We are seeking a professional Retail Manager with experience in Horticulture and a passion for Sustainability to join our wonderful client, a fantastic independent firm based near Thetford as their new External Gardening & Sustainability Manager. This permanent, full-time role is a rare chance to join this superb independent business at Managerial level. This busy and varied role requires a friendly, dedicated worker who wants to be part of a ‘family feel’ team.This is a brand new position and will require a candidate who has a background in Retail and a wide knowledge in Horticulture and sustainability. Sustainability is something very important to the company and this role would take on the responsibility to roll out new schemes to help the company’s continued effort to be as sustainable as possible.As well as managing and leading a small team of 5, this role involves the day-to-day and overall responsibility for buying, stock management and merchandising for the entire outside offering at the Garden Centre including; Plants, Landscaping products, compost and other gardening equipment.The main duties and responsibilities will include: * Leading the way in the strategic development of the external gardening department to market leading position * Working closely with the external gardening team to improve sales and profitability within the department * Proactively drive the sustainability agenda and communicate efforts company wide * Oversee the running of the department on a day-to-day basis upholding agreed retail standards at all times * Oversee the purchasing of new product lines and ranges * Ensuring the department’s merchandising offers inspiration to customers * Day -to- day management of the external department team * Attending trade shows, industry events and other garden centres as required * Keeping abreast of industry trends and new sustainability techniques * Ensure appropriate training needs are identified and deliveredSkills/experience required: * A background/ wide knowledge of all things horticultural * Huge passion for ensuring sustainability is at the top of the company agenda. Rolling out new initiatives and keeping up to date with the introduction of new schemes within the industry * Experience in a Retail Management role where you’ve had responsibility for managing people, visual merchandising and buying * Experience of managing personnel * A very organised approach * The ability to project manage the ranging, building, displaying and running of a busy s Department * Full driving licence and willingness to travel to trade shows etc. * A great team spirit – the kind of person who is happy to get their sleeves rolled up and stuck in! * A quick-thinking, unflappable nature with the ability to think on your feet and always consistently offer great customer serviceThis is such a superb opportunity for a passionate Retail Management professional who has a background within a horticultural setting who is deeply passionate about sustainability.This role involves a 42-hour working weekends every other week. 1 6 day and 1 4 day week.This is a great chance to join a genuinely lovely group of people, in a varied role. Our client is offering a competitive rate of pay, plus discounts on their products.Due to the high volume of CVs we receive on a daily basis unfortunately we are unable to provide specific feedback on each application. If you have not been contacted after two weeks from the date of your application unfortunately you may have been unsuccessful. We strive to deliver an excellent service to all of our candidates and as such, should you wish to discover the reason you may have been unsuccessful please don’t hesitate to get in touch with us via email to request specific feedback on your application.Please note that all applications and enquiries are treated in the strictest of confidence. As part of our GDPR compliance, your CV and contact details will not be held by us for longer than 30 days unless written consent to do so is requested and obtained. Your CV and contact details will never be shared by us with a 3rd party unless specific consent has been obtained to do so. For more information on our privacy policies and how we comply to the GDPR then please visit our website and click on our privacy policy at the bottom of the page.Find us on Facebook, LinkedIn (Horizon Search & Selection Ltd) and Twitter (@Horizon_East), as well as Instagram (@horizonsearchandselection) to hear about all of our latest jobs as well as company and industry company news