Scientific Officer : Nursery Setup and Management

The Scientific Officer - Nursery Setup and Management will be responsible for planning, establishing, and managing high-tech nurseries, including modern plant propagation facilities, tissue culture laboratories, and related infrastructure. The role involves applying advanced scientific and technical knowledge to develop scalable, climate-resilient nurseries that support agroforestry, horticulture, and sustainable agriculture programs.

Key Responsibilities

• Nursery Planning & Establishment

• Design and set up hi-tech nurseries with greenhouse/polyhouse systems, mist chambers, shade houses, and automated irrigation/fertigation systems.
• Develop standard operating procedures (SOPs) for seedling production, grafting, and micropropagation.
• Select and procure appropriate technologies, equipment, and planting material.

• Tissue Culture Laboratory Management

• Plan and oversee tissue culture lab setup (laminar airflow units, autoclaves, incubators, culture rooms, media preparation).
• Establish protocols for in vitro propagation of priority crops, forestry species, and ornamentals.
• Monitor contamination control, growth conditions, and quality assurance for plantlets.

• Technical & Scientific Oversight

• Conduct trials on new propagation techniques, plant varieties, and disease management practices.
• Collaborate with universities, ICAR institutes, and research organizations for technical validation.
• Train field staff, nursery managers, and community groups in advanced nursery practices.

• Operational Management

• Supervise day-to-day nursery operations, including production targets, quality checks, and record-keeping.
• Ensure compliance with biosecurity, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Manage budgets, procurement, and vendor engagement for nursery inputs and lab consumables.

• Sustainability & Innovation

• Integrate renewable energy and climate-resilient technologies into nursery and lab operations.
• Develop models for large-scale nursery-based agroforestry, biodiversity restoration, and carbon credit generation.

Qualifications & Skills

• Masters/PhD in Botany, Horticulture, Forestry, Biotechnology, or Plant Sciences.
• Proven experience (58 years) in nursery establishment, tissue culture, or related plant propagation systems.
• Strong technical knowledge of greenhouse/polyhouse systems, irrigation/fertigation, plant health, and nursery economics.
• Experience in handling tissue culture protocols, contamination control, and lab management.
• Familiarity with vendors and suppliers of nursery and lab equipment.
• Excellent project management, documentation, and reporting skills.
• Ability to train and guide teams, farmers, and FPOs.

Interested candidates may send their CV, cover letter mentioning your present and expected salary to hr@vistaaragro.com with the subject line: Application Scientific Officer-Nursery Setup and Management