Assistant Manager & Sundries Department Manager Location: Southend Contracted Hours: 40 hours/week (5 days over 7, one day per weekend) We are recruiting for an Assistant Manager to lead the dry goods/sundries department of a well-established, independent garden centre in Southend. This is a fantastic opportunity for an experienced retail professional to make a meaningful impact within a respected and supportive business. Key Responsibilities: Oversee day-to-day running of the garden centre, with a focus on the dry goods/sundries departments. Lead a small team across retail, tills, and shop floor to ensure high standards of customer service and merchandising. Organise workflow and task allocation, ensuring priorities are met and the team remains productive and engaged. Manage EPOS-based stock systems (IPOS), support ordering, and ensure smooth stock replenishment processes. Handle customer enquiries and complaints professionally, contributing to a positive visitor experience. Support with deliveries and liaise with the delivery driver to ensure timely and accurate fulfilment of orders. Work alongside senior team members initially, with a view to taking full responsibility for retail operations. Ideal Candidate: Prior experience in a garden centre or similar retail environment, ideally in a management capacity. Excellent people skills - able to build rapport with customers and lead a diverse, multi-generational team. Organised, dependable, and comfortable in a dynamic environment where you'll need to manage multiple responsibilities. Confident with basic IT systems and EPOS. A sense of humour, team spirit, and a positive attitude are highly valued in this team. Perks & Benefits: Free parking on site Staff discount (10% after 3 months) 28 days annual leave (including bank holidays) Stable, long-term opportunity with supportive directors Chance to step into a key leadership role and make a meaningful contribution to the business Get in Touch! Think you could be a good fit? We'd love to hear from you! To learn more or discuss the role further, contact Leo at leo@morepeople.co.uk or call 01780 480 530 .