What are the responsibilities and job description for the Perennial Manager/ Buyer - Retail & Wholesale Plant Nursery position at Patuxent Nursery, LLC?
Company Overview
Patuxent Nursery is a nationally recognized Top 100 Garden Center renowned for its extensive plant nursery and exceptional customer service. Located in the area, we have been serving the community for 30 years by providing high-quality plants and gardening products at competitive prices. Our commitment is to bring green to the region through a diverse selection of thriving plants and dedicated staff.
Job Overview
We are looking for a knowledgeable, dynamic, and experienced Perennial Manager & Buyer to oversee our perennial operations across both retail and wholesale divisions.
In this hands-on leadership role, you will ensure our perennial department thrives by delivering the right plant variety, volume, timing, and pricing, all paired with outstanding visual presentation.
This position balances horticultural passion with business acumen.
Key Responsibilities:
Buying & Product Selection
- Program Management: Manage retail and wholesale perennial purchasing programs.
- Strategic Sourcing: Select varieties and quantities using sales history, demand, trends, availability, and profitability.
- Vendor Relations & Negotiation: Build grower relationships and negotiate pricing, terms, freight, and special orders.
- Industry Engagement: Attend grower visits, trade shows, and industry events.
- Product Innovation: Source unique, native, pollinator-friendly, and high-demand varieties.
- Coordination & Collaboration: Handle special customer orders and align with production staff on future needs.
Inventory & Financial Management
- Monitor inventory levels, turns, sell-through, shrink, plant loss, and margins, adjusting pricing as needed.
- Use sales and inventory reports to guide purchasing, improve slow-moving stock, and set retail/wholesale pricing.
- Help set annual sales, inventory, and margin goals while maintaining accurate purchase orders and records..
Retail & Wholesale Sales
- Build relationships with retail, wholesale, and design/contractor clients.
- Offer expert advice on plant selection, care, and landscape use.
- Train and support sales staff with product knowledge.
- Assist with promotions, displays, workshops, and seasonal sales initiatives.
- Support wholesale clients with availability, special orders, and substitutions.
- Understand the needs of professional landscapers and designers.
Team Leadership
- Hire, train, schedule, and supervise department staff.
- Set clear standards for plant care, service, merchandising, and productivity.
- Train staff on plant ID, care, service, and sales techniques.
- Lead by example with a hands-on approach.
- Monitor productivity and address performance issues promptly.
- Foster a positive, accountable, team-oriented culture.
The ideal candidate will have:
- Strong knowledge of perennial plants and their cultural requirements.
- Experience in a garden center, nursery, wholesale nursery, landscape company, or related horticultural business.
- Previous buying, sales, or department management experience preferred.
- Strong understanding of perennial availability, seasonality, and market trends.
- Excellent vendor negotiation and relationship-building skills.
- Strong organizational and inventory management skills.
- Ability to understand sales, margin, and inventory reports and use them to make purchasing decisions.
- Excellent customer service and communication skills.
- Ability to lead and motivate a team.
- Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
- Comfort working outdoors and in a physically demanding, seasonal environment.
- Proficiency with computers, email, Excel, POS/inventory systems, and other business technology.
- Ability to work flexible hours during peak spring and summer seasons.
Horticulture degree or formal horticultural education is a plus, but equivalent hands-on nursery or garden center experience will be considered.
Pay: $50,000.00 - $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Tuition reimbursement
Experience:
- Plant purchasing & Nursery: 3 years (Required)
Work Location: In person
Salary : $50,000 - $70,000