Garden Center Assistant General Manager

A Touch of Green • Full-time • Homer Glen, Illinois, United States • 1w ago

A Touch of Green is hiring an Assistant Greenhouse General Manager to lead retail and operations at its 4-acre garden center in Homer Glen, IL. This hands-on role combines horticulture, inventory, and team leadership.

A Touch of Green, a premier destination for landscape design and horticulture, has been transforming outdoor spaces for over 42 years. As a family-owned business, we specialize in expert landscape design, premium garden center services, and outdoor living solutions. Join a company with deep industry expertise, a commitment to quality, and a strong, collaborative team environment.

We are seeking an experienced Garden Center Assistant General Manager to lead operations at our 4-acre garden center in Homer Glen, IL. In this role, you will oversee purchasing, inventory management, and retail operations while working closely with our landscape division. You’ll be responsible for ordering plant materials, setting pricing, managing seasonal demand, and ensuring a seamless flow of inventory. This hands-on leadership position requires expertise in horticulture, plant materials, and retail management, along with the ability to train and develop a strong team. Strong growth potential as the current General Manager transitions into retirement.

We offer a competitive salary, health, dental, and vision insurance, a simple IRA retirement plan, PTO that scales with tenure, and relocation if necessary. This is a long-term leadership role with opportunities to grow within our company. We’re looking for someone dedicated to becoming a key part of our team and ensuring the continued success of our garden center.

Key Responsibilities:

Oversee daily operations of the garden center, ensuring efficiency and profitability.
Work closely with the current Garden Center Manager during a structured transition period, gaining valuable insights and gradually taking over key responsibilities.
Manage purchasing, inventory, and supplier relationships, ensuring optimal stock levels for retail and landscaping needs.
Set pricing based on market trends, costs, and sales data.
Train and supervise a team of sales associates, yard staff, and seasonal employees.
Work closely with the landscape design team and local landscapers to anticipate demand and ensure availability of key materials.
Maintain a well-organized and visually appealing retail space.
Lead hiring and scheduling efforts to ensure adequate staffing, especially during peak seasons (April-June).
Monitor and analyze sales data to improve forecasting and purchasing strategies.
Provide excellent customer service and expert plant knowledge to assist both retail customers and professional landscapers.

Qualifications:

Strong horticulture and plant material knowledge - must be able to identify and assess quality of plant materials.
Proven experience in garden center or nursery management, purchasing, and inventory control.
Prior management experience with the ability to lead and develop a team.
Excellent communication skills and ability to thrive in a fast-paced, seasonal business.
Self-motivated, career-minded, and eager to take over operations.
Spanish-speaking skills are a plus.
Ability to work six days per week during peak season (March-June), with flexibility for five-day weeks as the team expands.