Garden Centre Manager

Role Title: Garden Centre Manager

Purpose of the Role

The Garden Centre Manager is responsible for driving sales growth, maximizing profitability, supervising the garden centre team, and continuously improving both the garden centre and the wider site. Working closely with the Store Manager, the Garden Centre Manager supports day-to-day store operations, ensuring excellence across sales, customer experience, health and safety, stock management, and overall performance. The role also includes deputizing for the Store Manager when required.

Key Responsibilities

Health & Safety

• Lead a "Zero Harm" culture within the garden centre, ensuring all safety procedures are understood, followed, and continuously improved.

• Identify and resolve safety risks promptly, upholding site safety governance and compliance.

• Ensure team members receive full Health & Safety training in line with the company's standards.

• Enforce the use of required PPE and ensure all incidents, accidents, or observations are properly reported and documented.

People Management

• Lead by example, demonstrating professionalism, commitment, safety awareness, and a strong customer focus.

• Supervise, train, and develop the garden centre team to ensure they are engaged, competent, and motivated.

• Allocate daily tasks effectively, ensuring efficient coverage of key service areas.

• Participate in performance management and learning & development activities to support both individual and team growth.

• Carry out full supervisory and keyholder responsibilities, supporting overall site management and operations.

Sales & Performance

• Meet and exceed agreed sales targets and KPIs for the garden centre.

• Analyse sales performance by category versus budget, and develop strategies to improve results and profitability.

• Identify and capitalise on opportunities to grow sales and expand the customer base.

• Build and maintain a motivated, high-performing sales team that delivers excellent customer service.

• Stay informed about market trends and competitor activity to maintain a competitive edge.

Customer Experience

• Deliver an outstanding customer experience that aligns with the company's service standards.

• Resolve customer queries efficiently and ensure issues are followed up in collaboration with the Branch Manager.

• Maintain strong stock availability, ensuring accurate control, ordering, and presentation of all garden centre products.

Administration & Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with company policies, procedures, and legislative requirements.

• Support the management of budgets, wage costs, and cash control in line with financial standards.

• Complete daily and weekly operational checklists in partnership with the Branch Manager.

• Coordinate and oversee stock counts as required.

• Assist with purchase orders, returns, refunds, and cash reconciliations in line with company guidelines.

Note: While these are the core responsibilities of your role, additional reasonable duties may be assigned as required. All employees are expected to uphold Environmental, Health & Safety, and Quality standards in every aspect of their work.

Key Skills and Competencies

• Strong ability to control and analyse sales performance versus budget.

• Proven capability to deliver cost-effective services that maximise sales.

• Excellent leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills.

• Strong organisational, planning, and time management abilities.

• High attention to detail and strong analytical skills.

• Confident managing daily operations and deputising for the Branch Manager when needed.

• Proactive, solution-oriented mindset with initiative and flexibility.

• Commercially aware with strong business acumen.

• Adaptable and resilient, able to perform effectively in a fast-paced environment.

Role Structure & Requirements

• Reports To: Retail Store Manager

• Direct Reports: Retail Sales Assistants

• Location: As per job advertisement

• Qualification Required: Relevant horticultural qualification (essential).

• Experience Required: Minimum of 5 years' relevant experience, including people management.

• Other Requirements:

  • Strong commercial awareness and understanding of retail performance.

  • Proven ability to deliver excellent customer experiences that drive sales.

  • Proficient IT skills (Excel, Email, POS systems).

  • Flexibility to work weekends, including Sundays and Bank Holidays.

  • Resilience under pressure with strong problem-solving skills.

  • Collaborative team player with a record of meeting personal and team objectives.

Key Stakeholder Relationships

• Garden Centre Team

• Store Manager and Retail Operations

• Purchasing and Marketing Departments