Operations Manager – Warm-Water Abalone Aquaculture

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Operations Manager to lead day‑to‑day activities of a specialised warm‑water abalone farm and hatchery in Mirbat, Dhofar, Oman. The role focuses on improving survival, growth and production performance while adapting husbandry practices to the region’s seasonal conditions.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and continuously improve abalone husbandry across hatchery and grow‑out phases, ensuring strong survival and growth outcomes.
• Manage water quality, nutrition, stocking, animal health, bio‑security and the biological production pipeline from juvenile to market size.
• Develop, document and standardise husbandry protocols tailored to Oman's warm‑water and monsoon cycles.
• Oversee farm, hatchery and technical/maintenance operations, establish operational metrics and production KPIs, and implement corrective actions based on data.
• Prepare and manage operational plans and budgets, monitor performance against financial and production targets, and report progress and risks to the CEO.
• Lead, motivate and develop the farm, hatchery and technical teams, conduct recruitment, performance reviews and resolve operational issues.
• Liaise with government authorities, research institutions and industry bodies to ensure regulatory compliance.

Required profile

• BSc in Aquaculture, Marine Biology or related field (post‑graduate qualification advantageous).
• At least 8 years of intensive aquaculture experience, including hands‑on warm‑water abalone hatchery and grow‑out operations.
• Proven track record of achieving high survival and growth rates in warm‑water conditions.
• Demonstrated experience in operational and team leadership.

Required skills

• Abalone husbandry
• Water‑quality management
• Nutrition and feeding protocols
• Animal health and disease control
• Bio‑security procedures
• Genetics handling