Job Description
Tree Nursery Manager
Chichester
What to be part of something with exciting growth plans?
Love running a horticulture nursery and seeing great plants leave your site?
Ready to take ownership of a container-grown tree operation and make it your own?
This is a rare opportunity to lead the day-to-day running of a busy, growing tree nursery. You'll have real influence over crop quality, production planning and team performance, while working closely with sales, dispatch, and technical colleagues to deliver for both retail and wholesale customers.
What's in it for you?
- A senior, hands-on nursery management role
- Competitive salary, based on experience.
- Long-term, permanent position
- The chance to shape horticulture crop plans, processes, and product range.
- Support from a collaborative, experienced team.
The Role
You'll be responsible for the container-grown tree unit, covering both ornamental and fruit trees. From sourcing through to finished product, you'll make sure crops are healthy, well planned and delivered on time.
You'll work closely with Despatch, Procurement, Sales, and technical teams, and you'll be involved in customer visits, audits, open days, and partner engagement.
Day-to-day, you'll be:
- Taking responsibility for all container-grown tree production and cultural activities
- Planning and overseeing potting, irrigation, feeding, pruning and crop scheduling.
- Building and maintaining crop plans, forecasts, and stock records
- Developing clear production programmes for each product line
- Managing pest, disease, and biosecurity through an effective ICM programme
- Operating and optimising irrigation, fertigation, and rainwater systems
- Leading, training and organising permanent and seasonal staff.
- Working closely with Despatch to meet quality and delivery targets.
- Managing tree and growing media suppliers
- Supporting customer audits, site visits, open days, and industry events
- Making sure Health & Safety and compliance standards are met at all times.
This isn't just about keeping this horticulture nursery running; it's about improving standards, increasing efficiency, and producing trees you're proud to send out.
About You
- Previous experience in container-grown tree production
- Experience supervising or leading a nursery or production team.
- Strong practical knowledge of tree crops, substrates and feeding programmes.
- Comfortable using irrigation and water-management systems.
- Confident with stock control, forecasting and basic IT.
- Full UK driving licence
What's Next?
For an informal chat, please call me, Sarah, on (phone number removed), email (url removed), or message me on LinkedIn.
Don't worry if your CV isn't up to date, just send what you've got, and we'll take it from there.
