Director – Production

About the Role and Company

Botanica, a subsidiary of Red Sea Global, is committed to pioneering sustainable greenery initiatives across Red Sea Global’s destinations. With a focus on ecological harmony and integrating new species alongside local flora, Botanica operates over 1 million square meters of nursery space and has cultivated over 5 million plants since 2020. The company aims to reach 30 million plants by 2030, supporting landmark projects in The Red Sea and Amaala regions. With approximately 40% of its workforce from local communities, Botanica is a leader in sustainable landscape development on a global scale.

Working here offers the chance to contribute to groundbreaking sustainability projects, collaborate with industry experts in an evolving environment, and be part of an internationally recognized company dedicated to sustainable tourism and development in stunning natural locations.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all plant production efforts at Botanica Red Sea, managing a 180-hectare nursery with an annual capacity of 8 million plants including propagation, greenhouse/shade house cultivation, flower and indoor plant production, seed bank, and native species programs.
• Oversee plant quality, availability, biosecurity measures, safety, production costs, and fulfill internal and external client demands within budget targets.
• Convert approved demand forecasts into detailed production, import, and growing schedules in partnership with the Project Management Office (PMO).
• Ensure production volumes, plant readiness, germination rates, survival targets, and inventory accuracy are met or exceeded.
• Review plant bills of quantities (BOQs) for all projects, confirming availability, substitutions, and lead times prior to commercial commitments.
• Coordinate regular dispatch schedules alongside the Director of Nursery Operations.
• Manage propagation methods such as seed, cuttings, grafting, layering, and division, alongside crop management practices including scheduling, fertilization, and integrated pest management (IPM).
• Expand the cultivation of native plant species within the nursery’s production portfolio.
• Take charge of the Biosecurity Protocol, conducting inspections of incoming materials, managing phytosanitary documentation, quarantine procedures, hygiene practices, and traceability systems.
• Lead the integrated pest and disease management program and advance the research and development roadmap targeting propagation techniques, substrates, irrigation methods, and climate-resilient species.
• Ensure compliance with Middle East Water Authority (MEWA) regulations and exclusive use of approved plant species.
• Manage the production and R&D budget, controlling labor, materials, utilities, equipment, and waste, while planning resource allocation in collaboration with the PMO.
• Identify risks related to costs and delivery early and propose mitigating actions to avoid budget overruns.
• Lead multiple teams including managers, supervisors, horticulturists, and operatives; enforce training, supervision, and competency standards.
• Champion zero-harm field operations ensuring adherence to permits, method statements, toolbox talks, personal protective equipment (PPE) use, and incident reporting in partnership with Health, Safety, Security and Environment (HSSE) teams.
• Uphold and implement Botanica and Red Sea Global Group policies, delegation of authority, processes, and standard operating procedures to ensure auditability, control, and consistency.
• Promote and maintain safety, quality, and environmental management systems aligned with ISO 9001, 14001, 45001, and compliance management system ISO 37301.
• Continuously identify and lead improvements in departmental systems, processes, and best practices focusing on cost efficiency, productivity, and maximizing client value.

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Landscape Architecture, or Agricultural Engineering; Master’s degree preferred.
• At least 15 years of experience in managing large-scale nursery or horticultural production operations, with a minimum of 7 years in a leadership role supervising 100 or more staff.
• Demonstrated expertise in arid-climate horticulture, native species cultivation, biosecurity, and irrigation management, ideally within Saudi Arabia or the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region.
• Experience providing plant materials, including imported and specimen stock, for substantial landscape development projects.

Skills and Competencies

• Proficient in production planning, live product inventory control, and capacity management.
• Skilled at measuring labor productivity, managing costs, and operational key performance indicators.
• Expertise in integrated pest management, biosecurity procedures, and phytosanitary compliance.
• Strong leadership in health, safety, security, and environmental (HSSE) practices, particularly in field operations.
• Effective communication skills in English; Arabic language skills are advantageous.
• Advanced knowledge in plant propagation techniques, nursery crop management, sustainable production R&D, integrated pest and disease management, biosecurity, and HSE compliance.

Job Context and Collaboration

This leadership position is responsible for meeting long-term plant production targets that affect availability one to three years ahead due to lengthy growing cycles. The role requires close coordination with Nursery Operations for resources such as water, soil, logistics, and equipment. Significant risks include plant loss from pests, diseases, and heat exposure; biosecurity breaches from imported stock; and fluctuations in demand forecasts after production has started.