Garden Center General Manager

Garden Center General Manager | Future VP Opportunity

Build one of the most inspiring garden centers in America. We believe a garden center can be much more than a place to buy plants. It can be a destination - a place where people are inspired, families make memories, the community gathers, and customers return again and again. That is exactly what we are building, and we are looking for the leader who wants to build it with us.

The Garden Center General Manager will lead the people, performance, and future direction of the Garden Center Department. This is not a traditional store management role. The right leader will partner closely with the CEO and President to translate a bold vision into an actionable plan, build a high-performing team, elevate merchandising and customer experience, strengthen systems and accountability, and drive profitable growth.

For the right person, this role is intended to develop into Vice President of the Garden Center Department within three to five years.

Translate the long-term vision for the Garden Center into clear annual priorities, seasonal plans, measurable goals, and consistent execution. Lead, coach, and develop approximately 35 employees while building a culture of accountability, growth, hospitality, teamwork, and fun. Develop department leaders and emerging talent so employees know where to go for guidance, problem-solving, and professional growth. Create the best possible customer experience across the full 10-acre property, from the first impression to the final purchase.

Set and maintain exceptional standards for visual merchandising, seasonal presentation, product storytelling, store flow, and overall appearance. Oversee plant and hardgoods purchasing, inventory management, pricing, vendor relationships, greenhouse growing, and operational coordination. Manage department financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, margins, inventory turns, sales goals, and profitability. Develop systems, processes, and procedures that improve consistency, efficiency, scalability, and accountability.

Anticipate problems, seasonal needs, staffing gaps, inventory challenges, and customer opportunities before they become urgent. Work collaboratively with the Marketing and Events team while providing strong operational partnership for events, workshops, promotions, and community experiences. Communicate clearly with ownership, company leadership, department leaders, employees, vendors, and customers. Lead with authority, make sound decisions, and bring solutions while remaining a collaborative and dependable team player.

The Garden Center has a clear plan that connects daily work to the larger vision. Employees trust this leader, seek them out for help, and become better because of their coaching. Leaders and team members understand expectations and take greater ownership of results. Customers consistently experience an inspiring, welcoming, memorable destination. Merchandising is creative, cohesive, seasonal, and commercially effective. Operational issues are anticipated early and addressed with practical solutions.

Financial performance, inventory discipline, labor planning, and profitability steadily improve. The Garden Center is positioned for continued growth and national recognition.

A visionary retail leader who can move comfortably between strategic thinking and hands-on execution. A proven team builder who creates clarity, develops people, holds standards, and earns trust. A proactive problem-solver who looks ahead rather than waiting for problems to arrive. A confident decision-maker who acts with authority while inviting collaboration and good ideas. A creative merchandiser with a strong eye for beauty, presentation, customer flow, and retail storytelling.

A business-minded operator who understands budgets, financial performance, labor, inventory, and profitability. A leader who genuinely loves gardening, plants, outdoor living, and the lifestyle surrounding them. A humble, energetic, approachable person who enjoys building something bigger than themselves.

Minimum of five years of progressively responsible management experience in garden center, nursery, destination retail, specialty retail, hospitality-driven retail, lifestyle brands, or a related environment. Demonstrated success leading and developing teams in a seasonal, customer-facing business. Strong experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, resource planning, and operational improvement. Experience overseeing purchasing, inventory, merchandising, sales, customer service, and vendor relationships. Strong written, verbal, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and retail/POS systems. Bachelor degree preferred; equivalent leadership and operating experience will be considered. Garden center product knowledge and horticultural experience strongly preferred. Ability to work extended hours during peak seasons, including some…