Garden Center Department Manager

Esbenshade's Garden Centers; Lititz (Lancaster County); On-site; USD 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Paid time off

Life insurance

Vision insurance

Job summary

Esbenshade's Garden Centers is looking for a Garden Center Department Manager for their Lititz location. This full-time position involves leading daily operations across multiple departments including gardening supplies, pottery, and patio furniture. The ideal candidate will have strong knowledge of horticulture and retail management, alongside excellent customer service skills.

The role demands a hands-on approach to staff training and maintaining inventory, ensuring a positive shopping experience for customers. The position includes benefits like health insurance and a 401(k) plan.

Qualifications

• At least 3 to 5 years of retail garden center experience required.
• Management experience is mandatory.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds required.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations of the Garden Center departments.
• Hire, train, and coach department team members.
• Deliver exceptional customer service in gardening and related areas.

Skills

Knowledge of gardening and horticulture

Leadership and communication skills

Problem-solving skills

Analytical mindset

Proficiency in Microsoft Office

Education

Retail garden center management experience

Tools

Retail management systems (e.g., Epicor)

Job description

Departments

Garden Center, Patio, Gift, Birding, Pottery and Christmas

Reports To

Store Manager

Classification

Permanent, Full-Time

Location

Lititz Retail Location

Job Type

Full-Time, In Person

Experience Requirement

Retail garden center experience, or similar experience in a closely related field, is required.

About Esbenshade's

Esbenshade's is more than a garden center. We are a family-owned business with deep roots, a strong entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for helping things grow. For more than 60 years, we have built our reputation on innovation, exceptional customer service and lasting vendor partnerships.

We are proud of a culture that values hard work, creativity, collaboration and family. As we continue to grow, we are looking for leaders who want to make an impact while staying grounded in the values that define us.

Job Summary

The Garden Center Department Manager is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Garden Center departments within the Lititz retail location, including gardening supplies, pottery, seeds and bulbs, patio furniture, birding, gift and Christmas. This role requires a strong understanding of horticulture, gardening, seasonal retail and customer service, along with a hands‑on, team-oriented leadership style.

Key Responsibilities

Department Management

• Manage daily operations within the Lititz Garden Center departments, including staffing, merchandising, cleanliness, customer service and sales performance.
• Hire, train, schedule, coach and conduct performance reviews for department team members.
• Monitor labor and departmental expenses to support budget, productivity and profitability goals.
• Ensure effective seasonal transitions, product rotation, department presentation and accurate inventory counts.
• Partner with store leadership and other department managers to support overall store operations and customer experience.

Buying and Inventory Oversight

• Work with the Lead Buyer to forecast and maintain inventory needs throughout the year.
• Monitor stock levels and communicate restocking needs to meet inventory goals and maximize departmental profitability.
• Attend trade shows and vendor meetings to identify new products, stay current on trends and maintain strong supplier relationships.
• Coordinate with the Lead Buyer, E-commerce, Receiving and Accounting teams to support smooth order execution and resolve discrepancies.
• Conduct semi-annual inventory counts for products within the Garden Center departments to help ensure accuracy.

Customer Experience

• Deliver knowledgeable, friendly and solution‑oriented customer service in gardening, birding, pottery, patio, gift and seasonal categories.
• Train team members in customer engagement, product tie‑ins, service excellence and effective selling techniques.
• Maintain attractive, well‑stocked and easy‑to‑shop department displays that support sales and inspire customers.

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of garden center, horticulture, gardening and seasonal retail product categories.
• Proven leadership and communication skills, with experience coaching and guiding a retail team.
• Ability to manage priorities, solve problems and make sound decisions in a fast‑paced retail environment.
• Analytical mindset with the ability to use sales, labor and inventory data to support department performance.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and retail management systems; experience with Epicor or a similar system is preferred.
• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of retail garden center and/or management experience preferred.
• Minimum of 3 years of management experience required.
• Minimum of 2 years of retail garden center experience required.

Work Schedule and Physical Requirements

• Full-time schedule of approximately 40 hours per week, Monday through Saturday, with one weekday off.
• Saturdays required during peak spring and holiday seasons.
• Overtime may be required during select weeks of the peak spring and holiday seasons.
• Availability for 2 to 3 evening shifts per week during peak season.
• Shared responsibility for store opening and closing duties with other managers.
• Ability to lift up to 50 pounds and work in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to commute to Lititz, PA 17543 is required.
• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Health insurance
• Health savings account
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Equal Opportunity Statement

Esbenshade's is an equal opportunity employer. We value teamwork, respect and a positive work environment and we welcome qualified candidates who are excited to contribute to our continued growth.