Associate Manager

Medford Nursery Inc; West Suffield (CT); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Northern Nurseries in West Suffield, CT is seeking a full-time Associate Manager to lead daily nursery operations, oversee the labor team, and ensure safe, efficient practices in outdoor and indoor settings.

The role emphasizes coordinating receiving, inventory, driver management, and horticultural care, with a focus on quality, safety, and service. Prior leadership in retail/landscape operations is preferred.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of experience in retail, wholesale, landscape, or horticultural operations management.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to prioritize effectively.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, seasonal environment with fluctuating demands.
• Ability to work independently while leading within a team structure.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. with or without assistance.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain it.
• Experience in horticulture, plant identification, and pest control (3 years each required).
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• English proficiency.
• Spanish proficiency preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Direct daily activities of the nursery labor team, including yard layout, product placement, loading/unloading, scheduling, and workflow accuracy.
• Oversee receiving processes, ensuring quality checks, accurate counts, and timely documentation.
• Maintain receiving records and coordinate with the Office Manager for inventory entry and product signage.
• Manage company truck drivers, including hiring, training, compliance (DOT, physicals, drug testing), and safety.
• Oversee maintenance and recordkeeping for trucks and nursery equipment, including registrations, permits, scheduling, and rentals.
• Ensure proper horticultural care of nursery stock, including fertilization, pesticide, and herbicide applications.
• Manage irrigation system operations to ensure consistent plant health.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment inside and outside the facility.
• Support sales and service staff to ensure exceptional customer service.
• Personally engage with customers to support product selection and problem‑solving.
• Maintain inventory control processes, including spot counts, turn goals, markdowns, and scrap reduction.
• Support recruiting, training, and employee development.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Skills

Organizational skills

Planning

Team leadership

Independent work

Physical stamina

English proficiency

Spanish (preferred)

Valid driver’s license

Education

High school diploma

Job description

Northern Nurseries supports landscape professionals with a true one-stop shopping experience, offering an extensive selection of trees, shrubs, evergreens, perennials, hardscape materials, and landscape supplies. We are seeking a full-time, year-round Associate Manager to help lead daily operations at our West Suffield, CT Location. This is a hands‑on leadership role ideal for someone who thrives in a fast‑paced, outdoor environment and enjoys working with people, plants, and logistics.

Position Overview

• Direct daily activities of the nursery labor team, including yard layout, product placement, loading/unloading, scheduling, and workflow accuracy.
• Oversee receiving processes, ensuring quality checks, accurate counts, and timely documentation.
• Maintain receiving records and coordinate with the Office Manager for inventory entry and product signage.
• Manage company truck drivers, including hiring, training, compliance (DOT, physicals, drug testing), and safety.
• Oversee maintenance and recordkeeping for trucks and nursery equipment, including registrations, permits, scheduling, and rentals.
• Ensure proper horticultural care of nursery stock, including fertilization, pesticide, and herbicide applications.
• Manage irrigation system operations to ensure consistent plant health.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe environment inside and outside the facility.

Customer Service & Sales Support

• Support sales and service staff to ensure exceptional customer service.
• Personally engage with customers to support product selection and problem‑solving.
• Maintain inventory control processes, including spot counts, turn goals, markdowns, and scrap reduction.
• Support recruiting, training, and employee development.
• Perform additional duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 3–5 years of experience in retail, wholesale, landscape, or horticultural operations management or a related experience.
• Strong organizational and planning skills with the ability to prioritize effectively.
• Comfortable working in a fast‑paced, seasonal environment with fluctuating demands.
• Ability to work independently while leading within a team structure.
• Ability to lift 50 lbs. with or without assistance.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to maintain it.
• Experience in horticulture, plant identification, and pest control (3 years each required).
• High school diploma or equivalent.
• English proficiency.
• Spanish proficiency preferred but not required.