Summary
Botanica, a subsidiary of Red Sea Global, is hiring a Director of Operations for its nursery site in Umluj, Saudi Arabia. The role leads field operations, plant maintenance, irrigation and water management, soil production, logistics, dispatch, facilities, fleet and workshops. It oversees budgets, resources, KPIs, safety and environmental compliance, and leads section heads, supervisors and operational teams. Applicants need a relevant bachelor's degree and at least 15 years of experience in nursery, agricultural, landscape or facility operations, including seven years leading field operations with a workforce of 200 or more.
The posting
As published on redseaglobal.com. Pulled from the employer's site and shown as they wrote it.
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 ensures that plants stay healthy, orders leave 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
- Health, Safety & Environmental Compliance - Advanced
- Integrated Pest & Disease Control Application - Intermediate