Project Expansion Manager

Job Description : EXPANSION PROJECT MANAGER UAE Pure Harvest Smart Farms is a UAE-based, high-tech agriculture start-up. We develop and operate high-tech, climate-controlled farms to grow a variety of crops and sell our products directly into the markets in which we operate. In early-2018 we successfully deployed our first-ever farm in Nahel, Al Ain growing a wide variety of flavourful tomatoes that “Taste Like They Should TM”. Our products are selling-out at major retailers in the UAE and are consumed at an assortment of elite restaurants & hotels. Our brand is associated with incredibly tasty produce and we are quickly building a loyal and vocal customer base. We are now expanding into new crops (strawberries and leafy greens) and into new geographies (Saudi Arabia, Kuwait). Technology, data, and innovation are core to our ethos, and we aim to redefine the Middle Eastern agricultural sector. We are passionate about what we do, and we are believers in the growth potential of the company. Our team is multi-cultural (American, European, African, Middle Eastern, South Asian), and our backgrounds diverse (horticulture, engineering, private equity, management consulting, retail, marketing, etc.). Never a boring day at Pure Harvest. In recognition of regional vulnerabilities associated with food import dependence, water scarcity and sustainability, Pure Harvest is committed to resource efficiency and to overcoming climate challenges to affordably deliver premium quality fresh produce to the Middle East. Job Description WHO YOU ARE You are responsible to manage the Company’s new farm construction projects. Your role is truly dynamic + demanding – you are a key member of the company’s management team and work closely with the executives to overcome existing challenges and build a successful business. Your primary responsibility will be to support the company’s expansion projects and work with the VP Growth and expansion team to oversee the deployment of new facilities & launch new markets. You will be the central point of coordination in your designated project/market, owning project timeline, budget, and overall success. You will develop a deep understanding of high-tech agriculture and smart farming. You enjoy challenges, are flexible, can work long/ irregular hours (when required), and you can deal with ambiguity/ ever-changing demands on your time & productive capacity. You want to be an owner (stock options/ long-term incentive compensation) and you are eager to learn and develop in a fast-growing start-up. You seek mentorship from an experienced leadership team to support you to achieve your full potential. Lastly, you hold a valid drivers’ license in good standing (commute to farms, regular travel required), and you are willing to relocate to and/ or spend extended periods of time at project sites across the GCC. FUNDAMENTAL RESPONSIBILITIES Relying on a thorough knowledge of the Company’s objectives and goals (as communicated by the CEO) and together with the direct support of VP Growth, your duties consist of the following non-exhaustive list of activities (in no particular order): Coordinate efforts between project stakeholders and vendors to ensure successful delivery of projects – on time, on budget and to highest possible quality standards Frequently visit or stay at the project site to inspect progress and represent company interests Identify and diligence potential project locations assessing all relevant inputs for successful project Develop and issue RFPs (Requests for Proposals) and run a tender process to procure various project services and equipment Qualify and select relevant construction partners or equipment suppliers based on overall project strategy Oversee and manage project progress and report regularly to company leadership Attend and verify all relevant project quality inspections and commissioning procedure Investigate and execute any project permitting or regulatory requirements Develop and maintain project budget, tracking and managing invoices, payment certificates and change orders Establish a project baseline schedule, monitor and control overall project timeline Troubleshoot any challenges or roadblocks to project success (timeline, cost, and quality) Travel to the company’s operations internationally, as required YOUR COMPETENCIES – CRITERIA FOR SUCCESS Coordination and project management: Ability to manage multiple stakeholders across different industries and skill levels. Ability to simplify and map out vague/complex processes into an actionable work plan and manage/iterate on work plan through-out execution. “Scrappy”; you can do a lot with limited-to-no resources. No task is beneath you. Strong character able to stand-up for both yourself and the organization. You do what’s right first and you don’t take ‘no’ or ‘inshallah’ for an answer. Measured risk-taking and admitting when you fail (along with the reasons why). You then learn from failures to improve your performance & decision-making and you acquire respect. Clear communicator and over-communicating. Regularly update working groups with the latest developments to keep everyone in sync. Task to project ownership Complete ownership over your work and ability to work independently without the need for regular supervision. Owning up to problems imposed on you despite not being your fault. Highly self-motivated. You prioritize aggressively and stay focused on the few things that will have the biggest impact on the business. Time management Strong ability to work under pressure and potentially long and irregular working hours. Sensitive to time pressure and able to judge what is “good enough” to be delivered immediately versus striving for perfection. Attention to detail Impeccable attention to detail, high ethical adherence/integrity. “Safety first” mentality, resourcefulness, and self-motivation. Problem-solving Ability to frame complicated problems/ situations. Ability to dig deep into a problem and invest time and effort to fully understand. Make decisions based on data-driven rigorous analysis. Personality A force of positivity for your team and for the company. Humble character and team-player. Intellectually curious, eager to learn and grow. Demonstration of commitment to the company’s success (out-of-scope work, long/ irregular hours, quashing ‘fires’, etc.). Qualifications Minimum 8 years' experience in construction management, project management, engineering, operations, or entrepreneurship. Must have had an executive-facing role (internal or external) and be an accomplished general business 'athlete'. Advanced degree (Bachelor's or higher) in engineering, data science, economics, finance, or related fields. MBA a plus (not required). Willingness to relocate or travel extensively to project sites (commute support negotiable). Fluent in English, Arabic or Urdu/Hindi is a plus. Mastery of Excel and Power Point required. Data analysis tools like MySQL, R, and T

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