Farm Operations Lead

About the role

Zarina Enterprises is expanding its chilli cultivation in the dry zone of Sri Lanka and needs a hands‑on leader to manage the farm from nursery to harvest. The Farm Operations Lead will work daily on site, making quick decisions, supervising labour, and ensuring high‑quality yields.

Key responsibilities

• Lead day‑to‑day chilli farm activities from nursery stage through harvest.
• Plan and execute nursery management, transplanting, bed preparation, mulching, irrigation, fertilisation and crop protection.
• Monitor plant health and respond promptly to pest, disease, nutrient or irrigation issues.
• Manage field labour, supervisors and daily work plans, ensuring timely completion of tasks.
• Track crop progress, expected yield, actual harvest and field losses.
• Collaborate with management to improve productivity, reduce waste and maintain cost discipline.
• Support harvest planning, grading and post‑harvest handling.
• Maintain clear field records and provide weekly updates.

Required profile

• Minimum 3 years of hands‑on chilli cultivation experience in Sri Lanka.
• Direct responsibility for full chilli crop cycles, including nursery, transplanting, irrigation, fertilisation, pest and disease control and harvesting.
• Experience working in dry‑zone or intermediate‑zone conditions.
• Willingness to work full‑time on site in Puttalam and be fully accountable for field execution and crop performance.

Required skills

• Drip irrigation
• Fertigation
• Nursery management
• Transplanting techniques
• Crop protection (pest and disease control)
• Yield tracking and performance analysis