Associate Director - Research and Development

About the role

The Plant Nursery R&D Associate Director will shape the research and innovation agenda for Red Sea Global’s nursery operations. This senior position blends scientific expertise with strategic leadership to turn research outcomes into scalable, profitable nursery practices.

Key responsibilities

• Define and execute the R&D roadmap aligned with business goals and market trends.
• Lead plant science, horticultural innovation, and sustainability initiatives.
• Collaborate with production, operations, sales and marketing to align research with market needs.
• Develop new, resilient cultivars through advanced propagation techniques.
• Research soil, substrates, irrigation and nutrient regimes to optimise growth.
• Design and implement integrated pest and disease management (IPM) strategies.
• Explore automation, AI and digital monitoring tools for nursery applications.
• Translate R&D results into scalable practices that improve productivity and plant quality.
• Set and monitor quality standards for plant health, growth and survival.
• Build and lead a high‑performing team of horticulturists and researchers.
• Manage R&D budgets, grants and funding opportunities.

Required profile

• Proven senior leadership experience in horticulture or plant science research.
• Track record of delivering commercial‑ready plant products.
• Strong understanding of sustainable and climate‑resilient nursery practices.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary teams and budgets.

Required skills

• Tissue culture
• Grafting
• Plant propagation (cuttings, seed)
• Hydroponics
• Soil and substrate analysis
• Irrigation and nutrient management
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
• Automation technologies
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications
• Digital monitoring tools

What we offer

• Opportunity to lead R&D for a large‑scale sustainable greenery project.
• Collaboration with industry experts in a fast‑evolving environment.
• Contribution to globally recognised sustainable tourism initiatives.