CEA Farm Operations & Installation Manager at CEALEA FM FZC in Sharjah

Location: Hamriyah Free Zone, Sharjah, UAE
Employment Type: Full-time
Industry: Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) / Vertical Farming / Hydroponics

Job Summary

We are seeking an experienced and hands-on CEA Farm Operations & Installation Manager to lead the setup, installation, commissioning, and day-to-day operations of our indoor controlled-environment vertical farm.The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating farm installation activities, managing contractors and technical teams, establishing operational procedures, and ensuring that the facility operates efficiently, safely, and according to production targets.This position requires a strong combination of technical knowledge, farm operations experience, project coordination, and people management skills.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead and supervise the installation, assembly, and commissioning of indoor vertical farming and hydroponic systems.
• Coordinate installation of growing systems, irrigation/fertigation, water treatment, HVAC, lighting, climate-control, and related farm equipment.
• Review technical drawings, layouts, equipment specifications, and installation plans.
• Coordinate with suppliers, contractors, consultants, and project teams to ensure timely completion of installation activities.
• Supervise technicians, farm workers, contractors, and other operational personnel.
• Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) for farm operations, maintenance, sanitation, crop production, and harvesting.
• Manage daily farm operations, including seeding, nursery operations, transplanting, crop monitoring, harvesting, cleaning, and packing.
• Monitor environmental conditions including temperature, humidity, CO₂, lighting, EC, pH, water quality, and nutrient levels.
• Work closely with the agricultural/crop production team to optimize crop growth and productivity.
• Monitor system performance and identify technical or operational issues affecting production.
• Coordinate preventive maintenance and troubleshooting of farm systems and equipment.
• Maintain operational records, production reports, maintenance logs, and inventory records.
• Assist in developing production schedules, manpower plans, and operational budgets.
• Ensure compliance with HSE, food safety, hygiene, and farm sanitation requirements.
• Conduct testing and commissioning activities and ensure systems are properly handed over before full-scale operations.
• Identify opportunities to improve productivity, reduce wastage, and optimize water, energy, labor, and other resources.
• Train farm personnel on equipment operation, SOPs, safety procedures, and best practices.
• Prepare regular reports for management covering farm performance, installation progress, production, manpower, and operational issues.
• Support management in evaluating new technologies, equipment, and processes for CEA and vertical farming.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or diploma in Agriculture, Agricultural Engineering, Horticulture, Mechanical/Electrical Engineering, or a related field.
• 3–5+ years of relevant experience in controlled-environment agriculture, hydroponics, vertical farming, greenhouse operations, or agricultural facility management.
• Proven experience in farm installation, commissioning, operations, or project management.
• Strong understanding of hydroponic systems, fertigation, irrigation, climate control, LED grow lighting, and environmental monitoring.
• Experience managing contractors, technicians, suppliers, and farm personnel.
• Ability to read and understand technical drawings, equipment manuals, and farm layouts.
• Strong troubleshooting and problem-solving skills.
• Good knowledge of health, safety, hygiene, and food-production practices.
• Strong organizational, leadership, and communication skills.
• Ability to work in a hands-on, fast-paced environment.
• Proficiency in MS Office, Excel, and reporting tools.
• ONLY those candidates who have demonstrated experience in CEA/Hydroponics will be considered.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with indoor vertical farms or large-scale commercial hydroponic farms.
• Experience with leafy greens, herbs, strawberries, tomatoes, or other high-value crops.
• Knowledge of automated fertigation, dosing systems, sensors, PLC/BMS, IoT monitoring, or farm management systems.
• Experience with farm commissioning and equipment handover.
• UAE/GCC experience is an advantage.
• Candidates with both technical installation and commercial farm operations experience are highly preferred.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Successful and timely completion of farm installation and commissioning.
• Farm system uptime and operational efficiency.
• Crop yield and quality.
• Water, nutrient, energy, and labor efficiency.
• Reduction of crop losses and operational wastage.
• Compliance with SOPs, HSE, hygiene, and food-safety requirements.
• Effective manpower and contractor management.
• Achievement of production and operational targets.

What We Offer

• Competitive salary based on qualifications and experience.
• Opportunity to lead the establishment and operation of a modern Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) facility.
• Career growth within an innovative agricultural and technology-driven organization.
• Hands-on exposure to vertical farming, hydroponics, automation, and sustainable agriculture.

Pay: AED7,000.00 - AED9,000.00 per month

Work Location: In person