Horticulture Branch Manager

Rentokil Initial; Reading; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Urban Planters in Reading seeks a Branch Manager to run the branch’s day-to-day operations, drive revenue and profit targets, and lead a team of technicians and administrative staff in a split office/field role.

You will report to the Head of Operations, recruit and coach staff, drive sales growth while maintaining margins, and ensure health, safety and compliance across the branch.”

Qualifications

• Prior training or experience within a similar industry (Essential)
• Experience in budgeting and managing resources
• Experience in business-to-business service / customer relationships

Responsibilities

• Oversee staff recruitment, absences, and HR responsibilities.
• Meet contractual obligations and service targets; ensure quality delivery.
• Support technicians in meeting customer needs and promoting services.
• Provide training, coaching, and performance reviews for maintenance and installation teams.
• Manage branch profitability, routes, and cost control.
• Ensure health, safety and environment compliance and risk management.
• Recruit admin staff and maintain appropriate systems and processes.

Skills

Good IT skills

Clear and effective communication

Customer service excellence

Time management under pressure

Driving licence (6 points max)

Education

Prior training or experience in a similar industry

Job description

Urban Planters - Branch Manager

Location:Reading

Contract: 37.5 hours per week, Maternity Cover Contract.

Reporting To: Head of Operations

The Role:

Responsible for overall running of the branch including ensuring that the branch meets annual revenue and profit targets. The branch manager oversees a team, including Service Supervisor, Maintenance Technicians, Installation Technicians and Administrators, to ensure the delivery of high-quality services to customers within the branch, as well as the Health, Safety and wellbeing of all staff and Customers. Branch manager is responsible for recruiting, motivating and managing the entire branch. The branch manager will support driving sales growth through engaging technicians in leads to promote both existing and new business opportunities whilst maintaining a sustainable margin. This role is a split office and field-based management position.

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:

Staff Management:

• Oversee staff recruitment, absences, and HR responsibilities.
• Ensure the team meets contractual obligations and service targets.
• Support Local Technicians in meeting customer plant needs and promoting additional services and products.
• Provide training, coaching, field accompaniment, performance reviews, and team meetings for Maintenance and Installation Technicians.
• Support with retaining relationships with high profile customers across the branch territory by conducting reviews where required with Business Development Managers/Key Account Managers.

Service Responsibilities

• Monitor and manage profit and loss responsibilities.
• Work to meet deadlines and customer expectations.
• Ensure service resources are available to meet the contractual and ad hoc needs of our customers
• Regularly review service routes to optimise profitability per technician.
• Recruit the service team to budgeted headcount and ensure adequate training and management support is given to minimise service churn.
• Directly line manage installation team and support service supervisor to directly line manage maintenance technicians within the branch.
• Set targets for the service team and manage performance against agreed KPIs.
• Ensure compliance with business instructions related to the health and safety of staff, customers, site contractors, the public, and the environment.
• Manage relationships with third party suppliers to ensure they adequately meet the needs of the branch operation.
• Analysing data to reduce risk and make informed decisions.

Administration

• Recruit the admin team to budgeted headcount and ensure adequate training and management support is given to minimise admin churn.
• Ensure the branch operation adheres to the divisional H&S management system and risk control systems.
• Ensure the branch adheres to the plant passport process to comply with legislation.

Other Duties:

• Perform any reasonable duties that may arise in the course of the job.

Requirements:

Required Experience:

• Experienced in managing and controlling budgets.
• Knowledge and experienced in planning, and ensuring contingency plans are in place to deal with unforeseen issues
• Skilled in managing large and unpredictable workloads
• Experienced in business to business service / customer relationships
• Management or supervisory experience for a minimum of 2 years.
• Skilled in managing and motivating people and utilising resources effectively
• Previous experience working within similar industry

Required Competencies:

Key Competencies:

• Delivers Results
• Acts Commercially
• Manages Self
• Coach and develop
• Display Leadership
• Work with Others

Skills:

• Good IT skills
• Clear and effective communication skills
• Demonstrates excellent customer service skills
• Ability to work well under pressure and meet business targets
• Holds a driving licence with up to a maximum of 6 points on the driving licence.

Personality:

• Has a passion for plants and what plants can do for our customers
• Resilient
• Self-confident
• Maintains a positive attitude
• Excellent problem solver
• Takes pride in their work
• Helpful and adaptable
• Displays a sense of humour

Image:

• Presents themselves in a well-groomed and smart manner.

Personal Circumstances:

• Holds a driving licence with up to a maximum of 6 points on the driving licence.
• Willingness to engage in ongoing development.
• Ability to work flexibly, including evenings, overnight and weekends to meet business needs.

Formal Education, Qualifications or Training - Essential and Desirable

Prior training or experience within a similar industry (Essential)

Benefits:

All salary and benefits will be discussed at the application stage with the Hiring Manager.