Assistant Dept Manager

Family Tree Nursery, a leading top 100 garden center, is looking for its next generation of leaders. As a successful business we have been able to reinvest in and remodel our locations for a modern retail shopping experience. We pride ourselves on customer service, quality plants, creative displays, fun events and a healthy work culture. Our committed, passionate, and hardworking leaders guarantee a genuine horticultural experience. We also grow and produce most of our bedding plants, perennials, garden mums and poinsettias. Our ability to grow plants has created a strong plant culture. We have traveled extensively to bring the best production and retail practices to Kansas City. With three retail locations and over ten acres of growing space we have opportunities in a variety of positions. Competitive wages and benefits are available. These opportunities are career path jobs, with potential for future growth. Leadership skills are critical.   

Our Assistant Department Manager position is considered both a support-partner to the department manager and a leader of the team. The position involves working directly with the manager in keeping the department functioning at an elevated level through the proper oversight of employees, projects, and plant material. The Assistant Manager will be directly and indirectly involved in creating worklists, ordering, and receiving plant material, working directly with employees on projects, and training new employees. This position requires comfort with pressure that comes from being considered both a support to the department manager but also a leader to the team. There will be times Family Tree is looking for the one filling this position to take personal ownership and initiative in problem solving yet also times when we will expect the assistant to solely support the direction of the department manager, laying down one’s own personal opinions in leadership choices. Constant communication is key, as they will be expected to communicate with all levels of employees clearly and concisely and in any department. It’s important to this role that you can complete projects alongside your staff, but that you can also look at the big picture and prioritize accordingly.  

This role is challenged and expected to seek to set personal development goals of growth. Your personal performance impacts the team’s performance. It is meant to be a career pathing position. The better you become as a leader the better your team becomes.  

Qualifications: 

• Proven experience in at least one of these areas: horticulture sales, garden center management, or other plant-based industry. Exhibits general plant knowledge of plant material.     

• Strong and proven communication and interpersonal skills 

• Demonstrated ability to help execute department’s daily needs; overseeing projects and delegation of tasks and worklists; ensuring proper completion.  

• Experience in training and onboarding of new hires and existing employees. 

Requirements: 

• Understands watering techniques and systems to aid in watering decisions    

• Ability to confidently sell plant products all while aiding in the success of our customers     

• Willingness to spray or treat plants that have pests or diseases     

• Maintains cleanliness and safety as a point of attention throughout the store   

• Drives a sense of urgency and ownership within their department    

• Ensures proper implementation and completion of operational systems  

• Exposure to buying products and creating merchandising plans to sell incoming product    

• Has a basic understanding of business profitability and what leads to good financial decisions    

• Willing to work weekends and holidays     

• Facilitates planning of events and workshops  

• Willing to operate a skid steer     

• Clear Driving record    

• Must be available to work 6 days per week March, April, May, and half of June, and as business requires.    

• Able to work in all-weather types and potentially the extremes; wet and cold, or hot and dry.    

• Able to stand and walk on your feet for multiple hours at a time with minimal breaks.     

• Able to comfortably lift 50 pounds repeatedly throughout the day.    

• Competent with computers and technology-based devices; including, but not limited to Microsoft products.