Garden Centre Manager
£28,000 - £32,000

40 hours per week (including weekend work every other week).
Key holder duties are part of the role.

Spadework is a registered charity that provides care, support and meaningful opportunities for adults with learning and other disabilities. Spadework operates a number of social enterprises on their five-acre site, on the outskirts of West Malling, these include, but are not limited to; a Garden Centre, Farm Shop, Café, Log Delivery Service, Grocery Delivery Service and Gardening Service.

Our Garden Centre Manager will have strong horticultural knowledge and will have a proven track record of delivering commercial performance in the garden retail sector. You will be responsible for the management, development, implementation, coordination and promotion of Spadework Social Enterprises CIC. The post holder will contribute to the long term sustainability of the registered charity Spadework while helping to meet both the health and social care needs of the vulnerable adults who access our services.
You will have the ability to display a real passion for horticulture and customer service while being financially and commercially astute.

Key Responsibilities
• Day to day management of the Garden Centre
• Staff management – rotas/ annual leave, training, disciplinaries, PDPs
• Maintaining and monitoring Health & Safety in accordance with statutory requirements
• Customer Service - ensuring your team provides exemplary service, resolving complaints.
• Ensuring the site is visually appealing and stocked sufficiently to exceed sales targets
• You will monitor sales and provide high level management information to the charity CEO.

Skills and Experience
• Horticultural knowledge is essential. You will not be considered if you do not have this.
• Proven management experience within the Horticultural sector.
• A minimum of 3 years’ experience in a managerial position.
• Must be highly commercial and results driven
• Excellent people skills with the ability to communicate effectively with people at all levels.
• Excellent problem solver.

You must have flexibility to work at weekends and Bank Holidays as and when required to meet the demands of the organisation, there will be an expectation to work every other weekend, though you will be in control of organising the rota. As this role will be predominantly running our Garden Centre there will be additional seasonal requirements around peak times.

This is a unique opportunity to be part of a driven and passionate team where a strong background in Garden Centre retailing at senior management level is essential. We have an amazing team of staff and volunteers and we hope to appoint someone who can work as part of the team and lead by example.

Confirmation of all appointments is subject to proof of eligibility to work in the UK, satisfactory references, DBS disclosure and medical clearance. Spadework values the diversity that exists in all our communities and works towards this being reflected in our workforce.
Please note that we reserve the right to remove this advert prior to the advertised date, dependent on the level of response received. You are therefore advised to apply at your earliest convenience.

To apply please forward your CV and covering letter. For more information or an informal chat please call 01732 87002 and ask for Jackie Davison

Previous applicants need not apply.

Closing date: Friday 12th March 2021