Plant Area Department Manager, Permanent Contract (Radyr, Cardiff)

Pugh’s is a leading family run Garden Centre in Cardiff and surrounding areas. We are looking to recruit a highly motivated Plant Area Department Manager at our Site in North Cardiff.

Salary: Range between £27,000-£33,000 per year

Location: Pugh's Garden Centre Radyr, Cardiff, CF15 8LB

Job Type: 1 x permanent contract, 38 hours, weekend work essential

To apply please download our application form here, complete this and send via email along with relevant CV to mike@pughsgardencentre.co.uk

As Plant Area Department Manager, you will be responsible for leading and managing a team of 6-10 full time and seasonal staff members. You will be required to oversee the daily operations of the plant area within Pugh’s Garden Village, ensuring a high standard of plant care, customer service, and sales performance with excellent housekeeping standards. As well as managing an enthusiastic team, you will be required to work closely with suppliers and manage stock levels, shrinkage, and profitability of the plant area in line with clear KPI’s.

Key Responsibilities:

To communicate and delegate tasks across the department, upskilling and supporting team members, ensuring that job lists, plans and targets are shared with your team and appropriate staff, using the GCA standards as a benchmark, Staff Buzz meetings and key communication updates following management announcements and meetings.
Manage the care and maintenance of plants, ensuring they are healthy and well-presented.
Alongside the group plant area manager, you will be required to support ordering, receiving, and merchandising of plants and gardening products.
Monitor sales, stock levels, and budgets to drive profitability.
Maintain a safe, clean, and visually appealing garden centre environment.
Keep up to date with horticultural trends and seasonal plant varieties.
Train and lead a team of horticultural staff, ensuring we are providing expert advice and excellent customer service.
Performance Management - to recruit, develop, coach, discipline, and review staff, to ensure that all team members have the product knowledge and customer service skills required for the effective performance of their roles
Holiday/Absence management – lead and manage a fair and equable process for your team to ensure accurate holiday/absence targets are met in line with the Pughs policy for holiday management
Ensure that staff rotas are planned and communicated effectively and that the wage cost to sales ratio is on target.
To ensure that there is a safe working environment within the department for customers, staff and visitors and all statutory and company Health and Safety policies and procedures are adhered to

About You:

Essential Skills

Excellent leadership and team management skills with previous managerial experience within a retail environment.
Achieve high levels of personal productivity and pace, getting things done quickly, efficiently and to a high standard with confidence and enthusiasm.
Retain a constant level of professional conduct when in working with suppliers, customers, and staff – lead by example.
Have excellent people management skills that promotes communication providing guidance and feedback, resolving conflicts and promotes a positive work culture
Passion for customer service with a friendly and approachable attitude.
Ability to work in an outdoor/indoor retail environment and perform physical tasks.

Desirable Skills

Previous experience in horticulture/garden centre management or similar role is an advantage but not essential.
A passion or interest in gardening and plants and a willingness to learn and immerse yourself in the Garden Centre retail environment.
A relevant horticultural qualification is a plus but not essential.

What We Offer:

Pugh's Staff Wellbeing Benefits

As a permanent employee of Pugh's, after passing your probation period you will be entitled to the following

Competitive salary and performance-based incentives.
Staff discounts across all garden centre and hospitality departments and sites
Opportunities for career growth and professional development.
A dynamic, green-fingered work environment in a family run, growing business
Full Uniform provided
Wide range of training provided
Pensions Scheme with NOW Pensions
Health Assured - Staff Health & Well-Being Support Scheme

If you have the experience and enthusiasm to thrive in this role, we would love to hear from you!