Senior Horticulture Manager

Job Title – Senior Horticulture Manager

Location – This role is based from the Staplehurst site, but responsible for both the Staplehurst and Gravesend site.

Salary – £38,000 - £43,000 depending on experience

About Our Client:

They operate two thriving Garden Centres based in Kent (Staplehurst and Gravesend) that are committed to delivering an exceptional customer experience. They sell not just beautiful plants, and everything needed for gardening, but also garden furniture, BBQs, gifts, clothes, homewares, food and more! They are leaders in their field in their efforts to promote eco-friendly gardening and are passionate about the environment.

Job Purpose:

To manage the Staplehurst Plant and Outdoor Areas, ensuring standards of quality, service, and merchandising, to support the achievement of the Company’s Business Plan, whilst exceeding the expectations of their customers and delivering the agreed sales targets.

To set the range of plants and suppliers and communicate this to the plant area managers across the company to ensure they source high quality plants at the best prices to suit their customer needs and to achieve required profit margins.

Being part of the Staplehurst Garden Centre Management team, to take responsibility for the unlocking, securing and safe running of the site in line with Company Procedures as Duty Manager.

Key Accountabilities:

1. Support and contribute to the achievement of budgeted company sales, margins, and contribution:

• Responsible for setting the range of plants and plant suppliers throughout the company and communicating this to all Plant Managers.
• Source high quality plants at the best prices to inspire their customers through a continually changing range of innovative offers and creative displays.
• Constantly monitor and review the achievement of set targets and through planning and control of budgets, stock and losses maximizes commercial potential.
• Source innovative and attractive offers for the members of the Millbrook family.
• Use the weekly plant conference call to support the Plant Managers in maximizing potential through identifying trends and maximizing sales opportunities.
• As Plant Manager at the Staplehurst site:
  • Ensure correct adherence to procedures for stock ordering including quality control and identifying shortages to control wastage levels.
  • Take responsibility for the standards and merchandising of the Outdoor area, which includes pots, statues, growing media and fencing to maximise commercial potential.
  • Challenge the plant team to meet company targets and ensure standards and product quality are met.

2. Develop a strategy for plant buying across the company that supports and helps deliver the Company Business Plan:

• Produce and deliver a Plant Buying Plan to support the delivery of the Company Business plan, using British and local growers where possible.
• Source and negotiate favourable terms and conditions with suppliers.
• Contribute to relevant projects to ensure that the Plant Buying plan continues to be developed alongside and compliments the Company Business plan.

3. Encourage and support the development of the team in the Staplehurst plant and outdoor areas:

• Support in recruitment, retention, training and performance of employees to ensure they are skilled and motivated to carry out the requirements of their roles.
• Ensure there is a training plan in place to support the team in the consistent delivery of Business Plan Objectives.
• Constantly find ways of improving your department and motivating your team to achieve agreed company targets and objectives.
• Promote staff ownership and accountability creating a positive and enjoyable working environment.

4. Manage consistency of plant standards and procedures at Staplehurst and provide guidance to Plant Managers at other sites:

• Use the merchandising and standards audits at Staplehurst and through the management teams ensure the standards are achieved at the other sites to ensure consistency.
• Through the weekly plant conference call, implement and deliver clear communication on company strategy and best practice between the sites.
• Driving the performance of the Outdoor Area which includes pots, statues, growing media and fencing to achieve standards of merchandising and quality to maximise commercial potential.

5. Contribute to Health and Safety of customers and employees:

• Oversee a safe working environment so company and legislative requirements are met at all times.

Key Performance Indicators:

1. Financial Targets Achieved:

• Sales and profit in line with company forecasts and agreed margin.
• Wages to sales targets achieved.
• Wastage targets achieved.

2. Customer Targets Achieved:

• Customer numbers and average spend achieved.
• GCA inspection targets achieved.

3. People Targets Achieved:

• Performance reviews carried out in line with Company Procedures.
• Absence managed in line with Company Procedures.
• Development and succession plan within the team achieved.

4. Standards Achieved:

• Achievement of agreed merchandising and plant quality standards.
• Health and safety standards achieved.
• Risk assessments and Safe Systems of Work followed throughout the team.

Apply with an up-to-date CV today.