Nursery Production Manager

SUMMARY:

A well-established commercial nursery is seeking a Nursery Production Manager to ensure the efficient and effective execution of nursery operations. This role focuses on large-scale staff planning, monitoring productivity, ensuring tasks are completed to the required standards and within set timelines, and optimising labour resources. The successful candidate will work closely with the Nursery Manager, Greenhouse Manager, and Operations Manager to align staff deployment with overall production goals.

POSITION INFO:

Minimum requirements for the role:

• Grade 12
• Tertiary education in Horticulture or Agronomy will be a distinct advantage
• Minimum 4 years' proven experience managing large teams (minimum 100+ staff) in an agricultural, nursery, or production environment
• Strong leadership and supervisory skills with the ability to mentor and develop supervisors and team leaders
• Excellent organisational and planning abilities, including the capacity to manage multiple tasks and deadlines
• Good communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to collaborate effectively across management levels
• Must have a valid driver’s license and own reliable transport

• Overseeing and managing a large workforce of approximately 200–250 staff, ensuring sufficient staffing levels through effective recruitment, allocation, and resource planning.
• Developing and maintaining a central planning document for logging tasks 1–2 weeks in advance to accurately forecast labour needs and align with production schedules.
• Planning and allocating daily and weekly staff assignments based on schedules provided by the Nursery Manager and Greenhouse Manager.
• Monitoring and tracking staff productivity, implementing systems to measure individual and team performance against set benchmarks.
• Ensuring all nursery tasks are completed on time and meet the required quality specifications and standards.
• Enforcing strict health, safety, and hygiene standards, conducting regular checks, delivering training, and promoting a safe working environment.
• Handling staff disciplinary processes, resolving disputes, and collaborating with HR to maintain discipline and a positive work culture.
• Designing, implementing, and monitoring a comprehensive training programme for supervisors and production staff covering work standards, quality, health & safety, and SOP adherence.
• Mentoring, coaching, and developing Production Supervisors to strengthen their leadership, discipline, and communication skills.
• Continuously reviewing processes to identify efficiency improvements, setting performance incentives, and providing regular reports on task progress, staffing challenges, and productivity outcomes to senior management.