Plants - Assistant Plant Area Manager

Squire's Garden Centres; Cobham; On-site; GBP 22,000 - 28,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

50% discount in Restaurants

20% discount in Garden Centre

Holiday increases with service

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Cycle2work scheme

Free Parking

Job summary

Squire's Garden Centres in Cobham is looking for a dedicated individual to provide management support to the Horticultural team, with a strong focus on exceptional customer service. This full-time role requires working closely with the Plant Manager and involves responsibilities such as stock management and team training.

The successful candidate will enjoy a range of benefits, including a generous employee discount, holiday entitlements increasing with service, and a non-contractual Christmas bonus.

Qualifications

• Experience in a retail bedding department is a must.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment is essential.
• Passion for customer service is necessary.

Responsibilities

• Provide management support to the Horticultural team.
• Maintain control over stock levels, including ordering.
• Ensure customer service expectations are exceeded.

Skills

Customer service

Retail management

Horticultural knowledge

Flexibility and enthusiasm

Education

Horticultural qualification

Job description

Job Description

Your primary responsibility will be to provide management support to the Horticultural team, with customer service at the forefront of everything you achieve.

Working closely with the Plant Manager to help the Garden Centre succeed.

Rota: Full time, 40 hours including alternate weekends.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Maintain good control over stock levels, including accurate ordering and stock clearance where necessary
• Train and monitor your team to ensure that stock is cared for appropriately
• Co‑operate fully with line management and product managers
• Take responsibility for the whole department in the absence of the manager
• Ensure all queries and complaints are handled with courtesy and referred where necessary to the manager and product manager
• Customer Service expectations are exceeded
• Sales opportunities are generated through interaction with customers

Qualifications and Experience

• Extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification
• A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast‑paced environment are essential
• Flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and able to create dynamic displays

Benefits

We want our employees to be known for their friendliness, helpfulness, and good customer service, with their whole ethos being ‘nothing is too much trouble for our customers’. In turn we will provide an extensive benefit package, please see below.

• Employee Discount: 50% in Restaurants and 20% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
• Holiday (including bank holidays): 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 week after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
• Bonus: We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year (first year is dependent on start date).
• Pension: We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
• Attendance: After one year service, if you have worked for a full financial year and have 100% attendance, one day holiday (pro‑rata) will be added to your holiday grant as a ‘Thank you’.
• Made A Difference Scheme (MAD): A reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown / inspired the business. There is a monthly winner. All winners select a gift to receive.
• Learning & Development: You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
• Birthday: After 6 months service if your birthday falls on your contracted day to work, you can leave work early (holiday policy rules apply). If you have 2 years service on your birthday, you will receive a £25 Squires gift voucher (pro rata for less than 40 hours).
• Cycle2work scheme: After 1 year service, a government initiative which offers a 25% to 39% saving on new cycling equipment. This cost is deducted out of your pay over 12 or 19 months.
• Child's first day at school: After 1 year’s service you can come in late and go home early on your child’s first day of school.
• RHS Membership or a Tree / Shrub: After 1 year’s service, Squire's employees can choose either one tree or shrub to plant each year up to the value of £50 retail on the anniversary of your engagement or £50 towards RHS annual membership.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP): After 2 years service employees are eligible to join an EAP, that gives them access to a range of wellbeing resources, etc.
• Retirement: After 15 years service if you are retiring and have over 15 years service, your contracted hours will be reduced by a fifth but your pay will remain the same for your final 3 months.
• Free Parking: Available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our site.