Assistant Category Manager, Seasonal Plants

Sheridan Nurseries Limited; Halton Hills; On-site; CAD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

Sheridan Nurseries Limited is seeking an Assistant Category Manager for Seasonal Plants to lead buying strategies, merchandising programs and marketing plans under the guidance of the Green Goods Category Manager. This permanent, full-time role focuses on Seasonal Plants, with responsibility for Tropical and Flowering Houseplants.

You will drive inventory planning, supplier relationships and category performance analysis, ensuring strong in-store and online presence and collaboration with

Qualifications

• University or College degree required.
• Horticultural experience is preferred.
• Experience in strategic analysis, margin planning, open to buy and inventory productivity measures.
• Ability to analyse assortment planning and elements of markup.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to negotiate and interact with various management levels.
• Product knowledge is an asset; travel to trade shows may be required.

Responsibilities

• Develops buying strategies, merchandise programs and marketing plans.
• Monitors category performance and provides improvement strategies.
• Lead on Tropical and Flowering Houseplants categories.
• Analyze category performance and provide opportunities.
• Assist in budgeting and open-to-buy planning.
• Collaborate with Merchandising and Inventory teams.

Skills

Strategic analysis

Margin planning

Open to buy

Inventory productivity

Assortment planning

Markup concepts

Excellent communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Product knowledge

Management level communication

Multitasking

Travel to trade shows

Education

University or College degree

Job description

Assistant Category Manager, Seasonal Plants

Job Description

Posted Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 4:00 AM

Sheridan NurseriesHead Officeis actively searching for:

Assistant Category Manager, Seasonal Plants

Permanent, Full Time

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Assistant Category Manager is accountable for achieving sales and profit objectives for the Seasonal Plant categories, under the direction of the Green Goods Category Manager. Responsibilities include the development and successful implementation of buying strategies, merchandise programs and marketing plans as well as incorporating competitive intelligence based on customer insights, analyze category performance and provide strategies to improve performance. The Assistant Category Manager will be taking the lead on the Tropical and Flowering Houseplants categories under the supervision of the Category Manager.

GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Monitors industry trends, evaluates competition, and attends vendor meetings.
• Supports the Category Manager to develop the merchandise strategy, including product selection and key item sourcing and development across all Green Goods categories as required.
• Ensure that new items are set up properly in the item database.
• Develops and reviews sales unit performance analysis for opportunities.
• Assists in conducting the monthly/quarterly reviews.
• Responsible for logistics management, both internal and external.
• Participate in garden centre and competition store visits.
• Provides information and assists in floor space strategies and opportunities with the Retail Merchandiser.

Purchasing:

• Assists in analyzing category performance and provides recommendations for category success to the Category Manager.
• Manages the timely placement and maintenance of purchase orders.
• Develop a plan and work back schedules for all seasons
• Responsible for inventory flow through in the Tropical Facility
• Ensures assortment planning best practices and allocation strategies.
• Provides information for, reviews, and assists in the development of the assortment and buy plan.
• Monitors and provide feedback for order flow recommendations.
• Provides information for the identification of distribution and vendor logistics opportunities.
• Inspects and resolves issues with data integrity (reporting systems).
• Manages the setting up of items designated for Ecommerce uploads.
• Develops and regularly reassesses replenishment assortment, financial plans and open to buy with Inventory Manager and replenishment analyst.
• Monitors inventory productivity and analyze vendor profitability.
• Reviews departmental sales and inventory level, providing recommendations.
• Manages and assists in building department plans/budgets by month.
• Develops, presents and gains buy in on category strategy and business planning.
• Participates in the monthly business reviews of departmental financial results.

Pricing and Marketing:

• Supports product selection for all advertising and marketing.
• Develops and executes aged inventory exit strategies
• Develop market price retail price strategy for assigned categories and provide target markup analysis and guidelines which are applied to buying decisions; recommending and approving item price changes; ensuring that price changes are input in a timely manner; evaluating financial impact of price changes.
• Manages in-stock on promotional items and ensures the communication of in-stock issues to stores.
• Owns online presence
• Oversee appropriate in-store signage

People Development:

• Participates in skills training and development.
• Participates in the team's activities and helps to support and develop a teamwork atmosphere.
• Provides leadership and guidance to Seasonal Plant Supervisors and Assistant Store Managers with regards to purchasing decisions, seasonal assortment, and inventory levels.
• Leads the management and development of the Tropical Facility team

KEY COMPETENCIES:

• Business Insight – applying knowledge of business and the marketplace to advance the organizations goals.
• Customer focused by building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.
• Drive Results by consistently achieving results even under tough circumstances.
• Cultivates Innovation by creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.
• Action oriented – take on new responsibilities with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm.
• Building Collaborative Relationships with others to meet shared objectives.
• Communicate effectively with honesty and transparency, and actively listen to others.

SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:

• University or College degree
• Horticultural experience is preferred
• Experience in strategic analysis, knowledge of margin planning, open to buy, inventory productivity measures, assortment planning and elements of markup.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to negotiate
• Product knowledge an asset
• Ability to communicate with various levels of management.
• Ability to adapt and prioritize multiple tasks and situations.
• Ability to travel to trade shows

Wage Range: $50,000 - $70,000

Our Vision, Mission, & Values:

At Sheridan Nurseries we aim to delight our associates, guests, and business partners in everything we do. Independently owned and operated for over 100 years, we are committed to growing the highest quality plants at our local farms, curating the best-in-class home, garden, and lifestyle products and services, delivering unrivaled guest service and satisfaction, and providing meaningful and rewarding careers to our employees. We always strive to inspire and share our knowledge, passion, and expertise to build confidence, loyalty, and trust, while protecting our planet with industry leading environmentally sustainable initiatives and giving back to our local communities and charities.

Our vision is “To inspire people to never stop growing”.

At Sheridan we seek people who will continually strengthen our culture. We work hard to ensure our culture is something we feel proud of and allows us to bring our best selves to work every day.And a great culture starts with values.We have clearly defined values which are embedded in everything that we do so that they are lived and breathed daily.

Our Vision, Mission & Values;

At Sheridan Nurseries we aim to delight our associates, guests, and business partners in everything we do. Independently owned and operated for over 100 years, we are committed to growing the highest quality plants at our local farms, curating the best-in-class home, garden, and lifestyle products and services, delivering unrivaled guest service and satisfaction, and providing meaningful and rewarding careers to our employees. We always strive to inspire and share our knowledge, passion, and expertise to build confidence, loyalty, and trust, while protecting our planet with industry leading environmentally sustainable initiatives and giving back to our local communities and charities.

Our vision is “To inspire people to never stop growing”.

At Sheridan we seek people who will continually strengthen our culture. We work hard to ensure our culture is something we feel proud of and allows us to bring our best selves to work every day.And a great culture starts with values.We have clearly defined values which are embedded in everything that we do so that they are lived and breathed daily.

If you share our values of:

• Doing what’s right
• Being performance driven
• Learning and together
• Being externally focused
• Having bias for action

This job posting is for an existing vacancy within our organization.