Operations Manager 2 Job Share			

The Operations Manager is responsible to the General Manager. This is a senior position within the organisation and the Operations Manager will be part of the Senior Management Team with an expectation that he/she will contribute significantly to both the smooth running and the on-going development of the organisation. The Operations Manager will be jointly responsible, with the Support Services Manager, for the nursery in the absence of the General Manager.

The purpose of this role is to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the organisation with a split emphasis on business development and the following:

Assist in the delivery of plans for production of plant stock for retail/wholesale.
Drive onsite performance contributing to future financial planning.  
The day-to-day management and development of people working support the charity. 
Health and safety compliance management.
Assist in the management of the asset including the gardening/ estates work. 
Planning of retail activities on and off site. 

The Operations Manager is a shared role with the first manager who is responsible for buying, plant production planning, production administration including book-keeping for the dept. accounts on wholesale and plant production. The second Operations Manager is responsible for onsite general and retail operations, this role will have retail budget responsibility and will manage ground activity H&S and people development.

The aim is to ensure that we deliver a sustainable charitable workplace where service users want to attend and staff, and volunteers want to work. That the plants produced are to the highest quality and that a high level of customer satisfaction is achieved from those we supply, both wholesale customers and retail customers coming to our site. That our asset is maintained and equipped to deliver safe and efficient operations, where our people are managed and developed in line with the nursery growth and business planning. 

As part of the Senior Management Team the Operations Manager will also be responsible for:

•	Assisting with the development and implementation of policies and procedures
•	Introduction and maintenance of quality standards.
•	Weekend duties as assigned by role share. 
•	Other duties commensurate to the nature of the work and level of responsibility after consultation and agreement with the General Manager.

Joint Responsibilities 

•	Joint appraisal manager 6 monthly 
•	Joint Supervisory team meeting organiser
•	Jointly rotate chairing of Supervisory/staff meetings (with Support Services Manager) 
•	Joint Op’s staff cover organisation for team holiday planning.
•	Planning of training for all staff requirements with SSM
•	Planning of gardens and border stock
•	Plant marketing
•	Attendance at wholesale plant fairs 

Person Spec Both Ops 1 & 2

We are looking for someone who has:

•	A keen interest in horticulture and can demonstrate this knowledge.
•	Someone who has an interest in community work.
•	Drive, enthusiasm 
•	The ability to think ‘outside the box’ 
•	A positive ‘can do’ approach to solving problems. 
•	Experiencing of managing people
•	Experiencing of managing budgets 
•	Experience of reviewing a P&L report
•	Good administration/organisational skills 
•	A commitment to the values and aspirations of MBN
•	Good computer literacy 
•	Good attention to detail
•	Full driving licence

Reference is made that all work at the nursery takes a safeguarded approach due to the nature of the charity’s objectives. The want to work alongside adults with learning difficulties means the roles are part vocational to support our aims. 

Specific to Op’s 1. 

•	A qualification in horticulture 
•	Buying/Range Planning 
•	Practical experience of planning horticultural production
•	Experience of management/administration

Specific to Op’s 2

•	Experience in Operations Management
•	Commercial experience preferably linked to horticulture.
•	Business development experience 
•	Experience/qualification in delivering Health & Safety in the workplace
•	People management/development experience
•	Exposure to marketing

Operations Manager 1 - (3 days)

Financial
•	Prepare and control budgets for plant production.
•	Review pricing structure annually for retail/wholesale
•	To review profitability of dept. with information created through accounts summary and provide response.
•	Keep accounts up to date and monitor spend thresholds to authorise credits on agreed returns.
•	Control budget for plant supplies, van fuel, sundries 
•	Paying of dept. generated billing.
•	Justifying monthly ‘Over Budget’ outgoings to GM
•	To agree discounts available on plants and stock being marketed for promotional purposes.
•	Attend Finance Subgroup and Trustees meetings

Business Development
•	Responsible for growing wholesale across all genres to budget.
•	Liaise with garden centre customers on opportunities in their calendar to showcase MBN.
•	Plan stock and staff attendance at shows, plant fairs and NGS locations to maximise stock sell through in conjunction with Ops share role.
•	Work with HTA to keep abreast of sector information.
•	Support growth in new products for retail for all seasons

Production
•	Plan the production of all plants and veg.  
•	Source materials required.
•	Managing Supervisor plans for growing wildflowers 
•	Ensure good record keeping!  
•	Ensure high standards of production.
•	Work with legislation regarding plant health and movement 
•	To review retail stock availability for the nursery sales targets and marketing campaigns
•	Production administration/ book-keeping
•	Plan marketing materials required for plants sales at wholesale – website updates, POS required onsite/offsite.
•	Liaison with events of stock requirements for events and plant shows 
HR
•	Line manager to perennial team, herb team, plant prep team, wildflower team and driver for wholesale with regards to quality, output, deadlines and marketing of stock through the Marketing Officer and agreed with GM.   
•	One to one discussion on challenge/ needs and new work streams for production and deliveries, reporting people concerns to SSM.
•	Cover organisation/rostering all teams exc’ Estates, Kitchen, AG Mon – Wed in case of holidays/sickness.
•	Agreeing staff cover with joint Ops Manager. 
•	 ‘Go To’ Manager for retail issues Mon – Wed.
•	Monitor production entries on performance in company reporting suite. 
•	Attend Supervisor monthly meeting.
•	Line manager for production health and safety instruction

Operations Manager 2 - (3 days min including Sat)

Commercial/Financial
•	Achieve retail targets.
•	Manage retail displays and stock rotation. 
•	Support external sales opportunities identified by Ops share Manager.
•	Paying of dept. generated billing 
•	Justifying monthly ‘Over Budget’ outgoings to GM
•	Management of procurement of equipment for premises and operation 

Business Development
•	Develop onsite & external retail sales opportunity in conjunction with joint Ops Manager. 
•	Work with Events calendar and coordinator to ensure onsite/offsite readiness for sales and donations.
•	Merchandising/marketing planning alongside development of new stock ranges 
•	Manage and report stock performance onsite/offsite.
•	Inform joint Ops Manager on stock opportunities/risks arising from retail and wholesale sales onsite.
•	Respond to customer feedback from retail team.
•	Develop bulb /seed shop with joint Ops Manager.
•	Management of vegetable production reporting availability to kitchen and retail
•	Develop corporate volunteering projects with GM
•	Develop advertising opportunities onsite.

Health & Safety
•	Compliance of H&S regulations.
•	Lead agenda for monthly Supervisor H&S meeting
•	Audit reporting weekly and inc’ fire requirement testing
•	Management of maintenance staff to H&S priorities and to report emerging issues to GM.
•	Working with auditors on annual action lists
•	Assisting GM with Estates work planning to required safety standards. 

HR
•	Line management of gardening team, retail team, craft team, maintenance and volunteer team.
•	Agree volunteer schedule weekly.
•	Manage retail staffing and communication of targets. 
•	Induction Manager for new starters
•	Volunteer operations lead
•	Conduct weekly one to one discussion with team supervisors on non-production planning & staff/volunteer issues. Reports this to GM. 
•	Cover organisation all teams (exc’ Estates, Kitchen, AG) Thurs - Sat in case of holidays/sickness
•	‘Go To’ Manager in case of production issues Thurs/Fri.
•	Monitor of all entries relating to staff performance and project activities in company reporting suite.
•	Attend HR/HS Subgroup and Trustees meetings