POSITION | UAE

Farm Manager | Hydroponics & Greenhouse Operations | VVIP Private Estate

LOCATION
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Private Estate
The client will arrange the work visa and relocation of not local

PURPOSE OF THE POSITION
The Farm Manager will oversee all agricultural and horticultural operations, including greenhouse, net-house, open-field, hydroponic and indoor crop production within a prestigious private estate.
The successful candidate will be a highly experienced agricultural professional with strong hands-on expertise in commercial hydroponic systems, controlled-environment agriculture and modern farming technologies.

QUALIFICATIONS / CERTIFICATIONS

- Bachelor's degree in Agriculture.
- Minimum 5 years' experience in farm management or a related agricultural field.
- Professional certification in Greenhouse Management highly regarded.
- Demonstrated hands-on commercial experience managing multiple hydroponic production systems.
- Practical experience in indoor growing, vertical farming and controlled-environment agriculture.
- Strong knowledge of crop production, plant nutrition, irrigation, fertigation and Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
- Proficiency in farm management software, monitoring technology and automated agricultural systems.
- Strong understanding of agricultural regulations, food safety and environmental compliance.

EXPERIENCE & SKILLS

- Proven experience managing commercial agricultural operations, including greenhouses, hydroponic facilities and open-field crop production.
- Extensive technical knowledge of hydroponic systems, including Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), Deep Water Culture (DWC), substrate-based drip irrigation, ebb-and-flow and aeroponics.
- Experience managing indoor and vertical farming operations, including LED lighting, climate control, irrigation and nutrient delivery systems.
- Strong understanding of plant nutrition, nutrient formulation, water quality, pH, electrical conductivity (EC) and dissolved oxygen.
- Experience in crop scheduling, propagation, transplanting, harvesting and post-harvest management.
- Knowledge of fruit and vegetable cultivation, including papaya, banana, mango, citrus, leafy vegetables, tomatoes, capsicum and potatoes.
- Ability to analyse crop performance, production costs, water and energy consumption, and profitability.
- Experience managing farm budgets, procurement, equipment maintenance and inventory.
- Strong leadership skills with proven ability to supervise, train and develop agricultural teams.
- Excellent organisational, problem-solving, communication and decision-making skills.
- Ability to implement sustainable farming practices,



improve productivity and introduce emerging agricultural technologies.

ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Farm Operations & Crop Production

- Oversee daily operations across greenhouse, net-house, open-field, hydroponic and indoor growing facilities.
- Plan and implement crop production schedules, including propagation, planting, transplanting, harvesting and crop rotation.
- Manage land preparation, irrigation, fertilisation and crop protection programmes.
- Ensure consistently high standards of crop quality, productivity and operational efficiency.
- Oversee the cultivation of fruit and vegetable crops across various growing environments.
- Manage harvesting, processing, packaging, storage and delivery of produce.
- Implement effective Integrated Pest Management (IPM), crop monitoring and disease prevention programmes.
- Conduct crop inspections and implement corrective measures to maintain plant health and production targets.

Hydroponic & Controlled-Workplace Agriculture
- Manage and optimise commercial hydroponic production systems, including NFT, DWC, substrate-based drip irrigation, ebb-and-flow and aeroponic systems.
- Oversee horizontal growing channels, vertical towers, A-frame systems and multi-tier indoor growing facilities.
- Develop and manage crop-specific nutrient programmes, ensuring accurate nutrient dosing and fertigation.
- Monitor and adjust water quality, pH, EC, nutrient concentrations, solution temperatures and dissolved oxygen levels.
- Manage nutrient recirculation, drainage, filtration and water-treatment systems.
- Oversee indoor growing environments, including temperature, humidity, airflow, LED lighting, photoperiod and carbon dioxide controls where applicable.
- Monitor light intensity, spectrum and Daily Light Integral (DLI) to optimise plant growth.
- Coordinate ventilation, cooling, dehumidification and climate-control systems with technical teams.
- Establish cleaning, sanitation, biosecurity and disease-prevention procedures across all growing facilities.
- Troubleshoot hydroponic equipment, nutrient imbalances, irrigation failures and environmental control issues.
- Conduct crop and variety trials to evaluate yield, quality, production cycles and commercial viability.
- Recommend improvements to growing systems,



agricultural technologies and production efficiency.

Farm Management & Team Leadership
- Supervise and coordinate farm personnel, including recruitment, training, scheduling and performance management.
- Establish operational procedures and maintain high standards of productivity, safety and accountability.
- Train staff in hydroponic operations, nutrient management, crop monitoring, equipment handling and troubleshooting.
- Manage labour allocation and daily operational priorities to ensure production targets are achieved.
- Oversee maintenance and repair of agricultural machinery, irrigation equipment, pumps, sensors, dosing systems and lighting.
- Coordinate preventive maintenance, equipment calibration and emergency contingency procedures.

Budgeting, Procurement & Quality Control
- Prepare and manage farm operating budgets, production costs and expenditure.
- Monitor crop profitability, labour costs, equipment expenses and resource utilisation.
- Oversee procurement of seeds, plants, fertilisers, growing media, agricultural chemicals and equipment.
- Maintain accurate inventory and stock-control procedures.
- Monitor crop performance indicators, including yield, production cycles, rejection rates, water consumption, energy consumption and cost per kilogram.
- Ensure quality control throughout production, harvesting, packaging and post-harvest handling.
- Maintain accurate operational, financial and production records.
- Coordinate with relevant departments regarding produce requirements, availability and distribution.

Compliance, Sustainability & Continuous Improvement
- Ensure compliance with applicable agricultural, environmental, food safety and workplace regulations.
- Implement sustainable agricultural practices that optimise water, energy and resource efficiency.
- Monitor developments in hydroponics, greenhouse technology, crop varieties and modern horticultural practices.
- Evaluate new agricultural technologies and recommend improvements to productivity and profitability.
- Collaborate with agricultural specialists and other farm managers to share knowledge and improve operational practices.
- Provide regular reports on farm performance, crop yields, operational challenges and recommended improvements.

SALARY

Negotiable depending on experience

BENEFITS

Ex pat benefits
Accommodation
Transport
Flights
Health Insurance

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