Nursery Manager - Pistachios

Company Description

Karoo Pistachios cultivates Desert Emerald™ pistachios, a distinctive premium nut grown in the extraordinary arid landscape of the Karoo, Northern Cape, South Africa. Our pistachios are known for their exceptional flavour, vibrant green kernel, and impressive size — characteristics shaped by the region’s extreme climate.

We are building a world-class pistachio industry in the Karoo, combining modern agricultural science with long-term stewardship of the land. Every pistachio reflects our commitment to quality, sustainability, and craftmanship.

Karoo Pistachios is part of a broader vision to develop a globally recognised agricultural product of origin, creating opportunity, skills, and long-term value for the region.

We invite people who share this vision to be part of building something truly exceptional.

This is a full-time, on-site role based in Prieska, Northern Cape, for a Nursery Manager – Pistachios.

The Nursery Manager will be responsible for the establishment, management, and development of the pistachio nursery, which forms the foundation of our orchard expansion program. The role requires oversight of all nursery operations, including plant propagation, rootstock and budding programs, irrigation management, staff supervision, and implementation of strict phytosanitary and quality control protocols.

The Nursery Manager will play a key role in ensuring that all trees produced meet the highest standards required for commercial pistachio production and long-term orchard performance.

• Managing all nursery operations and production planning
• Supervising and training nursery staff
• Overseeing rootstock production, budding, grafting, and plant handling
• Managing irrigation, nutrition, and plant health programs
• Maintaining accurate nursery records and traceability systems
• Ensuring compliance with agricultural, safety, and biosecurity standards
• Managing nursery infrastructure and equipment
• Working closely with orchard and technical teams
• Implementing continuous improvement and best practices

• Degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Plant Science, or related field
• Proven experience in nursery management or plant production
• Strong leadership and organisational skills
• Ability to manage teams and work in a structured production environment
• Good communication skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of irrigation, plant nutrition, and plant health management
• Familiarity with agricultural best practices and record-keeping systems
• Experience with pistachios, tree crops, or perennial crops will be advantageous
• Willingness to live and work in a rural environment

• Passion for building new agricultural industries
• High level of responsibility and ownership
• Practical, hands-on approach
• Ability to work in a growing and dynamic organisation
• Commitment to quality and long-term thinking
• Ability to start as soon as possible

This position offers the opportunity to be part of building one of the most exciting new agricultural industries in South Africa, with the potential to shape the future of pistachio production in the Southern Hemisphere.