Nursery Manager - Horticulture in England

*This role is not eligible for UK Visa Sponsorship - the successful applicant will need to have a pre-existing Right to Work in the UK in order to be offered an employment contract.*

Are you an experienced Horticultural Nursery Manager? Do you have strong plant knowledge? Have you got experience in people management and leadership?

The Company

An established, family-run horticultural business who supply trees, shrubs and plants to landscapers, growers and horticultural professionals nationwide.

The Job Role

This role is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day organisation, operations, and performance of the site, with a focus on team leadership, crop quality, plant health standards, and delivering safe, efficient and professional working practices.

Location: Hertfordshire - based on site

Salary Package: £40,000 - £45,000 basic salary depending on skills and experience.

Key Responsibilities

• Leadership and People Management
  • Lead, motivate and develop nursery teams, fostering a positive and professional culture.
  • Plan daily and weekly workloads with the Production Manager, allocating resources effectively.
  • Manage staff induction, training, performance reviews and development plans.
  • Supervise permanent, temporary and agency staff to ensure consistent standards.
• Crop Production and Growing Responsibilities
  • Maintain exceptional standards of crop quality, presentation and plant health.
  • Monitor crops regularly, identifying issues with irrigation, nutrition, pests and diseases.
  • Implement ICM/IPM strategies and oversee irrigation planning.
  • Support crop planning, rotations, space allocation and seasonal production schedules.
  • Lead out-of-hours cover to ensure continuous plant care.
• Planning, Organisation and Customer Focus
  • Develop a strong customer service culture across the nursery.
  • Ensure plants are organised, labelled and well-presented.
  • Maintain a good understanding of stock availability and overall nursery performance.
  • Build strong working relationships with other departments and sites.
• Plant Health and Biosecurity
  • Uphold plant health, biosecurity and hygiene procedures.
  • Maintain accurate records and support compliance with plant health regulations and accreditation schemes.
• Health and Safety
  • Ensure compliance with Health and Safety policies, COSHH and pesticide regulations.
  • Conduct risk assessments, safety checks and accident reporting.
  • Maintain accurate safety documentation and training records.
• Administration and Systems
  • Complete all required paperwork and digital records accurately and on time.
  • Ensure stock, crop, labour and safety information is recorded consistently using company systems.
  • Help create and update work procedures and policies in collaboration with the Production Manager.
• Continuous Improvement and Personal Development
  • Actively participate in Company reviews.
  • Suggest courses and events to help develop you and the teams CPD.
  • Look for opportunities to improve processes, reduce waste, enhance crop quality, and increase operational efficiency.
• General Responsibilities
  • Promote a culture of safety, professionalism and care across the site.
  • Demonstrate a thorough understanding of nursery production practices and growing standards.
  • Maintain strong working knowledge of other departments to support cross-site collaboration.
  • Participate in an agreed rota for out-of-hours cover.
  • Undertake any other reasonable tasks within your capability that support the smooth running of the nursery and company.

Candidate Requirements

Essential Skills and Experience

• Proven experience in commercial horticulture, within a production nursery.
• Strong plant knowledge, including pest, disease and physiological disorder identification.
• Demonstrated ability to manage crop production cycles, irrigation, nutrition, and environmental controls.
• Experience supervising teams, organising daily workloads, and motivating staff to meet quality and productivity targets.
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to plan ahead, prioritise tasks, and adapt to changing commercial demands.
• Competent with nursery management systems and confident using digital tools for planning and recording.
• Good written and verbal communication skills suitable for leading teams and liaising with suppliers, inspectors, and customers.
• A proactive approach to quality, plant health, and compliance with OHAS/Plant Healthy or similar standards.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Skills and Experience

• Formal horticultural qualification (e.g., RHS, NVQ, degree or equivalent).
• Experience managing larger teams or multiple departments.
• Knowledge of sustainable production practices, IPM strategies, and environmental responsibility.
• Experience with data-driven production planning or technical crop monitoring systems.
• PA1/PA6 or equivalent spraying qualifications.

Personal Attributes

• Practical, hands‑on, and solutions‑focused.
• Confident decision‑maker who remains calm under pressure.
• High attention to detail with a commitment to accuracy and consistency.
• Positive leader who supports, develops and engages their team.
• Able to work independently as well as collaborate effectively with colleagues across the nursery.
• Enthusiastic, professional, and keen to maintain high standards in both plant quality and operational performance.

How to apply

Please click on the APPLY NOW button. Please send your CV to: Angel Bains - Recruitment Delivery Consultant

As we are a specialist recruitment business within the Agricultural and Farming industry, we do require that ALL applicants must hold an NVQ Level 2, Scottish NVQ Level 2 or an equivalent qualification which is relevant and necessary for the job that you are applying for.

We thank all applicants who apply for this role. However, please be advised that only those short listed for an interview will be contacted. Please be assured that your job application will be managed in complete confidence and your personal details will not be passed to any third party without your prior permission.