Manager In Training

Moon Valley Nurseries Inc; Sugar Land (TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical Insurance

401(k)

Paid Holidays

PTO

Job summary

Moon Valley Nurseries seeks an experienced Manager in Training to develop into a store leader in Sugar Land, TX. You will work with store leadership to drive sales, control operations, and cultivate customer satisfaction across all retail functions.

The MIT role focuses on hands‑on training in sales, operations, customer service, inventory management, and team leadership, with a clear path to Assistant Manager and General Manager positions within our expanding organization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years in retail operations with leadership or team-building experience.
• 2+ years in a supervisory or lead role.
• Experience in retail, nursery, landscaping, or related environment preferred.
• Solid management skills with HR and sales fundamentals.
• Understanding of sales and operations planning, demand forecasting and marketing.

Responsibilities

• Ensure policy compliance through regular store management and staff meetings.
• Train and develop store management; oversee staff development.
• Analyze store trends and implement plans to maximize sales.
• Recruit, interview and hire quality personnel.
• Oversee inventory, pricing, and POS operations; maintain store assets.

Skills

Leadership

Team building

Sales strategy

Operational excellence

Customer service

Education

BS in Management/Business

Tools

POS systems

MS Office

Job description

Job Details: Level: Experienced, Job Location: Sugarland, TX 77498, Position Type: Full Time, Salary Range: $60,000.00 - $150,000.00 Salary, Travel Percentage: Up to 25%, Job Shift: Open Availability Day Shift, Job Category: Management, The Manager in Training (MIT) position is designed to develop future leaders within Moon Valley Nurseries through hands‑on training in sales, operations, customer service, inventory management, team leadership, and overall nursery operations. This role provides a structured path toward promotion into Assistant Manager and General Manager positions within our growing organization.

The MIT will work closely with store leadership to gain exposure to all aspects of retail nursery management while learning how to drive sales performance, operational excellence, customer satisfaction, and team development. This position is ideal for high‑potential individuals who thrive in fast‑paced environments, are motivated by leadership growth opportunities, and are eager to build a long‑term career with Moon Valley Nurseries.

Moon Valley Nurseries is the largest grower of box trees and palms in North America, operating retail locations across multiple states with continued nationwide expansion.

Employees hired as General Managers in Training are not eligible to participate in any bonus or incentive programs until they have successfully completed the training program and have been officially assigned as the General Manager of a specific nursery location. Bonus eligibility will commence only upon the start date of such official assignment, and no retroactive bonuses will be awarded for time spent in training. Moon Valley Nurseries reserves the right to modify or discontinue any bonus or incentive program at its sole discretion, subject to applicable law.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

• Ensuring compliance with all company policies and procedures through regular store management and staff meetings, store walk‑through and audits, etc.
• Training and developing store management in all aspects of the business and directing and monitoring training and development for all store personnel.
• Analyzing and measuring store and area trends and developing and implementing plans based on those trends to maximize sales and meet or exceed goals and objectives.
• Continually evaluating and reacting to performance issues, conducting personnel performance appraisals, and actively recruiting, interviewing and hiring quality personnel.
• Controlling loss, shrinkage, waste, variable expenses, payroll and employee turnover.
• Ensuring appropriate merchandise stock levels, merchandise adjacencies and presentations, signage, and assortment in all areas of the nursery.
• Reviewing store trends and recommending and initiating changes for maximizing goals and objectives.
• Meeting sales goals by training, motivating, mentoring and providing feedback to sales staff.
• Conducting on‑site visits to current customers promoting company products and services.
• Managing and participating in the sales transactions of the store, including counter and phone sales, as well as overseeing product installation/delivery.
• Determining pricing levels for products making point‑of‑sale pricing determinations to secure sales.
• Ensuring the protection and proper use of all store assets, including inventory, equipment and facilities.
• Managing the stores financial functions, including invoicing, cash drawer procedures and balancing, returns, petty cash, consumer financing, etc.
• Overseeing all administrative functions including POS transactions, product transfers, warranty issues, etc.
• Maintaining consistent flow of information to DM, Accounting & HR concerning the store’s operations.
• Maintaining outstanding store conditions and visual merchandising standards.
• Proposing innovative ideas to increase market share to Marketing and Sr. Management.
• Dealing with all issues that arise from employee or customers (complaints, grievances, etc.)
• Being a shining example of good behavior and high performance and local face of MVN.
• Conducting or overseeing all safety training including, heat, vehicle, pesticide safety, etc.
• Managing irrigation, fertilization, maintenance, and boxing schedules
• Using and maintaining the nursery plant inventory data base.
• Maintaining the supply of all nursery production materials.
• Coordinating plant deliveries and deliver plants as required.
• Managing pest control and water quality protocols for the facility.
• Overseeing logistics/customer service.
• Negotiating change orders to contracts as required to accommodate customer needs.
• Overseeing the negotiation and closing of all customer sales, and/or the preparation of all estimates, bids and proposals for multiple different client types.

Qualifications: Qualifications: Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• At least 5 years of experience in retail operations which includes leadership, issue management, motivation and/or team building.
• At least 2 years in supervisory or lead role.
• Experience in a retail, nursery, landscaping, or related environment preferred.
• Solid management skills along with a basic understanding of HR and sales fundamentals.
• Understanding of sales and operations planning process, demand forecasting and marketing.
• Excellent customer relations and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Self-directed and motivated, and able to act in an entrepreneurial fashion.
• Ability to work independently to complete specific tasks and meet inflexible deadlines.
• Aptitude in decision‑making and problem solving.
• Ability to work well with others and be a leader.
• Basic computer skills including experience with POS systems, and MS Office (Word, Excel, etc.)
• Strong time management, attention to detail, and follow through.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate multiple projects/activities simultaneously.

Education

BS degree in Management, Business Administration, or relevant field (or equivalent knowledge gained through formal education, specialized training, or additional job experience)

Physical requirements/Working Conditions

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk and hear. This position is very active and requires standing, walking, bending, kneeling, stooping, crouching, crawling, and climbing all day. The employee must frequently lift and/or move items over 45 pounds. Able to work outdoors for extended periods of time in possibly extreme conditions, including rain, heat, sun, and wind.

Other

Subject to MVR and criminal background check (In accordance with applicable fair chance laws, rules, and regulations)

About Us

Moon Valley Nurseries is the largest grower of box trees and palms in North America, and is an industry leader and high growth company that offers competitive salaries with exceptional employee benefits including medical insurance, 401(k), holidays, and PTO to all eligible employees. We are an equal employment opportunity employer. We are a drug free workplace.