Nursery / Perennial Manager

Esbenshade's Garden Centers; Pennsylvania; On-site; USD 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Health insurance

Paid time off

Job summary

Esbenshade's Garden Centers is seeking a Nursery/Perennial Manager based in Fleetwood, PA. This full-time role involves overseeing the Nursery and Perennial departments, focusing on operations, customer service, and team leadership. The ideal candidate should have a strong horticultural background and experience in landscaping and retail sales.

Key responsibilities include managing daily operations, ensuring plant care quality, and training team members. The Manager will be integral to creating a positive shopping experience for customers while maintaining effective department performance.

Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of woody ornamentals and perennials is required.
• Good knowledge or background in nursery stock and landscaping.
• Basic knowledge of fertilizers and pest-control methods or ability to learn.

Responsibilities

• Manage daily operations within the Nursery and Perennial departments.
• Train, manage, and support department employees for productivity.
• Ensure plants receive proper care, including watering and fertilizing.

Skills

Knowledge of woody ornamentals

Horticulture knowledge

Retail sales experience

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Forklift operation

Job description

Job Description: Nursery/Perennial Manager - Fleetwood

Position Title

Nursery/Perennial Manager

Department

Nursery/Perennial

Reports To

Store Manager

Classification

Permanent, Full-Time

Location

Fleetwood, PA

Job Type

Full-Time, In Person

Experience Requirement

Nursery/perennial, landscaping, horticulture, or closely related retail experience isrequired; management experience is preferred.

Job Summary

The Nursery/Perennial Manager is responsible for the day-to-day direction of the Nursery and Perennial departments at the Fleetwood retail location. This role oversees department operations, customer service, merchandising, plant care, inventory, labor, expenses and team leadership to support a clean, safe, profitable and customer-focused department. The ideal candidate brings a strong background in woody ornamentals, perennials, nursery stock, landscaping and retail sales, along with a hands‑on leadership style and a desire to continually build product knowledge.

Department Management

• Manage daily operations within the Nursery and Perennial departments, including staffing, merchandising, cleanliness, safety, customer service and sales performance.
• Take responsibility for general cleanup, maintenance and presentation of the nursery yard, perennial areas and display areas.
• Maintain a clean and safe nursery environment, carefully monitoring for trip hazards and ensuring employees follow safety rules and exercise caution in all activities.
• Manage department inventory, sales, labor and expenses to support a profitable department.
• Manage hard goods inventory, including mulch, stone and related nursery supplies.
• Complete purchase orders and department paperwork in a timely and accurate manner.
• Partner with store leadership, buyers, vendors and other departments to support store operations and customer service.
• Directly supervise Nursery and Perennial department associates.
• Train, manage, schedule, coach and support department employees to maintain strong service, productivity and accountability.
• Communicate clearly with customers, employees, vendors and management.
• Attend employee meetings and training sessions and support ongoing department knowledge and skill development.

Buying, Inventory and Product Care

• Monitor inventory levels and communicate reordering needs to buyers to maintain appropriate product availability.
• Maintain knowledge of weekly sales items and keep cashiers updated on in‑store and advertised department specials to support smooth checkout and accurate customer information.
• Ensure plants receive proper care, including watering, fertilizing, pest management, pruning and general maintenance.
• Provide attractive, creative and properly signed displays for customers, including seasonal rotation of flowering plants.
• Oversee fresh greens and Christmas tree sales during the holiday season.
• Support mulch and nursery deliveries, loading and unloading of trees, shrubs, perennials and hard goods for customers and vendors.

Customer Experience

• Provide polite, prompt, energetic, enthusiastic and courteous service to every customer.
• Approach customers with a smile and positive attitude, offer assistance as needed, answer questions politely and follow up when additional information is needed.
• Use strong product knowledge and communication skills to suggest helpful solutions, product tie‑ins and add‑on sales.
• Support Esbenshade's Customer Loyalty Card Program and help customers understand available benefits.
• Do everything possible to provide customers with a positive, successful shopping experience that encourages them to return.

Skills and Qualifications

• Strong knowledge of woody ornamentals and perennials is required.
• Good knowledge or background in nursery stock, water gardening, perennials, landscaping and retail sales.
• Basic knowledge of fertilizers, herbicides, fungicides, pest‑control methods and related nursery products, or the ability to quickly build this knowledge.
• Ability to solve problems, make decisions and provide helpful suggestions to customers.
• Ability to move and set up displays, pot up nursery stock, maintain nursery areas and support hands‑on department work.
• High level of initiative, strong work and personal ethics and a desire for excellence.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with customers, employees, vendors and management.
• High school diploma or equivalent required.
• Experience in nursery, landscaping and retail sales preferred.

The ability to or willingness to be trained to operate a forklift, Bobcat and other necessary equipment. This is a requirement of the position.

Work Schedule and Physical Requirements

• Full‑time schedule with availability Monday through Saturday; closed Sundays (some Sunday plant care may be required)
• Willingness to work evenings, typically one to three per week, as well as Saturdays and holidays as needed.
• Overtime may be required during the busy spring season and other peak periods.
• Ability to open and close the store when scheduled.
• Ability to lift heavy objects up to 75 pounds.
• Ability to stand and work on your feet for long periods of time, including 10‑ to 12‑hour shifts during peak seasons.
• Ability to work in all weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, snow and high humidity.
• Ability to commute or relocate to Fleetwood, PA before starting work is required.
• 401(k)
• 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.