Production Manager – Roses (Fresh Cut Flowers) at Black Tulip Group

To oversee and manage the end-to-end production of fresh cut roses, ensuring optimal plant health, productivity, quality, and consistency in line with customer expectations and export market standards. The role requires strong technical knowledge, people leadership, and hands-on decision-making to deliver efficient, sustainable, and profitable production cycles.

Key Responsibilities:

• Crop Production Management
• Plan, implement, and monitor the full rose crop cycle, including planting, pruning, pest/disease control, irrigation, nutrition, and harvesting.
• Ensure consistent flower quality in terms of stem length, bud size, color, and vase life across all varieties.
• Manage and optimize greenhouse environment (ventilation, humidity, shading) in coordination with climate control or irrigation teams.
• Drive the adoption of best agronomic practices, IPM (Integrated Pest Management), and postharvest handling protocols.
• Staff Management & Supervision
• Lead and supervise greenhouse supervisors, section heads, and field workers to ensure adherence to work plans and quality standards.
• Conduct daily briefings, performance monitoring, and continuous training for
• the production team.
• Foster a culture of ownership, efficiency, and accountability at every production level.
• Planning & Reporting
• Develop and execute weekly and monthly production plans based on forecast, export demand, and seasonal variations.
• Maintain accurate production data: yield/bed/day, disease incidence, labor utilization, and resource usage.
• Submit timely reports on crop status, performance vs. targets, and improvement plans.
• Quality & Compliance
• Work closely with QA and Packhouse teams to ensure flowers meet export specifications.
• Monitor for and respond promptly to quality deviations, pest/disease outbreaks, or abiotic stress.
• Ensure production complies with certification standards: GLOBALG.A.P., KFC, MPS, Fairtrade, etc.
• Resource Management & Efficiency
• Optimize use of inputs: water, fertilizers, chemicals, labor, and greenhouse infrastructure.
• Ensure proper irrigation scheduling, fertigation mixes, and scouting routines.
• Drive improvements in yield per m², productivity per worker, and cost-perstem.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Agriculture, Floriculture, or related field
• Minimum 5–7 years experience in cut flower production management, preferably in roses
• Strong knowledge of greenhouse crop production, pest and disease control, and postharvest handling
• Familiarity with global market standards and export protocols for roses

Skills & Competencies:

• Strong leadership and people management skills
• Results-driven with excellent planning and organizational ability
• High attention to crop detail and quality standards
• Good knowledge of climate control systems, irrigation technology, and IPM
• Proficient in Microsoft Excel, crop data systems, and basic analytics
• Fluent in English and Kiswahili; local language a plus