Plant Sales Coordinator

A Day in the Life: 

As the Plant Sales Coordinator, you are responsible for the daily operations of the Garden’s Retail Nursery, including preparation of plants and nursery merchandise. You’re involved in all aspects of a retail nursery, but equally important is your job as a native plant ambassador. It’s your job to educate customers on the ecological benefits of native plants, and to convince customers to replace that non-native bougainvillea with a beautiful manzanita.  

 Get rid of that jacaranda and plant an oak! In addition to all the standard nursery tasks you are a very important part of sharing our mission with the public and transforming the Santa Barbara landscape. You will also coordinate retail volunteers, organize, label, and price plants and shop goods, and ensure the overall cleanliness and maintenance of retail spaces. This full-time (40 hours per week), non-exempt position reports to the retail manager.   

 The Team: 

Our staff love plants and, more importantly, they love talking about plants! Our shop is a popular gathering spot during Garden visits, and our retail staff are there to welcome and inform our new native plant converts! We are fortunate to have an experienced shop team who know their way around a cash register but also understand how we interact with guests can set the entire tone of their visit. Interactions with our shop and retail nursery team are often called out as a highlight in people’s reviews of their visit. You will join an amazing team! 

What You’ll Do: 

Retail   

• Ensure merchandise and plants are accurately priced, labeled, and attractively displayed
• Provide outstanding customer service, acting as a front-line information source, answering gardening and retail nursery-related questions, including in-person and online inquiries
• Develop and implement appropriate merchandising displays (under the guidance of the retail manager)
• Fulfill online plant sales and returns, including email support to customers for any online sales.
• Submit plant orders to wholesale nurseries and schedule plant deliveries. Oversee unloading of plants, checking inventory and getting new plants ready for sale.

 Volunteer Coordination  

• Support the retail volunteer group, one of the largest cohorts at the Garden
• Participate in their recruitment, training, and supervision

 Plant Care  

• Serve as lead staff when the retail manager is absent
• Coordinate activities of part-time staff to ensure that live merchandise is maintained to a high standard
• Manage pests and plant diseases under the guidance of the retail manager
• Maintain proper care of tools and technical equipment
• Keep indoor and outdoor facilities clean at all times

 Record Keeping  

• Help the retail manager ensure accurate, real-time inventory of goods, including live plants and nursery merchandise items
• Complete and record assigned tasks, inventory, back of stock, and supplies in daily log
• Operate back-end of point-of-sale system and cash register

You Must Be Able To: 

• Communicate effectively and provide excellent customer service
• Perform basic plant care including watering, planting, pruning, propagation, and pest control
• Operate a computer and POS cash register
• Multi-task and manage time in a fast-paced environment, prioritizing customer service above other tasks and projects, as needed
• Work independently and as part of a team to further the mission of the organization
• Drive an electric cart on Garden grounds and occasionally drive to offsite locations
• Work weekends, as needed, with the retail manager
• Lift and carry 50 lbs., bend, squat, and walk stairs and the SBBG trails;
• Stand/walk for up to 2 hours at a time, and use a computer or phone for lengthy periods

 You Will Definitely Need:  

• One year’s experience serving the public and operating a cash register
• Knowledge of, or the desire to learn, horticultural requirements and uses for a range of California native plants, including familiarity with scientific and common plant nomenclature
• Proficiency with database and spreadsheet software
• A valid California driver’s license (because you will drive a Garden “cart”)

 It Would Be Nice if You Had: 

• Associate’s degree in ornamental horticulture or related field preferred, OR a minimum of one-year professional experience in a retail nursery or equivalent setting can substitute
• Knowledge of plants and local history
• Bilingual in Spanish (not necessary, but we would love this!)
• At least one year of supervisory experience
• Public garden or museum experience

 More About Us: 

The Garden is a beautiful place to work!  And in this role, you are often outdoors.  In addition to beautiful views, outdoor work environments also include exposure to extreme temperature fluctuations, rain, dust, allergens, poison oak, insects, small wild animals, and sun exposure. 

 Disclaimer: 

The employee must be able to perform the essential functions of the position satisfactorily, and if requested, reasonable accommodations will be made to enable employees with disabilities to perform the essential functions of their job, absent undue hardship. Santa Barbara Botanic Garden retains the right to change or assign other duties to this position.