General Manager

Bailey Nurseries; Newport (MN); On-site; USD 145,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

Bailey Nurseries is seeking a General Manager - Midwest to provide leadership and oversight for our Midwest/Eastern operations, including Illinois, Minnesota, and Georgia. This role reports to the Chief Operations Officer and leads day-to-day operations through the Production Leadership Team to align priorities, staffing, production plans, quality standards, and business goals.

A hands-on leader, you will partner with the COO to ensure excellence, safety, and profitability.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 8 years in the industry with 5+ years in a leadership role.
• Nursery production knowledge and strong business acumen.
• Proven leadership under pressure and ability to guide large teams.
• Strong written and verbal communication for stakeholders across the organization.
• Willingness to travel to Bailey operations, industry events, and customer locations.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for Midwest/Eastern operations.
• Lead Production Leadership Team across locations to align priorities, staffing, and production plans.
• Maintain hands-on leadership and strong communication to support execution of goals.
• Lead through managers, build accountability, and develop leadership capability across locations.
• Ensure effective use of assets, plants, and equipment from planning to shipping.
• Provide financial leadership including budget planning, labor cost management, and profitability goals.
• Establish centralized documentation and ensure regulatory compliance and risk management.

Skills

Leadership

Nursery production

Strategic planning

Communication

Travel

Education

Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, agriculture or business

Tools

ERP systems

Inventory software

Microsoft Office

Job description

About this position

Department: Operations

Reports To: Chief Operations Officer

FLSA Status: Exempt

Compensation: $145,000 - $165,00 Annually

Position Summary:

The General Manager - Midwest provides leadership and operational oversight for Bailey’s Midwest/Eastern operations, including Illinois, Minnesota, and Georgia. This role leads day-to-day operations through the Production Leadership Team to align operational priorities, staffing needs, production plans, quality standards, and business goals.

The General Manager works closely with the COO and key business partners to support operational excellence, financial accountability, safety, compliance, continuous improvement, and consistent execution across assigned locations. This role is responsible for building accountability, developing leaders, supporting a positive workplace culture, and ensuring the effective use of people, land, equipment, plants, and other nursery resources to produce high-quality nursery stock profitably and sustainably.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Operational Leadership

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for the company’s Midwest/Eastern operations.
• Lead the Production Leadership Team across assigned locations to align operational priorities, staffing needs, production plans, quality standards, and business goals.
• Maintain a hands‑on leadership approach and strong communication across assigned facilities to understand operations, connect teams, and support consistent execution of company goals.

People Leadership and Culture

• Lead through managers by setting clear expectations, building accountability, developing leadership capability, supporting succession planning, and aligning teams across locations.
• Promote a positive workplace culture that supports safety, accountability, excellence, growth, and the company’s Core Values.

Production, Assets, and Continuous Improvement

• Ensure the effective use of nursery assets, including people, land, equipment, and plants, from planning and propagation through planting, harvest, storage, and shipping.
• Support the consistent production of high‑quality nursery stock in a profitable and sustainable manner.
• Promote efficiency and continuous improvement through improved processes, yields, automation, technology, continuing education, and Lean manufacturing principles.

Financial and Business Accountability

• Provide leadership for operational financial accountability, including budget planning, labor cost management, productivity, capital planning input, operational forecasting, and profitability goals.
• Monitor expenses, payables, financial reports, operational metrics, and other business information to support effective decision‑making.

Documentation, Compliance, and Risk Management

• Establish and maintain consistent, centralized documentation, including Standard Operating Procedures, property information, regulatory or legal information, and other key operational records.
• Partner with HR, Safety, Compliance, and operational leaders to support regulatory compliance, employee relations consistency, safety expectations, seasonal workforce needs, and operational risk management.

Cross-Functional and Strategic Partnership

• Partner cross‑functionally with key internal stakeholders to align labor, production, inventory, customer demand, safety, financial goals, and overall business priorities.
• Collaborate with the West Coast General Manager and leadership team members to develop, understand, communicate, and execute long‑term operational strategy.
• Stay engaged with the greater industry, customers, vendors, neighbors, and appropriate organizations to learn, progress, and promote the nursery.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum of 8 years of relevant industry experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role with responsibility for people leadership, operational execution, and business performance.
• Extensive knowledge of nursery production, combined with strong business acumen and the ability to lead complex operational functions.
• Demonstrated leadership skills, including resilience, adaptability, accountability, and the ability to lead large teams through pressure, change, and operational demands.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively communicate, prepare, and present business information to employees, leaders, and key stakeholders throughout the organization.
• Demonstrated ability to manage personnel matters professionally and consistently, including hiring, coaching, performance management, and corrective action.
• Ability to travel as needed to Bailey operations, industry events, and customer locations.
• Proficiency with technology tools used to support business operations, including Microsoft Office, reporting systems, ERP platforms, inventory software, and other internal systems.
• Valid driver’s license and ability to meet company criteria for insurability.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in horticulture, agriculture or business field preferred, or equivalent experience.

Physical Requirements and Work Environment:

This role works in both office and nursery/field environments and requires travel to company locations, industry events, and customer locations as needed. The employee must be able to sit, stand, walk, communicate, use a computer, review documents, attend meetings, and move throughout office, nursery, greenhouse, field, production, storage, and shipping areas. The role may include exposure to outdoor weather conditions, uneven surfaces, equipment traffic, dust, dirt, noise, and other conditions common in nursery and agricultural operations.

Disclaimer: This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by individuals assigned to this position. It is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice. This description does not constitute a contract of employment, and the company reserves the right to revise or change job functions as needed to meet business needs. Offers of employment are contingent upon the successful completion of a background check.

Bailey Nurseries is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, marital status, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other legally protected status. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment.

Employment with Bailey Nurseries is at-will and may be terminated at any time by either party, in accordance with applicable law.

If you need assistance or reasonable accommodation during the application process, please contact our HR team.

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