Garden Centre Operations Manager- Cardiff Garden Centre

Are you a confident, commercially focused leader with a passion for operational excellence, people development, and delivering outstanding customer experiences?

Do you thrive on driving standards, controlling costs, and ensuring a garden centre runs seamlessly from stock control to customer service?

We are looking for an experienced and motivated Garden Centre Operations Manager to play a pivotal role in the success of Cardiff Garden Centre, part of the Blue Diamond Group, the UK’s leading garden centre retailer.

Location: Cardiff Garden Centre
Hours: Full-time, including alternate weekends
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience

Why Join Us?

Blue Diamond is the UK’s largest garden centre group by turnover, growing from £187 million in 2019 to over £400 million in 2025, with 52 centres across the UK and Channel Islands.

Our success is built on inspirational retailing, exceptional customer service, and strong operational discipline. We serve an AB1 customer demographic, offering style, innovation, and quality across home and garden.

Led by our Managing Director Alan Roper since 1999, we are proud of our strong staff retention, people-focused culture, and commitment to developing long-term careers.

This is a key senior role within the centre, offering the opportunity to influence every aspect of the business and grow with an ambitious, forward-thinking group.

The Role

As Garden Centre Operations Manager, you will be accountable for the smooth, compliant, and profitable operation of the centre. Working closely with Department Heads, Category Heads, CREMs, and the Managing Director, you will ensure exceptional standards across stock control, customer experience, people management, and cost control.

Key Responsibilities:

Stock Management & Profit Protection

• Maintain an accurate stock file across the entire centre, ensuring margins are correctly reported and shrinkage is minimised.

• Ensure all colleagues fully understand and correctly use Vector, Blue Diamond systems, and EPOS processes.

• Lead and support Department Heads to drive strong stock management, BPI performance, and accountability.

• Oversee stock takes, wastage, credits, and audits, ensuring all procedural errors are eliminated.

• Reduce shrinkage in line with company guidelines and submit quarterly Stock Management Audits.

Leadership, Coaching & Communication

• Provide daily guidance and support to Department Heads, ensuring smooth operations and appropriate staffing levels.

• Conduct regular one-to-one walk rounds with Department Heads, Goods In, Till Supervisors, and Customer Service Managers.

• Lead daily team huddles and weekly operations meetings to drive communication, engagement, and accountability.

• Build strong working relationships with Category Heads and CREMs to support seasonal change and centre performance.

Customer Experience

• Lead by example in delivering outstanding customer service across all departments.

• Ensure the customer journey is seamless – from trolley and basket availability to product availability, replenishment, and carry-to-car service.

• Monitor customer feedback, loyalty data, and online reviews, taking immediate action where improvements are needed.

• Foster a customer-centric culture, minimising task-driven behaviours and maximising service excellence.

Centre Standards & Presentation

• Ensure the centre is always “ready for trade” through regular floor walks and proactive management.

• Maintain high standards of cleanliness, visual merchandising, POS execution, and overall presentation.

• Support Department Heads in resolving staffing challenges and maintaining consistent service levels.

• Oversee housekeeping across grounds, car parks, pathways, and customer facilities.

Commercial Control & Overheads

• Take responsibility for overall centre performance, reviewing P&L reports and implementing action plans.

• Control overheads within budget, including staffing, maintenance, and training costs.

• Monitor weekly Potential Opportunities reports and escalate concerns where required.

HR & Payroll

• Coordinate local recruitment for General Assistant and Supervisor roles using proactive, multi-channel approaches.

• Oversee employee relations processes in line with Group HR guidance.

• Ensure accurate and timely payroll submissions and audits.

• Monitor colleague engagement, morale, and wellbeing, acting as the “eyes and ears” of the centre.

Health & Safety

• Lead compliance with Group Health & Safety standards.

• Ensure daily checks, audits, and risk assessments are completed accurately.

• Promote safe working practices across all teams.

About You:

You will be an experienced retail or operations manager with strong leadership skills and a proven ability to run a complex, high-volume retail environment. You will bring:

• Strong commercial and operational awareness.

• A disciplined, detail-driven approach to stock control and cost management.

• Confident leadership and coaching skills, with the ability to motivate diverse teams.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building abilities.

• A proactive, solutions-focused mindset.

• A passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences.

What We Offer:

• Competitive salary

• Generous staff discount

• Ongoing training and development

• Career progression within a growing national group

• A supportive, professional environment where your leadership makes a real impact