Nursery Manager - South African Restoration Project

About Us 

Imperative is a global carbon project development company that aims to be in the top decile for quality in the carbon projects market. We have a build-own-operate model and specialise in the design, development and operation of carbon credit projects that help combat climate change while promoting biodiversity conservation, economic growth and social development in the countries in which we operate. With a strong commitment to environmental and social responsibility, we are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Nursery Manager to join our dynamic team. 

Position Summary  

We are seeking an experienced, resilient, and resourceful Nursery Manager to lead the operation of our commercial Spekboom nursery near Jansenville in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. You will direct the production of 20–30 million high-quality Spekboom (Portulacaria afra) plants per annum using the Ellepot propagation system. This is a foundational role in a pioneering native forest regeneration project that aims to produce over 300 million native Spekboom plants to restore a planting area of 100,000 hectares, spread over a total project area of more than 1 million hectares. 

This is not a traditional stand-alone nursery management role. You will be part of an Integrated Project Team (IPT) that brings together a company-side team of administrative, horticultural, supervisory and quality-control staff, supported by the Head of Horticulture, and a service-provider arm, who is accountable for day-to-day nursery operations. As Nursery Manager, you will hold overall accountability for integrating these two arms into a single, high-performing operation. You will report directly to the Nursery Director and will be a key leader in achieving the project’s ambitious goals. 

Key Responsibilities 

1. Leadership and Team Management:  

• Provide strategic leadership to the nursery team, fostering a collaborative and positive work environment. 
• Oversee the recruitment, training, and development of staff, ensuring expertise in plant propagation, cultivation, and quality control. 
• Lead the team, providing direct line management to the Service Provider’s personnel and directing the company-side team of horticulturalists, propagation and quality-control staff. 
• Implement robust communication and management systems to effectively lead an integrated team across the company and service-provider arms. 
• Empower and mentor supervisors to build their capacity for independent site management. 

2. Plant Production and Quality Control:  

• Implement standardized, efficient Ellepot propagation and cultivation processes, from cutting procurement through to dispatch, to ensure consistent quality and meet production targets. 
• Maintain a robust Plant Quality Index (PQI), applying screening and rogueing at all defined intervention points to ensure the health, vitality, and uniformity of plants. 

3. Inventory Management:  

• Utilising a best-in-class digital platform (MyCrops), manage plant inventory, including batch traceability, tracking stock levels, conducting regular audits, and optimizing stock turnover. 
• Implement effective inventory control measures to minimize losses and waste. 

4. Compliance and Environmental Stewardship:  

• Ensure compliance with relevant regulations, permits, biosecurity requirements, and environmental standards governing plant nurseries in South Africa. 
• Promote environmentally sustainable practices in plant production and nursery operations. 

5. Budgeting and Financial Management:  

• Manage the nursery operating budget and, with the support of the project controls team, track and report costs against it. 
• Implement cost-effective measures without compromising the quality of plants and services provided. 

6. Infrastructure Maintenance:

• Oversee the maintenance and operational readiness of all on-site infrastructure, including water and irrigation systems, power supply, security, and staff facilities. 
• Implement a maintenance schedule for all infrastructure and equipment, ensuring operational continuity. 

7. Health, Safety, and Security:

• Enforce robust health and safety protocols to ensure a secure working environment for all staff and service-provider employees. 
• Regularly review and update safety and biosecurity procedures to comply with national standards. 

Experience 

• The position requires approximately five (5) years’ experience in a commercial nursery or large-scale plant propagation environment, of which at least two years must have been in a management or nursery manager role. 
• Hands-on working knowledge of the Ellepot propagation system, or an analogous plug or modular propagation system, would be beneficial. 
• Significant experience managing teams and serving in leadership roles is critical. 

Skills 

• A self-starter who can lead a significant scope of work with a high degree of independence. 
• Demonstrate a high level of personal integrity and be passionate about making a positive difference to the world.   
• Ability to lead, with strong operational planning and execution skills for large-scale plant production. 
• Have extremely well-developed communication skills at both the executive level and in the field.  
• Sound contractual administration abilities.   
• Strong digital literacy for inventory, reporting, and operational management systems. 

Desired Attributes 

• Pioneering Spirit: A forward-thinker who is not afraid to challenge the status quo and introduce innovative methods to improve nursery operations and project outcomes. 
• Resilience and Adaptability: The ability to thrive in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and navigate the unique challenges of a large-scale, remote project. 
• Passion for Conservation: A genuine commitment to environmental restoration and the mission of the project. 

Language 

• Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement. 

 Education 

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Horticulture, Agriculture, Plant Science, Forestry or a related field (NQF Level 6 or above) is required.  
• A postgraduate qualification will be advantageous. 

Position Location  

Botterblom farm, Jansenville district, Eastern Cape, South Africa, with occasional travel to field restoration sites, head office, and partner facilities. 

Values  

At Imperative, we are passionate about our values are encourage all team members to embrace them.  

• Integrity: We act honourably and are guided by a strong moral compass. If things go wrong, we put our hand up, admit it and adapt. 
• Momentum: Speed matters. We have a bias to action. We think quick, we plan tirelessly, we mitigate risks but above all, we take action. 
• Purpose: We are driven by our desire to make the world better, with every interaction, process and project. 
• Accountability: We do what we say, and we deliver. We seek to be the best at what we do. 
• Collaboration: We celebrate diversity of thought, values and backgrounds and seek to harness the strength of our people and partners to achieve more than we individually can, through teamwork and creativity. 
• Tenacity: We are highly ambitious, driven and hardworking. We persist until we deliver impact.