Glasshouse Section Manager

The Glasshouse Section Manager is responsible for leading, coaching, and mentoring a team of Operatives responsible for harvesting tulips within a glasshouse environment. This is a hands‑on role requiring strong people management skills, a commitment to health and safety, and a focus on quality and productivity.

The role includes overseeing the efficient operation of specialist equipment such as the Bench System and Furora machinery, ensuring adherence to customer‑specific quality standards, and enabling operational success by identifying and resolving challenges proactively.

This position is ideal for a proactive and driven individual who can lead by example, ensuring the team meets and exceeds expectations while maintaining a safe, efficient, and high‑performing working environment.

• Demonstrates strong leadership by fostering a positive and collaborative team environment where members feel supported and motivated.
• Ensures team members are trained, equipped, and coached to deliver high-quality harvesting operations and adhere to safety procedures.
• Ensures all harvesting operations consistently meet or exceed customer quality expectations through careful monitoring and proactive improvements.
• Resolves quality issues by accurately identifying gaps, implementing necessary changes, and providing further training where required.
• Maintains efficiency in the harvesting process by optimising workflows and making full use of machinery such as the Bench System and Furora tools.
• Monitors performance metrics and proactively addresses any deviations from the targeted production schedule.
• Embeds a safety-first culture within the team, ensuring that all operatives adhere to health and safety standards at all times.
• Identifies and resolves potential risks in the glasshouse environment to ensure a safe working space.
• Maintains open and effective communication across various stakeholders, including operatives, management, and support teams, to ensure clarity on objectives and expectations.
• Provides timely escalation of critical issues, ensuring proper resolution without compromising operational flow.
• Operate specialist equipment such as the Bench System and Furora machinery to achieve safe, efficient, and productive harvesting processes.
• Monitor daily and ongoing performance of glasshouse operations, ensuring plans are met and taking corrective action where necessary.
• Manage and oversee the harvesting of tulips, ensuring the team adheres to specifications and achieves high standards of accuracy and quality.
• Ensure the team understands and adheres to quality standards outlined in customer‑specific quality guidelines.
• Conduct regular checks on harvested flowers to ensure compliance with required specifications.
• Identify and address training and operational gaps when quality standards are not met, implementing corrective action promptly.
• Regularly monitor the glasshouse environment, escalating concerns regarding pest control, disease, or other potential challenges.
• Facilitate efficient operations by ensuring the glasshouse remains well‑organised and clean, maintaining high housekeeping standards.
• Collaborate with the Operations Manager to implement and improve systems that drive efficiency and overall performance.
• Support the team with other activities as required, including covering for annual leave where necessary.
• Assist with tasks relating to growing and maintaining the smooth running of the glasshouse, which may include operating a forklift when needed (subject to appropriate certifications).
• Promote a collaborative and productive culture within the team while addressing conflict effectively when required.

• Proven experience in a leadership or supervisory role, ideally within an operational or horticultural environment.
• Strong understanding of health and safety regulations and their practical application.
• Hands‑on experience operating machinery and tools relevant to glasshouse operations, such as the Bench System and Furora machinery (training provided if required).
• A clear focus on delivering high‑quality output, with an understanding of customer expectations and quality standards.
• Previous experience delivering training and coaching to teams, ensuring continuous improvement and knowledge sharing.
• Proactive in identifying and resolving operational challenges, with sound problem‑solving skills.
• Forklift operation experience or valid certification.
• Knowledge of pest and disease management within a horticultural setting.
• Understanding of tulip harvesting processes or similar horticultural specialisms.