Lead Grower/Nursery Manager

Morepeople 01780; Essex; On-site; GBP 38,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Bonus scheme

28 days' holiday including bank hols

Ownership of operation

Hands-on role

Exposure to senior leadership

Job summary

Morepeople 01780 is seeking a Lead Grower / Nursery Manager to run a thriving ornamental nursery in Essex. This hands-on leadership role focuses on delivering production plans for spring and summer, while guiding a growing team and ensuring quality and on-time delivery to garden centres.

You will own nursery operations, manage labour, and work closely with senior leadership to drive improvements and meet commercial demands with a practical, results-driven approach.

Qualifications

• Experience leading a commercial nursery operation.
• Proven ability to plan production to meet demand.
• Strong supervisory skills and staff development.
• Hands-on approach with ability to implement improvements.

Responsibilities

• Own day-to-day nursery operations and ensure production plans are met.
• Lead and develop the nursery team, including agency staff during peaks.
• Plan and organise labour for peak periods while maintaining efficiency.
• Monitor crop quality, timing and presentation to meet standards.
• Collaborate with the wider business to align production with customer needs.

Skills

Leadership

Production planning

Team management

Labour planning

Quality control

Stakeholder collaboration

Education

PA1

PA6

Job description

Lead Grower / Nursery Manager | Essex | £DOE

Do you love growing? This is an opportunity to take the lead at a thriving commercial nursery, driving crop production, leading a team and shaping the performance of a busy ornamental growing nursery.

This is a hands-on leadership role within a sizeable commercial growing operation, producing ornamental bedding plants, vegetables and traded material for its own garden centres. The nursery operates predominantly under glass, with moveable growing tables and a strong focus on efficient, consistent production.

The role:

As Lead Grower / Nursery Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the nursery and ensure production is delivered to plan, particularly through the key spring and summer growing periods.

What's on offer?

• Competitive salary
• Potential bonus scheme, dependent on company performance
• 28 days' holiday including bank holidays
• The opportunity to take genuine ownership of a commercial growing operation
• A hands-on role with scope to introduce new ideas and improve the way the site operates
• The opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and make a visible impact

You will be:

• Taking ownership of the nursery's growing and production activities.
• Following and delivering the agreed production plan, ensuring plants are ready to meet commercial demand.
• Leading and developing the nursery team, including agency staff during peak periods.
• Planning and organising labour effectively as the nursery moves into its busiest periods.
• Monitoring crop quality, timing and presentation to ensure the required standards are met.
• Working closely with the wider business and key stakeholders to ensure production meets customer and garden centre requirements.
• Helping to improve existing growing and operational practices, bringing new ideas and ways of working to the site.
• Supporting the business with purchasing, planning and the movement of young plants and other growing materials.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience working in a commercial nursery or growing operation.
• Experience of growing ornamental plants, bedding or similar crops.
• PA1 and PA6 qualifications.
• Previous supervisory, team leader or management experience.
• Good understanding of commercial production and the importance of meeting demand, quality and deadlines.
• The ability to understand the connection between growing, customer requirements and the commercial side of the business.
• A practical, hands-on approach and a willingness to get stuck in.
• A down-to-earth, personable approach with the ability to build strong relationships across the business.