & Water Management • Design, operate and maintain the irrigation network and pump stations; set irrigation schedules by zone and season. • Monitor water quality, flow and consumption; reduce freshwater use through TSE, drip and smart irrigation. • Maintain contingency plans for water supply interruption and system failure during peak heat. Soil Mix & Growing Media • Source raw materials with Procurement and produce consistent soil mixes and substrates to approved recipes. • Supply internal sections and external clients (soil revenue stream); test and record batch quality. Logistics, Receiving & Dispatch • Receive local and imported plants and materials; hand over to Biosecurity for inspection and quarantine where required. • Plan and execute dispatch against confirmed orders: picking, loading, transport and delivery documentation. • Coordinate imports through the bonded facility with Procurement; keep stock movement records accurate. Facilities, Fleet & Workshops • Run preventive and corrective maintenance plans for facilities, greenhouses, shade structures and equipment. • Manage fleet availability, utilization and compliance; run the workshops and the asset register. Cost, Resources & Performance • Own the Nursery Operations budget: labour, water, energy, fuel, spares and maintenance. • Allocate manpower, machinery and transport across sections and support Production and Landscape Maintenance requests. • Report KPIs monthly and name operational risks early with corrective actions. People, HSSE & Leadership • Lead section heads, supervisors and operatives; set competency and training standards. • Control high-risk activities: machinery, chemicals, lifting, driving and heat stress, with HSSE. • Deliver the fixed responsibilities of a Department Head (Section 11.1). Policies, Systems, Processes & Standards • Follow and enforce all relevant Botanica and RSG Group policies, delegation of authority (DoA), processes, standard operating procedures and instructions so that work is carried out in a controlled, auditable and consistent manner. Safety, Quality & Environment • Apply and champion the safety, quality and environmental management system (ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001) and the compliance management system (ISO 37301) to ensure employee safety, legislative compliance, high-quality products and services, and a responsible environmental attitude. Continuous Improvement • Identify and lead opportunities to improve the department's systems, processes and practices against international best practice, with a focus on cost reduction, productivity improvement and client value. Job Requirements: Qualification and Experience: • Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Horticulture, or Mechanical or Civil Engineering. • Minimum 15 years in nursery, agricultural, landscape or facility operations, of which at least 7 years leading field operations with a workforce of 200+. • Proven experience in irrigation and water management in arid climates, logistics, and fleet and facility maintenance, preferably in KSA or the GCC. Skills: • Irrigation systems, pump stations and water efficiency. • Logistics, dispatch planning and stock control. • Maintenance planning (CMMS) and asset management. • Cost control and HSSE leadership; fluent English, Arabic preferred. Job Context: • Nursery Operations serves every business unit: Production depends on it for water, soil and site care, Landscape Maintenance for soil, transport and equipment, and Commercial for on-time dispatch. • Failures are fast and expensive: an irrigation outage in summer heat can kill stock within days, and equipment breakdowns at peak dispatch delay client projects. • The role must run on prevention and redundancy, and raise risks before they become losses. Functional (Technical) Competencies: • Field & Site Maintenance Operations - Expert • Irrigation Systems Design & Management - Expert • Preventive Equipment & Facility Maintenance - Advanced • Soil Mix Preparation & Media Consistency Control - Advanced • Inventory & Logistics Coordination - Advanced • Operational Performance Monitoring & Reporting - Advanced