Senior Director, Global Research Nursery

About the Opportunity

The Senior Director of Global Research Nursery leads the strategic development and execution of Driscoll’s global research nursery operations, ensuring worldclass enablement of breeding and research programs across multiple geographies. This role oversees a diverse network of internal facilities and external partners, responsible for delivering high quality plant material on time, on spec, on cost and on purpose. The Senior Director drives continuous improvement by expanding successful nursery operating procedures through the Global Research Nursery Network, developing a technology roadmap that enhances efficiency and data collection, and ensuring rigorous clean stock and foundation standards.

A deep understanding of production systems, plant types, and global research needs is essential, enabling the transformation of strategy into operational excellence while protecting Driscoll’s proprietary materials and information.

This leader brings extensive horticultural expertise—12+ years in greenhouse, nursery, or tissue culture operations, including multisite leadership—and exceptional people development skills. They guide cross‑functional teams, manage complex budgets, and collaborate closely with global technology transfer and R&D teams. The role requires an entrepreneurial mindset, comfort with ambiguity, and strong communication and mentoring capabilities. As an active member of the Global R&D Management Team, the Senior Director, Global Research Nursery fosters innovation, develops talent across the enterprise, and helps position Driscoll’s for long‑term growth in an increasingly sophisticated global nursery landscape.

This job description is intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by employees in this job. It is not an exhaustive list of all the job's responsibilities. At Driscoll’s, all of our jobs include broad responsibilities for continually improving the processes we use to develop our products.

• Develop and implement Research Nursery strategies for all Global R&D breeding and research programs and execute those strategies across a network of organizations and facilities, including direct management and partnerships.
• Expand successful programs to other research nursery organizations, continuously improving outcomes and efficiencies, and preparing for Driscoll’s projected growth.
• Oversee R&D optimized global plant movement, adhering to regulatory directives and maximizing genetic fit across countries, sites, crops, and plant types.
• Manage Cleanstock and Foundation execution for R&D and ensure hand‑off to commercial nursery partners is robust, efficient and adheres to the highest clean stock principles.
• Develop and drive a technology roadmap for the R&D Nursery Network focused on efficiencies and relevant data collection.
• Provide leadership and development for regional nursery leaders, site managers, and technical teams, building organizational capabilities through formal and informal structures across the Enterprise.
• Partner with the Global Technology Transfer Team to support deployment of technologies and information to growers globally.
• Maintain a deep understanding of Driscoll’s breeding and research programs, production systems and environments, identifying plant types and solutions that augment the genetic value of Driscoll’s cultivars.
• Develop strategies to provide foundational knowledge to regional nurseries.
• Actively participate in the Global R&D Management Team.
• Ensure the security of Driscoll’s confidential and proprietary information and materials.
• Oversee operational budgets for research nursery activities and participate in capital planning for nursery infrastructure and systems.

• 12+ years of work experience in the horticultural industry, with a demonstrated background in leading greenhouse, nursery, tissue culture labs or related operations, and at least 3 years leading a multi‑site operation.
• Robust experience leading people and developing leaders.
• Track record of successfully directing, managing and motivating employees and project teams.
• Experience managing budgets and annual operational plans, and overseeing…