Head - Controlled Environment Agriculture (12-20 yrs)

Job Description :

Role Purpose :

The Head - Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) will be responsible for leading the organization's greenhouse and protected cultivation business, driving productivity, quality, profitability, and technological advancement across operations. The role requires a seasoned agriculture professional with extensive experience in greenhouse farming, vegetable cultivation, and large-scale commercial agricultural operations.

Key Responsibilities :

- Lead the overall Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) and greenhouse business.

- Develop and execute strategies to improve productivity, yield, quality, and profitability.

- Manage large-scale cultivation of vegetables under greenhouse and protected farming systems.

- Drive best practices in climate control, fertigation, irrigation, crop nutrition, and integrated pest management.

- Oversee crop planning, production forecasting, harvesting schedules, and quality standards.

- Introduce innovative technologies and modern cultivation techniques to optimize performance.

- Monitor operational KPIs and implement continuous improvement initiatives.

- Collaborate with commercial, sales, supply chain, and finance teams to align production with business objectives.

- Ensure compliance with food safety, sustainability, and operational standards.

- Build and lead a high-performing team of agronomists, greenhouse managers, and technical experts.

Skills and Experience :

Candidate Profile :

- 12 - 20 years of experience in greenhouse farming, Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA), protected cultivation, high-tech horticulture, or commercial vegetable production.

- Strong experience in greenhouse operations and vegetable cultivation at scale.

- Proven track record of managing large commercial farming operations with accountability for productivity, quality, and profitability.

- Deep understanding of climate-controlled agriculture, fertigation, irrigation systems, crop nutrition, integrated pest management, and yield optimization.

- Experience managing businesses in the range of 200250 crore preferred.

- M.Sc. Agriculture / M.Sc. Horticulture is mandatory.

- Ph.D. in Agriculture, Horticulture, Protected Cultivation, Agronomy, Plant Sciences, or related disciplines will be preferred.

- Strong leadership, people management, and stakeholder management skills.

- Experience in implementing modern technologies and best practices in controlled environment agriculture will be an added advantage.

Preferred Industry Background :

Candidates from leading organizations engaged in greenhouse farming, protected cultivation, fresh produce, high-tech horticulture, hydroponics, precision agriculture, and integrated agri-businesses will be preferred. Experience in managing large-scale commercial vegetable production under controlled environments is highly desirable.