SE London - Garden Centre Manager - Flagship Store

Location: The Nunhead Gardener, Nunhead – Flagship Store Reports To: Owners / Directors About Us The Nunhead Gardener is a family-run group of unique garden shops across South East and Central London. Our flagship store in Nunhead is where it all began, and we remain proudly rooted in our local community. With our passion for horticulture, eye for design, and commitment to customer delight, we’ve grown into a much-loved destination for everything from homegrown plants to expertly curated gifts. The Role As Garden Centre Manager at our flagship store, you’ll be the driving force behind a vibrant, high-performing retail environment. You’ll lead from the front—setting standards, supporting your team, and ensuring our customers receive the warm, knowledgeable service we’re known for. You’ll bring together strong commercial instincts, hands-on grit, and a real passion for plants. This is a physical, people-facing, decision-making role where no two days are the same. Key Responsibilities • Lead and manage the day-to-day operations of the Nunhead store (indoor and outdoor departments). • Deliver consistently high store standards and an engaging, on-brand customer experience. • Motivate and manage the full store team, including sales advisors, merchandisers, and plant care/delivery team. • Handle recruitment, training, scheduling, and regular performance reviews. • Oversee stock control: accurate delivery processing, stocktakes, wastage minimisation, and identifying slow movers. • Ensure plant stock is in top condition through regular maintenance routines. • Uphold all aspects of The Nunhead Gardener brand: customer service, team presentation, visual merchandising, ambience, product range, and in-store messaging. • Resolve customer issues with professionalism and care. • Execute seasonal planning and store refreshes in advance of each new season. • Coordinate accurate admin and reporting processes, including team timesheets, checklists, leave, and internal communications. • Implement new initiatives from the Directors with efficiency and clarity. • Maintain health & safety standards in all areas. What We’re Looking For • A confident, charismatic leader with a track record in retail or garden centre management. • A real team player—willing to get stuck in with deliveries when needed. • Strong understanding (or deep enthusiasm!) for outdoor plants and gardening. • Clear communicator with great organisational and time-management skills. • Commercial awareness and the ability to meet targets and drive sales. • A calm, customer-focused approach, even in busy moments. • Proficient with basic admin, scheduling tools, and stock systems. • Physically fit and comfortable with lifting/moving heavy goods regularly. Bonus Points For • Knowledge of garden design principles or interest in developing this. • Familiarity with common plant pests and diseases and how to treat them. • Previous experience in a multi-category retail environment (e.g., lifestyle/home/garden). Role Type Company Overview The Nunhead Gardener is a fast-growing and highly unique family-run group of garden shops. We are independently owned, and we pride ourselves on our team of knowledgeable horticulturalists who are always on hand to offer friendly, expert advice regarding all indoor and outdoor gardening matters. We always place ourselves at the heart of the communities in which we open our stores. We punch well above our weight in terms of the service we provide, the experience we offer customers, the unique product range we carry and our legendary product displays. We’re extremely passionate about our people, and with ambitious future plans, it’s an exciting time to join us. #J-18808-Ljbffr