Horticulture Branch Manager

Rentokil Initial Group; Reading; Hybrid; GBP 42,000 - 64,000; Full time

Job summary

Urban Planters is seeking a Branch Manager in Reading to oversee daily operations, drive revenue targets, manage a multi-disciplinary team and ensure service excellence. This hybrid role combines field and office work, with responsibility for recruiting, coaching, scheduling and meeting contractual obligations.

The successful candidate will lead technicians, administrators and staff, maintain safety standards and foster relationships with key customers while supporting business growth and

Qualifications

• Experience in managing and controlling budgets.
• Ability to recruit, motivate and manage a branch team.
• Capacity to plan, prioritise and meet service targets.

Responsibilities

• Oversee branch running to meet annual revenue and profit targets.
• Lead service and admin teams and ensure high-quality customer service.
• Develop and implement staffing, training and performance management.
• Drive sales growth while maintaining sustainable margins.
• Ensure health and safety compliance across the branch.

Skills

Budget management

Staff management

Forecasting

Customer service

Leadership

Tools

Driving licence

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.

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)

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