At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the Christmas & Outdoor Leisure departments, driving sales and managing performance.
- Company: Join a high-performing garden centre known for its excellent customer service and retail standards.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, staff discounts, paid holidays, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact during peak seasons while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in retail management, especially with seasonal trading, is preferred.
- Other info: Dynamic environment with strong growth potential and a supportive team.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Hours: 42.5 hours per week (alternate weekends)
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
We are recruiting a Christmas & Outdoor Leisure Department Manager for a high-performing garden centre located in the North West, within easy reach of major towns and transport links. This is an urgent hire for a busy site with strong footfall and significant commercial opportunity. The centre forms part of a successful and fast-growing Garden Centre Group, recognised for its high retail standards, customer service, and commitment to developing its management teams.
About the Role
This is a highly seasonal and commercially focused management role. For approximately 7 months of the year, you will lead the Outdoor Leisure department, covering furniture, BBQs, patio heating, and associated categories. The remaining 5 months will be dedicated to the Christmas department, where visual merchandising, space planning, and peak-season trading are critical.
You will have full ownership of department performance, balancing creative visual impact with strong commercial and P&L accountability, ensuring sales, margin, and stock are maximised during key trading periods.
Key Responsibilities
- Full management of the Outdoor Leisure and Christmas departments
- Driving sales, margin, and profit through effective commercial decision-making
- Ownership of departmental P&L, budgets, and performance reporting
- Forecasting sales, managing stock intake, and controlling inventory levels
- Delivering high-impact visual merchandising that drives customer engagement
- Leading, training, and motivating the team to maintain excellent retail standards
- Ensuring exceptional customer service during both peak and non-peak seasons
- Maintaining strong retail discipline, stock control, and operational efficiency
The Ideal Candidate
- Proven experience in a fast-paced retail environment, ideally with strong seasonal trading
- Garden centre experience is desirable but not essential
- Demonstrable experience managing departments with seasonality and peak trading cycles
- Strong commercial acumen, with experience managing sales, margin, and P&L
- Passionate about visual merchandising, space planning, and high retail standards
- Confident, hands-on leader with the ability to develop and motivate teams
- Comfortable using retail systems, data, and KPIs to drive performance
Perks & Benefits
- Competitive salary (dependent on experience)
- Staff discount
- Paid holidays
- Pension scheme
- Career development opportunities within a growing group
- Free on-site parking
Interested? Send your CV today, or for more information, contact Leo at or call 01780 480530.
Christmas & Outdoor Leisure Department Manager in Plymouth employer: MOrePeople
Contact Detail:
MOrePeople Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Christmas & Outdoor Leisure Department Manager in Plymouth
✨Tip Number 1
Get to know the company inside out! Research their values, products, and recent news. This way, when you walk into that interview, you can show them you're not just another candidate but someone who genuinely cares about what they do.
✨Tip Number 2
Network like a pro! Reach out to current or former employees on LinkedIn. Ask them about their experiences and any tips they might have for landing the job. Plus, it could give you an edge if they put in a good word for you!
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for those tricky interview questions! Think about how your past experiences relate to the role of Christmas & Outdoor Leisure Department Manager. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and showcase your skills.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can go a long way. It shows your enthusiasm for the role and keeps you fresh in their minds as they make their decision.
We think you need these skills to ace Christmas & Outdoor Leisure Department Manager in Plymouth
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV reflects the skills and experiences that match the job description. Highlight your retail management experience, especially in seasonal roles, to show us you’re the right fit for the Christmas & Outdoor Leisure Department Manager position.
Showcase Your Achievements: Don’t just list your responsibilities; we want to see what you’ve achieved! Use numbers and examples to demonstrate how you’ve driven sales, managed P&L, or improved customer service in previous roles.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Tell us why you’re passionate about this role and how your experience aligns with our needs. Make it personal and engaging to grab our attention right from the start.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates regarding your application status!
How to prepare for a job interview at MOrePeople
✨Know Your Seasons
Make sure you understand the seasonal nature of the role. Brush up on trends in outdoor leisure and Christmas merchandising. Being able to discuss how you would drive sales during peak seasons will show your commercial acumen.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in a retail environment. Highlight your experience in motivating staff and maintaining high retail standards, as this is crucial for the role.
✨Master the Numbers
Be ready to talk about P&L management and how you've used data to make informed decisions in previous roles. This will demonstrate your strong commercial focus and ability to manage budgets effectively.
✨Visual Merchandising Matters
Since visual merchandising is key, come prepared with ideas on how you would enhance the customer experience through effective displays. Discuss any past successes in this area to showcase your creativity and strategic thinking.