Horticultural Manager

Job Purpose

The Horticulturist will be responsible for the planning, development, beautification, maintenance and sustainable management of the Universitys landscape and green areas. The position will ensure that lawns, gardens, trees, shrubs, ornamental plants, nurseries and other landscaped areas are maintained to high standards while ensuring efficient use of manpower, water, fertilizers and other resources.

The role will also supervise horticulture staff and external landscaping agencies, manage seasonal plantation activities, monitor plant health and irrigation systems, and provide technical recommendations for campus landscaping and green-campus initiatives.

Educational Qualification

Essential:

• Doctorate/Masters/Bachelors Degree in Horticulture / Agriculture / Landscape Horticulture from a recognized university/institution.

Experience

• 7–10 years of relevant experience in horticulture, landscaping, estate management or campus landscape maintenance.
• Experience in a large institutional, university, corporate, hotel, township or residential campus is preferred.
• Candidates with experience managing outsourced landscaping agencies and large teams will be preferred.

Key Responsibilities

A. Landscape & Campus Horticulture

• Plan, develop and maintain lawns, gardens, flower beds, hedges, trees, shrubs, creepers, indoor plants and other landscaped areas.
• Develop annual and seasonal horticulture plans for the campus.
• Select appropriate plant species based on local climate, soil conditions, aesthetics, water availability and campus requirements.
• Maintain the visual appearance and overall health of the Universitys green areas.
• Plan new plantation, gap filling, transplantation and replacement of unhealthy or unsuitable plants.
• Develop and maintain thematic gardens, avenue plantations, ornamental areas and biodiversity zones wherever required.
• Coordinate with landscape architects/designers for new landscape development and modification projects.
• Maintain proper plant and tree inventories across the campus.

B. Lawn, Tree & Plant Maintenance

• Supervise mowing, edging, pruning, trimming, weeding, mulching, watering, fertilization and other routine horticultural activities.
• Ensure timely pruning and maintenance of trees and shrubs without compromising plant health or safety.
• Monitor plant diseases, pests, nutrient deficiencies and other horticultural problems.
• Implement appropriate preventive and corrective measures for pest and disease management.
• Ensure proper maintenance of seasonal flowers and ornamental plants.
• Develop and maintain nursery facilities for propagation of suitable plants where required.

C. Irrigation & Water Management

• Plan and monitor irrigation requirements for different campus areas.
• Operate and maintain drip, sprinkler and other irrigation systems.
• Monitor water consumption and identify opportunities for conservation.
• Coordinate the use of treated STP/recycled water for horticulture wherever technically and legally appropriate.
• Ensure there is no unnecessary water wastage, leakage or over-irrigation.
• Develop irrigation schedules according to season, soil and plant requirements.

D. Sustainable & Environment-Friendly Horticulture

• Promote sustainable landscaping and environmentally responsible horticultural practices.
• Increase the use of native, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance plant species.
• Promote organic manure, compost, vermicompost and other sustainable soil-management practices.
• Reduce unnecessary dependence on chemical fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides.
• Implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices wherever feasible.
• Support campus biodiversity, tree plantation, carbon sequestration and green-campus initiatives.
• Coordinate with the Universitys sustainability/environment team for plantation and biodiversity programs.

E. Manpower Management

• Supervise gardeners, mali staff, supervisors and other horticulture personnel.
• Prepare daily/weekly work allocation and manpower deployment plans.
• Monitor attendance, productivity, discipline and quality of work.
• Train horticulture staff in gardening techniques, equipment use, plant care, safety and chemical handling.
• Conduct regular inspections of work areas and provide corrective instructions.
• Ensure adequate manpower deployment during peak seasons and university events.

F. Vendor & Contractor Management

• Supervise outsourced landscaping/horticulture agencies and contractors.
• Define work requirements and monitor service-level standards.
• Verify manpower deployment and quality of work before recommending bills for payment.
• Coordinate procurement of plants, seeds, manure, fertilizers, pesticides, tools, equipment and other horticultural materials.
• Evaluate the quality of plants and materials supplied by vendors.
• Maintain records of contractor performance, material consumption and horticultural works completed.

G. Budgeting & Cost Control

• Prepare annual horticulture budgets and seasonal expenditure plans.
• Estimate manpower, plant material, irrigation, fertilizer, equipment and maintenance requirements.
• Monitor expenditure against approved budgets.
• Identify cost-saving opportunities without compromising landscape quality.
• Maintain appropriate records of purchases, consumption, inventory and horticultural expenditure.

H. Equipment & Infrastructure

• Ensure proper maintenance and safe operation of lawn mowers, brush cutters, hedge trimmers, sprayers, irrigation equipment and other horticulture machinery.
• Maintain an inventory of horticultural tools and equipment.
• Ensure timely servicing and repair of machinery.
• Report damaged, obsolete or unsafe equipment for replacement.
• Ensure safe storage and handling of fertilizers, pesticides, chemicals and gardening materials.

I. University Events & Special Requirements

• Support campus beautification for convocations, annual functions, conferences, VIP visits and other major University events.
• Arrange temporary floral decorations, potted plants and special landscaping requirements when necessary.
• Coordinate with housekeeping, security, engineering, electrical and event teams for campus-wide requirements.

J. Reporting & Documentation

• Maintain records of plantation, tree inventory, plant replacement and horticultural activities.
• Prepare daily/weekly/monthly reports on horticulture operations.
• Maintain records of manpower deployment, attendance, material consumption and equipment.
• Submit recommendations regarding plantation, landscaping, irrigation and maintenance requirements.
• Prepare work estimates and technical specifications for horticulture projects.
• Maintain documentation related to safety, chemical usage and statutory/environmental requirements.

Knowledge & Technical Skills

The candidate should have good knowledge of:

• Landscape development and maintenance
• Identification and selection of plants
• Lawn and turf management
• Tree and shrub management
• Nursery management and plant propagation
• Soil management and soil amendments
• Fertilizers, manures and nutrient management
• Pest and disease identification and control
• Irrigation and water conservation
• Seasonal plantation planning
• Organic and sustainable horticulture
• Basic landscape design
• Horticulture machinery and equipment
• Horticulture budgeting and cost estimation
• Contractor/vendor management
• Basic MS Office/Excel and reporting

Behavioural Competencies

• Strong supervisory and team-management skills
• Good planning and organizational ability
• Attention to detail
• Problem-solving ability
• Ability to work outdoors and manage field operations
• Good communication and coordination skills
• Cost-conscious and resource-efficient approach
• Service-oriented attitude
• Ability to work under tight timelines during University events
• Commitment to environmental sustainability and campus aesthetics

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Performance may be evaluated against:

• Overall quality and appearance of campus landscape
• Lawn, tree and plant health
• Timely completion of seasonal plantation activities
• Plant survival rate
• Reduction in plant mortality and disease incidence
• Water consumption and water-saving initiatives
• Horticulture expenditure versus budget
• Manpower productivity and attendance
• Contractor/vendor performance
• Timely completion of maintenance activities
• Development of new green areas and biodiversity initiatives
• Reduction in chemical fertilizer/pesticide usage
• Cleanliness and proper disposal/composting of horticultural waste
• Compliance with safety and environmental procedures

Authority & Accountability

The Horticulturist will be accountable for the day-to-day horticultural condition of the Universitys campus and will have the authority, within approved budgets and University policies, to:

• Allocate horticulture manpower.
• Schedule routine horticultural activities.
• Recommend procurement of plants, materials and equipment.
• Recommend corrective action for poor contractor/staff performance.
• Recommend plantation and landscape improvements.
• Stop unsafe horticultural practices and report safety/environmental concerns to the appropriate authority.

Working Conditions

• The position involves regular field work across the University campus.
• The incumbent may be required to work beyond normal hours during major University events or urgent horticultural requirements.
• The role requires regular interaction with gardeners, supervisors, contractors, vendors, administration, engineering and other campus departments.