Maternity Cover - Assistant Plant Area Manager

Squire's Garden Centres; Reigate; On-site; GBP 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A family-owned garden centre group is seeking an Assistant Plant Area Manager for maternity cover. The role emphasizes management support for the horticultural team and outstanding customer service. Candidates should have retail horticultural experience and a strong passion for customer interaction. The position is based in Reigate, England, and involves training team members, managing stock, and exceeding customer service expectations.

Benefits

50% employee discount in restaurants

20-30% discount in garden centre

5.6 to 6.6 weeks holiday based on service

Defined Contribution Pension Plan

Attendance rewards

Cycling scheme

Employee Assistance Programme after 2 years

Qualifications

• Extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department.
• A passion for customer service and ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
• Commercial awareness and ability to create dynamic displays.

Responsibilities

• Provide management support to the horticultural team.
• Maintain control over stock levels including ordering.
• Handle customer queries and complaints.
• Generate sales opportunities through customer interaction.

Skills

Customer service skills

Retail management experience

Horticultural knowledge

Flexibility and enthusiasm

Education

Horticultural qualification

Job description

Maternity Cover - Assistant Plant Area Manager

Job Description

Posted Wednesday 20 August 2025 at 00:00

Your primary responsibility will be to provide a management support to Horticultural team, with customer service at the forefront of everything you achieve.

Working closely with the Plant Manager to help the Garden Centre to succeed.

Maternity Cover until 26 April 2026

Main duties and responsibilities:

• Maintain good control over stock levels, including accurate ordering and stock clearance where necessary
• Train and monitor your team to ensure that stock is cared for appropriately
• Co-operate fully with line management and product managers
• Take responsibility for the whole department in the absence of the manager
• Ensure all queries and complaints are handled with courtesy are referred where necessary to the manager and product manager
• Customer Service expectations are exceeded
• Sales opportunities are generated through interaction with customers

To be successful in this role, we are looking for people:

• Extensive knowledge and experience of working in a retail bedding department and/or a horticultural qualification.
• A passion for customer service and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment are essential.
• You will be flexible, enthusiastic and highly motivated, commercially aware and have the ability to create dynamic displays.

Squire’s is a family-owned group of 17 garden centres based in Surrey, Sussex, Middlesex, and Berkshire. Since 1936 the purpose of our business has been the happiness of those who work in it.

We are committed to growing our business and to promoting the highest standards in horticulture, catering, and retail.

We want our staff to enjoy working with us in a friendly, energetic customer focused environment.

Rewards & Benefits:
We want our employees to be known for their friendliness, helpfulness, and good customer service, with their whole ethos being ‘nothing is too much trouble for our customers’. In turn we will provide an extensive benefit package, please see below.

• Employee Discount– 50% in Restaurants and 20% in Garden Centre on joining, increasing to 25% after 2 years’ service and 30% after 5 years’ service.
• Holiday (including bank holidays)– 5.6 weeks on joining increasing to 6.2 week after 2 years’ service and 6.6 weeks after 5 years’ service.
• Bonus– We reward our employees with a non-contractual bonus at Christmas, based on the profit of the company in any financial year (first year is dependent on start date)
• Pension– We are all aware of how important it is to save for our retirement. We offer a Defined Contribution Pension Plan to new employees. If you pay into the plan and meet the government criteria, the company will too, and these contributions will be invested.
• Attendance– After one years service, if you have worked for a full financial year and have 100% attendance, one day holiday (pro-rata) will be added to your holiday grant as a 'Thank you'.
• Made A Difference Scheme (M.A.D)– A reward scheme for team members who make a difference to our business through outstanding customer service, over and above normal duties or initiatives that have grown / inspired the business. There is a monthly winner. All winners select a gift to receive.
• Learning & Development– You can look forward to a wealth of learning opportunities with us that will enhance and develop you with the skills and confidence you need.
• Birthday –After 6 months service if your birthday falls on your contracted day to work, you can leave work early (holiday policy rules apply). If you have 2 years service on your birthday, you will receive a £25 Squires gift voucher (pro rata for less than 40 hours).
• Cycle2work scheme –After 1 years service, a government initiative which offers a 25% to 39% saving on new cycling equipment. This cost is deducted out of your pay over 12 or 19 months.
• Child's first day at school –After 1 year's service come in late and go home early on your child's first day of school life, so that you can be there to take them and pick them up from school on their first day.
• RHS Membership or a Tree / Shrub –After 1 years service Squire's employees can choose either one tree or shrub to plant each year up to the value of £50 retail on the anniversary of your engagement or £50 towards RHS annual membership.
• Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) –After 2 years service employees are eligible to join an EAP, that gives them access to a range of wellbeing resources, etc.
• Retirement–After 15 years service if you are retiring and have over 15 years service, your contracted hours will be reduced by a fifth but your pay will remain the same for your final 3 months.
• Free Parking– Available to all employees in the designated parking areas on our site.