Deputy Director (Horticulture)

Ashoka; Sonipat; On-site; INR 900,000 - 1,300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ashoka University seeks a senior Landscape Manager to lead the development and maintenance of campus gardens. You will plan landscape projects, manage irrigation, nursery operations, pest and disease control, procurement, and gardening teams while coordinating with internal departments and vendors.

You will drive sustainable landscaping practices, optimize resources, ensure regulatory compliance, and deliver high-quality execution.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's in Horticulture required; postgraduate qualification a plus.
• 10-15 years senior management experience in horticulture project management.
• Strong knowledge of plant biology, cultivation, pest management, soil science.
• Familiarity with plant selection for propagation and sustainable biodiversity.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and maintenance of gardens and landscapes, including lawn care, pruning, fertilisation, irrigation, and executing new projects.
• Identify ornamental plants and manage nursery operations from seed to sapling, including hardening.
• Plan fertilization and pest/disease management using multiple methods with ecological balance.
• Conduct site assessments for soil, drainage, irrigation, and plant health challenges.
• Manage gardening teams: planning, training, safety, productivity, and compliance.
• Coordinate procurement of plants, materials, and equipment; manage budgets and vendor communication.
• Coordinate with internal departments, associations, external clients, and vendors using AutoCAD/irrigation drawings and MS Office.

Job description

You will oversee the development and maintenance of the University’s landscapes, ensuring healthy, well-maintained, and visually appealing gardens across the campus. The role involves planning landscape projects, managing irrigation, plant nursery operations, pest and disease control, procurement, and gardening teams. You will also coordinate with internal departments, vendors, and external partners, while driving sustainable landscaping practices, efficient resource management, and high-quality execution.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage the development and maintenance of gardens and landscapes, including lawn care, pruning, fertilisation, irrigation, and execution of new landscape projects.
• Identify and maintain ornamental plants based on their specific requirements, and manage nursery operations from seed to sapling, including hardening before field planting.
• Plan and implement fertilization and pest and disease management using chemical, biological, mechanical, and organic methods, including Organic Asset Compose, while maintaining ecological balance.
• Conduct site assessments to identify landscaping requirements and challenges related to soil quality, drainage, irrigation, and plant health.
• Manage gardening teams, including manpower planning, training, supervision, safety standards, productivity, and statutory compliance.
• Coordinate procurement of plants, materials, and equipment, while managing budgets, cost negotiations, scheduling, and follow-ups.
• Coordinate with internal departments, associations, external clients, and vendors, using AutoCAD/irrigation drawings and MS Office for planning, documentation, and communication.
• To generate/capture cost and horticulture activities in MIS.

WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR

Qualifications

• At least a bachelor’s degree in Horticulture; postgraduate qualification a plus
• Proven experience in horticulture project management, with at least 10-15 years of relevant work experience in senior management
• In-depth knowledge of plant biology, cultivation techniques, pest and disease management, and soil science.
• Knowledge of plant selection for propagation in all scopes, including grass, shrubs, trees and creepers, for a mixture of sustainable biodiversity population.
• Good communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to interact effectively with staff, stakeholders, and vendors.
• Familiarity with relevant laws, regulations, and best practices in horticulture management.

Who You Are

• You have strong knowledge of ornamental plants, gardens, landscaping, and plant maintenance.
• You are skilled in planning, team management, budgeting, procurement, and vendor coordination.
• You are detail-oriented and comfortable working with AutoCAD and irrigation drawings.
• You have strong communication, coordination, and follow-up skills.
• You are proactive and committed to sustainable and environmentally responsible landscaping practices.

ABOUT ASHOKA UNIVERSITY

Ashoka University is India's premier interdisciplinary higher education and research-focused institution, offering world-class opportunities in the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities. Established in 2014 by leaders, thinkers, academics, and philanthropists from diverse fields, it operates on a unique model of collective philanthropy, integrating exemplary governance standards with cutting-edge pedagogy and a faculty body of international acclaim.

Today, the University has a community of 3000+ students and operates seven Schools imparting industry-oriented education, professional skills, and values-based learning to prepare students for global careers. The University espouses principles of inclusivity and diversity, having more than 57% women, 4% international scholars, 100+ students with disabilities, and over 47% students on scholarships. Since its inception, Rs 723 crores have been awarded in scholarships with over 2,000 students receiving full-tuition fee waivers cumulatively and 5400+ students being supported through scholarships. In addition, nearly 5500 of Ashoka's alumni are pursuing careers of their choice in reputed organisations and leading universities across the world.

Ashoka University continues to reaffirm its commitment to building an inclusive institution of excellence in teaching and research, nurturing responsible leaders for India and the world. In 2025, Ashoka University was honoured with the 'University of the Year (Emerging)' award at the 20th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2025 - one of India's notable industry platforms celebrating excellence in academia and innovation. The University also secured the first position in the Indian Institutional Ranking Framework (IIRF) 2025 in two prestigious categories.

The Ashoka advantage will continue to equip its students with the skills to see the big picture - to critically analyse, question, interpret, craft compelling arguments, and find sustainable solutions. It is a collective effort towards nation-building. This is where tomorrow's leaders are born.

Check out the Ashoka Website to know more : https://www.ashoka.edu.in/