At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead nursery operations, drive sales, and ensure high-quality plant production.
- Company: Established wholesale horticultural business with a supportive culture.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, full-time role, and long-term career development opportunities.
- Other info: Join a dynamic team and build lasting customer relationships.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a diverse role within the horticultural industry.
- Qualifications: Experience in nursery operations and strong horticultural knowledge required.
An exciting opportunity has arisen for an experienced Nursery Operations Manager to join a well-established wholesale horticultural business. This is a diverse and hands-on role, combining nursery production, sales, logistics, stock management, and team leadership. You'll take ownership of the day-to-day running of the nursery operation, ensuring high-quality plant production, exceptional customer service, and efficient order fulfilment. Working closely with customers, suppliers, and internal teams, you'll play a key role in driving sales growth while maintaining the highest standards across the site. This position would suit a commercially minded horticultural professional who enjoys leading teams, building customer relationships, and being actively involved in nursery operations.
What's on Offer
- Competitive salary dependent on experience
- Full-time, permanent position
- Opportunity to lead a key area of a growing horticultural business
- Diverse role spanning production, sales, logistics, and operations
- Supportive and collaborative working environment
- Long-term career development opportunities
- Work within an established and respected horticultural business
Key Responsibilities
- Oversee the day-to-day running of the wholesale nursery operation
- Drive wholesale sales through excellent customer service and relationship management
- Build strong partnerships with landscapers, retailers, contractors, and trade customers
- Provide horticultural advice and product recommendations
- Manage quotations, sales orders, and order fulfilment processes
- Coordinate transport, dispatch, and delivery schedules
- Ensure customer orders are delivered accurately and on time
- Plan and oversee nursery production programmes to meet seasonal demand
- Manage plant propagation, growing schedules, irrigation, and crop quality
- Maintain high standards of plant health, presentation, and stock quality
- Monitor inventory levels and support effective stock control processes
- Lead, motivate, and develop nursery and sales team members
- Promote safe working practices and ensure compliance across the site
- Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, customer experience, and profitability
What We're Looking For
- Experience within nursery operations, wholesale horticulture, or commercial plant production
- Strong horticultural knowledge with the ability to identify and maintain a wide range of plants
- Commercial awareness and proven customer-facing experience
- Experience managing teams within a fast-paced operational environment
- Excellent organisational and planning skills
- Knowledge of stock control and inventory management
- Experience coordinating logistics, transport, or dispatch operations would be advantageous
- Strong communication and relationship-building skills
- A proactive, hands-on approach with a passion for horticulture
- Relevant horticultural qualifications or equivalent industry experience preferred
If you're an ambitious horticultural professional looking for a varied leadership role where you can make a real impact across nursery operations, sales, and production, I'd be delighted to discuss this opportunity with you.
Nursery Operations Manager employer: MorePeople
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StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Nursery Operations Manager
✨Get Hands-On at Local Events
Hit up local horticulture fairs, plant shows, and farmer’s markets. These gatherings are a goldmine for networking and usually attract employers looking for passionate candidates. Chat with the vendors and fellow enthusiasts; you never know who might know about a full-time opening at a place like MorePeople.
✨Join Gardening Clubs and Online Communities
Become part of local gardening clubs or online forums where like-minded folks share tips and job leads. These communities can often clue you in on upcoming vacancies. Remember, people in these groups often work in the industry and can help us get our foot in the door at places like MorePeople.
✨Show Off Your Green Thumb
Consider creating a public portfolio showcasing your gardening projects, designs, or any unique plants you've cultivated. A well-documented journey through your horticulture experiences can make you stand out when chasing full-time roles. It’s basically your way of shouting, 'Look at what I can do!' to potential employers.
✨Apply Early and Often!
The horticulture field can be competitive, especially for full-time roles. Keep an eye on seasonal hiring trends and don’t hesitate to apply as soon as positions open up. Check out our website regularly for openings at MorePeople; staying ahead of the game can give us the edge we need.
We think you need these skills to ace Nursery Operations Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Green Thumb:In horticulture, it's all about showcasing your hands-on experience. Make sure your CV highlights any relevant gardening, landscaping, or plant care roles you've held. Also, don’t forget to mention any specific skills like plant identification or pest management that make you a great fit for the position at MorePeople.
Include Certifications and Training:If you've got any horticulture-related certifications, such as in organic gardening or landscape design, be sure to include them. This will set you apart from other applicants and show that you’re committed to expanding your knowledge in the field, which is crucial for a full-time role like Nursery Operations Manager.
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter should reflect not just your passion for plants but also how your experience aligns with what MorePeople is looking for. Share specific examples of projects you've worked on or challenges you've overcome in previous horticultural roles to demonstrate your suitability for the full-time position.
Be Ready to Talk Numbers:When applying for a full-time role in horticulture, it's helpful to quantify your achievements. Did you increase crop yields or reduce waste in a previous job? Highlight these metrics in your CV to give hiring managers at MorePeople a clear picture of your capabilities!
How to prepare for a job interview at MorePeople
✨Get to Know Your Plants
Brush up on your plant knowledge! Be prepared to discuss specific species, their growth requirements, and potential pests. Remember, the role involves practical horticultural skills – so don’t be shy about sharing your hands-on experience with various plants and gardening techniques.
✨Show Off Your Portfolio
If you've worked on garden designs, landscaping projects, or community gardens, bring along a portfolio showcasing your work. Visuals speak a thousand words, and this will help us see your creativity and practical skills in action. Plus, don’t forget to have a few stories about challenges you faced and how you overcame them!
✨Be Ready for a Plant Quiz
Prepare for some technical questions related to horticulture! We may ask you about soil types, plant propagation methods, or pest management strategies. This helps us assess your depth of knowledge and problem-solving skills – so don’t skip the revision!
✨Passion for Sustainability
Horticulture often revolves around sustainability practices, so be ready to discuss any experience you have with eco-friendly gardening methods or sustainable designs. This role at MorePeople might have a focus on environmental impact, so showing your commitment could set you apart from other candidates.