Nursery Manager - Horticulture

Nursery Manager - Horticulture Vacancy Reference: 54869 AB
* 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 to support smooth operational flow. 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. In conjunction with the Production Manager 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 to maintain continuity of plant care. 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…