Operations Manager – Aquaculture

1. Warm-Water Abalone Husbandry Lead and continuously improve warm-water abalone husbandry practices across hatchery and grow-out operations. Develop strategies to optimise abalone survival, growth, health, and production performance. Manage abalone production through Oman's seasonal environmental changes, including warmer months and the Khareef season. Monitor and optimise environmental conditions affecting abalone health and productivity. Develop, document, implement, and standardise husbandry protocols suitable for warm-water and seasonally variable conditions. Ensure biological pipeline integrity from juvenile production through to market-size abalone. Establish best practices for stocking density, feeding, nutrition, growth monitoring, and animal health. Continuously evaluate and improve production techniques based on operational data and biological performance. 2. Farm and Hatchery Operations Manage the overall day-to-day operations of the abalone farm and hatchery. Ensure efficient coordination between hatchery, grow-out, technical, and maintenance teams. Develop daily, weekly, monthly, and annual operational plans. Monitor production activities and ensure operations are aligned with agreed production targets. Maintain consistent operational standards across all farming stages. Identify operational bottlenecks and implement improvements to increase productivity and efficiency. Ensure proper maintenance and utilisation of farming infrastructure and equipment. Coordinate closely with technical and maintenance teams to minimise operational disruptions. Support infrastructure improvements and operational innovation. 3. Water Quality and Environmental Management Monitor and manage critical water-quality parameters affecting abalone production. Develop and implement effective water-quality monitoring systems. Analyse environmental data and identify potential risks to stock health. Develop corrective measures when water-quality conditions deviate from acceptable ranges. Optimise husbandry practices based on seasonal water temperature and environmental changes. Ensure appropriate water management practices across hatchery and grow-out facilities. Maintain accurate records of environmental and water-quality parameters. 4. Nutrition and Feed Management Develop and oversee feeding and nutrition programs appropriate for different stages of abalone growth. Monitor feed quality, consumption, and conversion efficiency. Optimise feeding practices to improve growth performance and reduce waste. Coordinate with suppliers and technical teams regarding feed availability and quality. Evaluate opportunities to improve nutrition strategies and feeding systems. Monitor the relationship between nutrition, growth performance, survival, and overall production efficiency. 5. Animal Health and Biosecurity Establish and maintain strong animal health monitoring programs. Implement effective disease prevention and biosecurity protocols. Monitor stock health and identify early signs of disease or stress. Develop response plans for biological and health-related risks. Ensure appropriate quarantine and biosecurity procedures are followed. Maintain accurate health and mortality records. Coordinate with external experts, laboratories, and research institutions when required. Continuously improve disease prevention and stock management practices. 6. Production Planning and Performance Management Develop and manage production plans aligned with company objectives. Establish measurable operational and biological KPIs. Monitor production performance against agreed targets. Analyse survival rates, growth rates, mortality, feed performance, and production output. Identify performance gaps and implement corrective actions. Use production data to support operational decision-making. Ensure accurate forecasting of production volumes and timelines. Prepare regular operational performance reports for senior management. 7. Operational Systems and Standardisation Develop and implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) across farm and hatchery operations. Standardise operational metrics, data collection methods, and reporting systems. Ensure consistency in husbandry and production practices across teams. Improve operational efficiency through process improvement initiatives. Introduce systems to improve monitoring, traceability, and production control. Develop operational manuals and technical guidelines. Drive a culture of continuous improvement and operational excellence. 8. Budgeting and Cost Management Develop operational budgets in collaboration with senior management. Monitor operational expenditure and ensure activities remain within approved budgets. Identify opportunities for cost optimisation without compromising biological performance or quality. Track resource utilisation, feed costs, labour costs, maintenance expenses, and operational expenditure. Analyse deviations from budget and implement corrective actions. Support long-term operational and infrastructure planning. 9. Team Leadership and Development Lead, manage, and motivate farm, hatchery, technical, and maintenance teams. Establish clear responsibilities, performance expectations, and accountability structures. Recruit, train, mentor, and develop operational staff. Transfer specialised warm-water abalone husbandry knowledge to local teams. Conduct regular performance reviews and provide constructive feedback. Build technical capability across the organisation. Foster a culture of discipline, safety, accountability, and continuous learning. Resolve operational and people-related challenges effectively. Ensure effective communication and coordination between departments. 10. Maintenance and Infrastructure Coordination Work closely with technical and maintenance teams to ensure operational infrastructure remains reliable. Identify infrastructure limitations affecting production performance. Support planning and implementation of equipment upgrades and farm improvements. Ensure preventive maintenance programs are followed. Minimise operational downtime caused by equipment or infrastructure failures. Recommend technology and infrastructure improvements to support future growth. 11. Regulatory and Stakeholder Management Ensure compliance with applicable aquaculture, environmental, health, and regulatory requirements. Coordinate with relevant government authorities, ministries, municipalities, and regulatory bodies. Represent the company in operational discussions with external stakeholders. Build relationships with academic institutions, research organisations, and industry partners. Support inspections, audits, certifications, and regulatory reporting. Ensure all operational documentation meets statutory requirements. 12. Reporting and Management Communication Provide regular operational updates to the CEO. Prepare weekly, monthly, and quarterly reports covering: Production performance Survival rates Growth performance Mortality Water quality Feed performance Operational risks Budget performance Infrastructure requirements Team performance Identify critical risks and escalate issues promptly. Provide data-driven recommendations to improve operational performance. Participate in strategic planning and business development discussions where required.