Garden Centre Manager

MorePeople; Stratford-upon-Avon; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Friendly working environment

Job summary

MorePeople is representing a small but high-potential garden centre within one of the UK’s largest garden centre groups. The Garden Centre Manager will take ownership of a feeder site, drive commercial performance and lead a capable team with strong supervision.

The role focuses on delivering excellent customer experience, strong KPIs, and developing staff on a busy shop floor. Immediate start is available as the current manager relocates.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a small retail team and managing store performance.
• Proven ability to drive KPIs, sales and customer standards.

Responsibilities

• Lead commercial, operational and people performance of the centre.
• Oversee a team of ~15 including Deputy Manager.
• Collaborate with Horticultural Manager and supervisors to support people management.
• Drive retail standards, visual merchandising and customer experience.
• Maintain hands-on, shop-floor leadership and frontline decision-making.
• Manage rotas, recruitment, performance and day-to-day operations.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety and operational procedures.
• Shape the centre’s next phase of development.

Skills

Retail leadership

Team management

KPI driven

Hands-on manager

Job description

Salary: flexible for the right candidate

Great progression prospects

This is a great opportunity to take on the management of a small but high-potential garden centre within one of the UK’s largest garden centre groups. The site has a strong horticultural focus, a capable team, and plenty of room to grow turnover through stronger commercial leadership and improved retail execution.
This vacancy has arisen as the current Garden Centre Manager is relocating, so the business is looking for someone who can step in quickly and take ownership of the site.
This centre operates as a feeder site for the wider group - a place where strong Assistant Managers or experienced Department Managers can step up, prove themselves as a Garden Centre Manager, and progress into larger, higher-profile centres once they've demonstrated capability.

What you’ll be doing:

As Garden Centre Manager, you'll lead the commercial, operational and people performance of the centre, ensuring consistent standards and a strong customer experience.

Key responsibilities include:

• Full accountability for sales, KPIs and commercial performance, with clear potential to grow turnover.
• Leading and developing a team of 15, including a strong Deputy Manager who benefits from structure and direction.
• Working closely with the Horticultural Manager and two supervisors - excellent plant knowledge in the team, but they need support with people management.
• Driving retail standards, VM and customer experience across a slightly tired but high-opportunity site.
• Maintaining a hands-on, shop-floor presence and leading from the front.
• Managing rotas, recruitment, performance and day-to-day operations.
• Ensuring compliance with all health & safety and operational procedures.
• Playing a key role in shaping the centre’s next phase of development.

What they’re looking for:

• A commercially minded retail leader with experience managing a team.
• Someone who brings structure, pace and consistency to a small site.
• Confidence working with KPIs and driving sales performance.
• A hands-on, practical manager who thrives on the shop floor.
• Garden centre experience preferred, but they will also consider candidates from DIY or Pet retail backgrounds.
• Ideal for a strong Assistant Manager or high-performing Department Manager ready to step into full site responsibility.
• A genuine step-up opportunity within a major UK garden centre group.
• A feeder site designed to develop future managers – strong performers progress quickly to larger centres.
• Real scope to improve the centre and make a visible impact.
• Supportive team structure with strong supervisors already in place.
• Competitive salary, free onsite parking and a friendly working environment.
• Immediate start available due to the current manager relocating in the coming weeks.