Senior Retail Manager (Horticulture)

We are seeking a Senior Retail Manager with a background in Horticulture to join our client based near Thetford, Norfolk on a full-time, permanent basis. This person will make up the team of 3 Senior Managers in the business, working under the Owner and General Manager, and helping drive forward high standards, business growth and profitability. It is an exciting, challenging role that requires someone with a passion for plants, a friendly and open nature and a desire to drive sales and work strategically to increase department turnover. The position involves working six days one week, and four days the following week including one full weekend. Full details of work hours can be found further down in this advert. Annual salary will be negotiable depending on experience, and can be discussed upon application. The Company Our client is an independent retail destination who have a hard-working, yet supportive family-feel to their business. They have a buzzing store, renowned for its great service but particularly for its impressive product offerings, and services that sets them apart from other garden centres in East Anglia. They are a driven organisation with high standards and have exciting plans in the works for business development and expansion. The Job This big Senior Manager’s role is responsible for the strategic development, sales, and operational running of the outdoor plants and gardening offering which makes up 12%-13% of our client’s turnover. There is a good foundation for growth in this area, and there will be support from the Owner and GM in coming up with a strategy to increase department turnover and department development. You’ll be comfortable spending time behind a desk or in Management meetings but equally as happy on the shop floor, advising customers, watering plants and moving stock. It’s a varied, challenging role but will be also be great fun and a rewarding, enjoyable job for the right person. The Senior Manager will need to take people management, their day-to-day workload, and the bigger picture into their stride with confidence and enthusiasm. You’ll enjoy setting targets and finding ways to achieve these, ensuring the department’s goals align with both long- and short-term overall business strategy. Customer care and experience will be of great importance to you, ensuring that repeat customers are well-cared for, advised and new customers will feel welcomed and inspired and supported to give gardening a go! Team-wise there are six direct reports, including a Manager who has been within the company for twenty years and has a wealth of knowledge to tap into. The company has a Supply Chain Manager who supports in the purchasing of plant and gardening stock, but the Senior Manager will be required to plan and advise with the Supply Chain Manager over stock and ordering. Each Senior Manager in the business also looks after a secondary ‘project’; this Senior Manager will be tasked with looking after the grounds. From ensuring external areas are well maintained and progressively improved including their car park, the woodland walk and external planting. The Person This busy and demanding role requires a friendly, dedicated Manager who wants to be part of a great, ‘family feel’ team. Our client has an exciting future ahead of them and need the right Senior Managers in place to help them execute their plans for future growth and development. Personality is key, as well as experience and this role would suit somebody who is a ‘people person’ and is friendly, open and honest but also realistic and driven. As well as strong retail operational management experience, a proven and extensive horticulture background is essential to be considered for this role. Suitable candidates will ideally come from a garden centre or nursery background and understand the nature of selling plants and gardening supplies in a B2C setting. Despite the role being a Senior level position, it is essential that this recruit is a hands-on Manager and has a strong team spirit, who wouldn’t ask their team to do anything they themselves wouldn’t be comfortable doing. Leading by example, this person will be happy working on strategic development plans but also sweeping up dead leaves, helping customers, watering plants and everything else the role entails! If you’re reading this and think you meet many of the requirements, if not all, then we’d love to hear from you. You can find out how to apply below… Hours / Days of Work Working an average of 42 hours per week over a two-week period consisting of a 6-day week and a 4 day week and every other weekend. Salary The annual salary on offer is negotiable to a degree, depending on the skills and experience of the individual. There is some financial relocation support available also. We aim to respond with specific feedback to every applicant via email within 3 working days. However, as we are small two-person independent agency, if we are extremely busy this may take longer so, please allow up to 5 working days for us to reply to you. If you would like feedback sooner then feel free to contact us via email and we will come back to you ASAP. GDPR Please note that all applications and enquiries are treated in the strictest of confidence. As part of our GDPR compliance, your CV and contact details will not be held by us for longer than 30 days unless written consent to do so is requested and obtained. 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