Plant Area Manager

MorePeople; Tees Valley; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 36,000; Full time

Job summary

MorePeople is assisting a leading UK garden centre group in recruiting a Plant Area Manager for its Middlesbrough operation. You will head the Outdoor Plants department, lead an experienced team and drive seasonal sales through strong horticultural standards, stock control and customer service.

You’ll join a fast-paced environment with training and progression opportunities within the group, reporting to the Garden Centre Manager and contributing to overall performance and targets.

Qualifications

• Strong plant knowledge gained through significant experience with outdoor plants.
• Supervisory or management experience within garden centre or horticultural retail.
• Ability to lead from the front and get the best from an established team.
• Commercial mindset with ability to translate horticultural standards into sales.
• Understanding of merchandising, stock management, seasonality and availability.
• Ambitious and keen to develop a career within garden centre management.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Outdoor Plants department and own its day-to-day performance.
• Manage, motivate and develop an established plant team.
• Maintain high standards of plant quality, care, presentation and merchandising.
• Drive sales and ensure the department performs commercially across seasons.
• Work with central buying to manage allocations, ordering and stock availability.
• Manage stock levels, rotation, wastage and sell-through.
• Plan seasonal displays and respond to weather, demand and stock changes.
• Ensure customers receive knowledgeable advice and excellent service.
• Collaborate with Garden Centre Manager and wider team to hit targets.

Skills

Plant knowledge

Leadership

Stock management

Merchandising

Customer service

Job description

Plant Area Manager

Location: Middlesbrough

Salary: Competitive DOE

Hours: 40 hours per week - alternate weekends

One of the UK's leading garden centre groups is looking for a Plant Area Manager to join one of its established centres.

This is a great opportunity for someone with strong plant knowledge and a commercial mindset who wants to take the next step in their career. You'll be joining an experienced, high-performing management team, with plenty of training and support to help you develop.

You’ll inherit a knowledgeable plant team and a busy, fast-paced department where strong retail standards, stock management and driving sales are just as important as knowing your plants.

The business is open to an existing Plant Area Manager or a strong Plant Supervisor/Team Leader ready to step up, with genuine opportunities to progress within the wider group.

The Role

• Leading the Outdoor Plants department and taking ownership of its day-to-day performance.
• Managing, motivating and developing an established plant team.
• Maintaining excellent standards of plant quality, care, presentation and merchandising.
• Driving sales and ensuring the department performs commercially throughout the seasons.
• Working with the central buying team to manage allocations, ordering and stock availability.
• Managing stock levels, rotation, wastage and sell-through.
• Planning seasonal displays and reacting quickly to changes in weather, demand and stock levels.
• Ensuring customers receive knowledgeable advice and excellent service.
• Working closely with the Garden Centre Manager and wider management team to achieve the centre's commercial and operational targets.

About You

• Has strong plant knowledge gained through significant experience working with outdoor plants.
• Has supervisory or management experience within garden centre or horticultural retail.
• Can lead from the front and get the best from an established team.
• Is commercially minded and understands that great horticultural standards need to translate into sales.
• Understands merchandising, stock management, seasonality and maintaining availability.
• Is ambitious and keen to continue developing their career within garden centre management.

Why Apply?

• Join one of the UK's leading garden centre groups with genuine opportunities for career progression.
• Work alongside an experienced and high-performing management team who will invest time in your development.
• Receive structured support and training rather than being expected to know everything from day one.
• Take responsibility for a significant, fast-paced plant department with an established team already in place.
• Excellent opportunity for a strong Plant Supervisor or Team Leader looking to make the move into full department management.
• Build a long-term career within a large group offering opportunities beyond this individual role.

If you know your plants, can lead people, and want to develop your career with one of the UK's leading names in garden retail, we'd love to hear from you.