Assistant Manager in Training; Retail-Garden Center

Gardening without Guesswork

Armstrong Garden Centers, serving 130+ years, is a leader in the Garden Center Industry and is on the search for exceptional candidates to join our Manager Training Program. Our comprehensive program includes management and operational training along side a horticultural educational program which provides you the seeds of knowledge to be successful with us.

This position combines both on the job and classroom training in preparation for an Assistant Store Manager position. Our Manager Trainee candidates work alongside an existing seasoned management team and serve as an integral link to aid in the success and overall performance of the store and company. Manager Trainees participate in customer service, sales, store department logistics, and management tasks.

Primary Duties and Responsibilities- What to look forward to:

• Be an expert and brand ambassador for Armstrong Garden Centers.
• Ability to connect with customers and provide expert knowledge of our products.
• Mentor, coach and lead a team of 10-20 members.
• Monitor inventory control, including ordering and buying materials.
• Responsible for taking ownership of Garden Center including, maintenance, watering, visual merchandising, marketing displays, and maintaining stock levels of product.
• Manage operations:
  Point of Sale, scheduling, budgets, ongoing associate training and development.
• Follow safe work practices and reporting any unsafe working conditions to management and HR.

Requirements- Do you have what it takes?

• Previous retail management or supervisory experience
• Exceptional customer service skills
• Horticulture knowledge is preferred; horticultural training is offered.

Compensation – We have great benefits:

• Medical, dental, life insurance after 30 days
• Paid holidays and paid vacation after 90 days
• Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401K
• Hourly rate will commensurate with experience

Work Schedule- What to expect:

• Garden Center hours (variable with season) five-days per week, weekends required

Physical Environment/Working Conditions- Safety First!

Requires extensive use of back, legs, knees, arms, feet and hands for lifting, stooping, squatting, bending, twisting, kneeling, pulling, pushing, reaching overhead, and walking. Unassisted lifting limits between 30 and 50 lbs. Individuals may be required to do any or all of these situations throughout the work day, with an emphasis on walking and standing for a major portion of the day.

The outside environment will comprise most of the day with some inside building activity.

Together, Armstrong Garden Centers and Pike Nurseries is the largest independent retail garden center in the United States. With over 50 retail, wholesale and production facilities in California, Georgia and North Carolina, Armstrong and Pike are leaders in every facet of the green industry. Our pride of ownership can be seen in all that we do – from our exceptional services to our quality plant material all of which are out-shined by the fabric of our company and reason for our success – our associates.