Horticulture Manager - Nursery Production

Location: Talegaon Dabhade, Maharashtra

Job Summary

As the Manager - Plant Production & Procurement at Ugaoo, you will play a critical role in driving the production and inventory management strategy to align with the company's sales channels, including D2C, Q-Comm, Marketplaces, Corporate Gifting, Retail, and Landscaping. This role involves overseeing planning, production, procurement, and operational processes to uphold Ugaoo's high standards for plant health and quality. You will be instrumental in fostering cost efficiency, operational excellence, and delivering top-quality plants that enhance the brand's reputation across all channels.

Responsibilities

Strategy, Planning & Management

• Develop and oversee production plans for top-selling plants to ensure alignment with sales forecasts across multiple channels
• Manage plant production to align with the size of the polyhouse, ensuring cost efficiency and optimal utilization of space
• Ensure sufficient plant production to meet demand across all five Ugaoo hubs, maintaining smooth operations and avoiding stock-outs.
• Implement and monitor rigorous brand standards to maintain plant health and quality, ensuring plants meet Ugaoo's excellence benchmarks.
• Develop & implement strategies to manage plant diseases effectively, ensuring optimal plant health and reducing the risk of disease outbreaks.
• Manage plant procurement processes to ensure timely availability of stock required for sales.
• Maintain accurate inventory records through the bin card process, ensuring real-time visibility and availability of plants to meet business needs.

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of Polyhouse Supervisors and Executives across multiple hubs, fostering a culture of accountability and continuous improvement.
• Oversee and streamline labour management processes to ensure efficient plant care and operational activities.
• Develop and implement training programs to enhance team capabilities and ensure adherence to standardized plant management protocols.
• Work closely with cross-functional teams to drive alignment on goals, expectations, and deliverables.

Operational Excellence

• Identify and implement cost-effective practices across production, procurement, and labour management to achieve budgetary goals without compromising quality.
• Monitor and control budgets for plant production, ensuring efficient allocation and utilization of resources.
• Collaborate with supply chain teams to ensure seamless coordination and timely delivery of plants to D2C customers, Ugaoo hubs, and retail stores.
• Ensure adherence to SOPs, brand guidelines, and operational best practices to maintain efficiency across all retail stores.
• Maintain optimal inventory levels across hubs, minimizing wastage and ensuring plants are readily available for demand.
• Continuously identify opportunities for operational improvements and implement best practices to enhance efficiency and productivity.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, or a related field.
• Minimum 4 years of experience managing indoor plant nurseries, plant care, and disease management.
• Proven expertise in production planning, inventory management, and procurement.
• Strong knowledge of plant health, disease control, and quality standards.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a data-driven approach to decision-making.
• Experience in optimizing production processes to drive cost efficiency and resource utilization.
• Excellent communication and collaboration skills to work effectively across teams.