Senior Agronomist

Senior Agronomist

In Silal, our mandate is to diversify food sources and stimulate manufacturing and distribution in the agri-food sector in the UAE and beyond. As a part of ADQ, one of the region's largest holding companies, Silal is emerging as one of the sector's leading and most ambitious players.

Position Overview

Senior Agronomist plays a crucial role in overseeing and enhancing the daily agricultural operations at AgTech Park. The position is specifically centered on Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), with an emphasis on the cultivation of berries and tomato crops in advanced greenhouse systems. The Senior Agronomist is tasked with ensuring maximum productivity and maintaining superior crop quality, while driving operational efficiency. This role requires a combination of technical agricultural expertise, strong leadership abilities, and effective operational planning, all aimed at achieving consistent, results oriented performance.

Position Responsibilities

Key Responsibilities as Partnerships Lead will include the following:

Functional Responsibilities

• The Senior Agronomist is responsible for overseeing the daily operations of Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) systems within AgTech Park. This includes ensuring that all processes are managed efficiently to deliver optimal crop performance and maximize yield.
• The role requires consistent monitoring and adjustment of CEA practices to maintain high standards of productivity and crop quality (monitoring climate parameters, adjusting irrigation and fertigation programs to maintain optimal growing conditions).
• Lead crop planning and production cycles for berries and tomato crops, ensuring alignment with production targets and market demand.
• Analyze crop performance data, identify trends, and implement corrective actions to improve yield, quality, and consistency.
• Develop and implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategies to proactively manage plant health and minimize crop losses.
• Ensure greenhouse operations are managed as a high-performance production system, with full accountability for yield, quality, and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with best horticultural practices, food safety standards, and quality requirements.
• Collaborate with technical and engineering teams to optimize greenhouse systems, automation, and AgTech solutions.
• Drive continuous improvement initiatives, including testing new crop varieties, technologies, and cultivation methods.
• Maintain accurate records of crop performance, inputs, and operational activities to support data-driven decision-making.

Financial Management

• The Senior Agronomist supports cost control initiatives by optimizing the utilization of key resources such as water, nutrients, energy and labor. Through careful management of these inputs, the position contributes to greater operational efficiency and helps manage overall production costs within the facility.

People Management

• In this role, the Senior Agronomist leads and manages a team composed of agronomists, supervisors, operators, and workers. Effective leadership and teamwork are essential to ensure that all personnel are aligned with operational goals and are working collaboratively to achieve consistent outcomes in crop cultivation and facility operations.
• Foster a culture of teamwork, accountability, and continuous improvement across all levels of the operation.
• Plan manpower requirements in line with operational needs and seasonal activities.

Stakeholder Management

• Coordinate closely with internal stakeholders to align production plans with business objectives and operational requirements.
• Work with procurement teams to ensure timely availability of inputs, materials, and equipment.
• Engage with external technology providers and agricultural consultants to optimize system performance and implement best practices.
• Support cross-functional collaboration to ensure seamless operations across the AgTech Park.

Position Requirements

In order to be successful in this role, you should have

• Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, or related field
• Advanced degrees / certifications in production management or related fields are preferred
• Minimum 5-8 years of progressive experience in CEA, horticulture or agricultural operations, leadership experience
• Proven experience managing large-scale or multi-site farming operations (berries & tomatoes)
• Experience in protected agriculture (e.g., net houses, high-tech greenhouses) is highly desirable

As Silal's Talent Acquisition team, we encourage all interested candidates to review the key responsibilities and qualifications for each role and apply for any positions that match their skills and capabilities. All qualified applicants will be reviewed, however due to the high volume of applicants, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.