Full job descriptionLead Grower / Nursery Manager | Essex | £DOE
Do you love growing? This is an opportunity to take the lead at a thriving commercial nursery, driving crop production, leading a team and shaping the performance of a busy ornamental growing nursery.
This is a hands-on leadership role within a sizeable commercial growing operation, producing ornamental bedding plants, vegetables and traded material for its own garden centres. The nursery operates predominantly under glass, with moveable growing tables and a strong focus on efficient, consistent production.
The role:
As Lead Grower / Nursery Manager, you will take responsibility for the day-to-day running of the nursery and ensure production is delivered to plan, particularly through the key spring and summer growing periods.
What’s on offer?
*Competitive salary
*Potential bonus scheme, dependent on company performance
*28 days’ holiday including bank holidays
*The opportunity to take genuine ownership of a commercial growing operation
*A hands-on role with scope to introduce new ideas and improve the way the site operates
*The opportunity to work closely with senior leadership and make a visible impact
You will be:
*Taking ownership of the nursery’s growing and production activities.
*Following and delivering the agreed production plan, ensuring plants are ready to meet commercial demand.
*Leading and developing the nursery team, including agency staff during peak periods.
*Planning and organising labour effectively as the nursery moves into its busiest periods.
*Monitoring crop quality, timing and presentation to ensure the required standards are met.
*Working closely with the wider business and key stakeholders to ensure production meets customer and garden centre requirements.
*Helping to improve existing growing and operational practices, bringing new ideas and ways of working to the site.
*Supporting the business with purchasing, planning and the movement of young plants and other growing materials.
You will ideally have:
*Previous experience working in a commercial nursery or growing operation.
*Experience of growing ornamental plants, bedding or similar crops.
*PA1 and PA6 qualifications.
*Previous supervisory, team leader or management experience.
*Good understanding of commercial production and the importance of meeting demand, quality and deadlines.
*The ability to understand the connection between growing, customer requirements and the commercial side of the business.
*A practical, hands-on approach and a willingness to get stuck in.
*A down-to-earth, personable approach with the ability to build strong relationships across the business.
What’s next?
For an informal chat, please call Florence on , email , or message me on LinkedIn.
Don’t worry if your CV isn’t up to date - just send what you have, and we’ll take it from there.