Horticulture Commercial Manager

2 months ago

York UK, North Yorkshire, United Kingdom Castle Howard Estate Ltd Full time

Role Summary:

We are seeking an experienced horticulture commercial manager to oversee our garden centre and tree nursery operations. The ideal candidate will possess deep horticultural knowledge, excellent management abilities, and a strong commercial acumen to drive both sales, profitability and plant production success.


Garden Centre Management: The Castle Howard Garden Centre is a well established and successful business that currently targets local gardening experts. The Horticulture Commercial Manager will develop a strategy to provide significant growth that will include a plan to launch Estate grown trees and plants. The successful candidate will work with the Head of Retail to develop a new strategy for the interior of the garden centre that will triple revenue by introducing new brands and concepts, whilst taking the decision to exit declining product categories. Key responsibilities will include:


  • Source all plants and gardenware and oversee the maintenance of outdoor display areas, ensuring a visually appealing and seasonally relevant programme.
  • Work with the Head of Retail in the buying of garden furniture, gifting, pet and Christmas ranges.
  • Manage the development of a new range of Castle Howard grown trees and plants which reflects the Walled Garden, Grounds and wider Estate.
  • Manage a rolling programme of events within the Garden Centre to attract the wider visitor attraction customer base.
  • Work with our Head of Catering in providing outdoor hospitality in the Garden Centre during seasonally relevant periods.
  • Lead the team in providing expert advice to customers on plant selection, care, and garden maintenance, ensuring an exceptional service experience.


Tree Nursery Management: The Tree Nursery is a strategically important part of the Castle Howard Estate masterplan; with the opportunity to significantly grow revenue and profit whilst also supporting the Estate’s environmental ambitions. The successful candidate will manage the expansion plan that has already tripled the productive footprint of the operation and is forecast to quadruple revenue. Key responsibilities will include:

  • Identify and pursue new business opportunities to expand the customer base of the Tree Nursery and Garden Centre.
  • Coordinate with suppliers to procure high-quality seeds, saplings, and other necessary materials.
  • Conduct market research to stay informed about industry trends and customer needs; engage with industry bodies.
  • Lead and manage plant production, offering guidance, training, and support to ensure a high-performing department.
  • Review and enhance the existing growing plan, collaborating with the Tree Nursery team to increase the production of CH-grown stock.
  • Monitor plant health and growth against planned objectives, actively managing the cost of production to maximise efficiency.


Stock and Financial Management:

  • Oversee the inventory management, ensuring accurate tracking of stock levels.
  • Prepare and manage budgets, forecasts, and monthly reports to support and drive business growth.
  • Implement effective stock rotation practices to maintain the health and quality stock.
  • Conduct regular audits to assess stock health and promptly address any issues.
  • Manage inventory levels, conducting regular stock checks and coordinating restocking efforts.


General Management:

Lead and supervise the team across both the garden centre and tree nursery, providing necessary training and support.

Ensure compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations, including specific industry standards such as Plant Healthy.

Represent the Estate at industry events, trade shows, and conferences to promote the business and stay connected with industry developments.

Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, clients, suppliers, and industry partners.

Be part of the wider visitor attraction leadership team, supporting key events in a duty management role.


Desired Experience and Qualifications:

  • Proven experience in horticultural management, with a focus on both retail and production environments.
  • Strong knowledge of plants, gardening techniques, horticultural best practices, and tree nursery operations.
  • Excellent leadership and team management skills, with the ability to inspire and develop staff.
  • Customer-focused with exceptional communication and interpersonal skills.
  • Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced retail and production environment.
  • Strong organisational, problem-solving abilities, and commercial acumen.

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