Director - Operation

The Red Sea Development Company; Riyadh; On-site; SAR 400,000 - 700,000; Full time

Job summary

The Red Sea Development Company seeks a senior leader to oversee the operational backbone of our large-scale botanical operations, including nursery management, irrigation, soil media, logistics, facilities, fleet, and HSSE compliance. You will lead 200+ staff and coordinate across plants, maintenance, and procurement to ensure safe, efficient, and timely delivery of all horticultural activities.

Ideal candidates bring 15+ years of experience in nursery, agricultural, landscape or facility

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Horticulture, or Mechanical or Civil Engineering.
• Minimum 15 years in nursery, agricultural, landscape or facility operations with 7+ years leading field operations with 200+ staff.
• Proven irrigation and water management experience in arid climates, logistics, and fleet/ facility maintenance.
• Fluent English; Arabic preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Field Operations & Plant Maintenance of nursery areas and mother stock, ensuring health and timely orders.
• Design, operate and monitor irrigation networks and water management to reduce freshwater use.
• Oversee soil mix production and internal/external soil supply.
• Plan and execute receiving, dispatch, and stock control for plants and materials.
• Manage facilities, fleet, workshops, and asset register with preventive maintenance.

Skills

Irrigation management

Field operations leadership

Budget management

HSE leadership

Logistics planning

English proficiency

Arabic preferred

Education

Bachelor's degree in Agricultural Engineering / Agriculture / Horticulture / Mechanical / Civil Engineering

Tools

CMMS

ISO systems

Job description

Job Purpose

Lead the operational backbone of the 180-hectare 1 850 400 m Botanica site field operations and plant maintenance plant protection irrigation and water management 2 000 4 000 m 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 amp Plant Maintenance

Keep all nursery areas organized and ready planting zones 1 533 100 m shading 173 800 m 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 amp D amp Biosecurity

Irrigation amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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 amp 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

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.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.