Plant Sales Assistant

Role Title

Team

Reports to

Hours

Salary

Date Issued

Role Summary

Plant Sales Assistant

Enterprises

Retail and Commercial Manager

3-4  days  per  week,  depending  on  season,
including some weekends and evenings

£26,000 full time equivalent, gross p.a.

30th January 2026

As the Plant Sales Assistant at Birmingham Botanical Gardens, you will play an
important role in supporting the shop’s income generation.
You will lead the department with support from the Retail & Commercial Manager to
ensure that the retail plant sales side of our business runs effectively – with an eye
on the purchasing, range, seasonality, and merchandising.

Key Responsibilities

•  Under the direction of the Retail and Commercial Manager, to provide a retail
plant and gardening offer to members and visitors to Birmingham Botanical
Gardens

•  Under the direction of the Retail and Commercial Manager, to be consistently
effective in the selection, purchasing, display and sale of plants and gardening
products

•  To support the team with driving profits within the plant retail operation at

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

•  Be confident with own knowledge to provide appropriate maintenance and care

for the stock of plants within the retail area

•

Identifying additional opportunities to trade alongside the wider Gardens
Operations in visitor programming, group visits and educational visits

•  Model best practice customer service and sales operations within plant and

garden products sales, including greeting visitors in a cheerful, courteous and
effective manner

•  To listen to customers’ needs and advise them on plant purchasing as per their

requirements

•  Act as an ambassador for the Gardens and a role model for the Enterprises

Teams, behaving in a way which delivers the highest level of customer service
and satisfaction

1

•  To ensure availability of an agreed range of plant stock to provide customer
purchasing opportunities in accordance with the purchasing guidelines

•  Be fully familiar with the wider retail ranges and lines to help visitors with

enquiries and to be able to upsell when possible

•  Ensure that cash is handled, and credit card transactions are processed in

accordance with the Birmingham Botanical Gardens procedures, using the EPOS
system (CSY) to make retail sales in the Gift Shop & Plant Sales

•  To deal appropriately with any customer service issues and handle all enquires

promptly and professionally, escalating where necessary

•  To remain fully informed about The Birmingham Botanical Gardens programme

and upcoming events

•  To ensure the plant sales area is tidy and free of trip hazards; watering and

moving plants as required

•  Become confident in the use of our ticketing and CRM system to process
bookings for day admission and special events, upsell memberships and
donations. Training will be given on this as we move further into our Capital
Project build on site.

•  To be flexible and supportive of seasonal retail pop-ups on site

•  Bid our visitors a warm goodbye and gather feedback wherever possible

regarding their visit as they exit through the giftshop!

•  To be fair and inclusive to all visitors and their needs, always showing respect

and politeness

•  To understand and support the aims and objectives of Birmingham Botanical

Gardens and to ensure these are reflected in the delivery of the role

Other Duties

Other duties as and when required to meet the needs of the Gardens.  These will
include working in internal retail and reception areas to provide cover for Gardens’
opening as necessary.

Hours

Due to the changing seasons, The Gardens have different opening hours throughout
the year. Shifts will vary depending on the opening times. A proposed breakdown of
hours is here, which covers a 2-week rota:

Low season (week 1): 16.5 hours over 3 days

Low season (week 2): 19 hours over 4 days

Mid-season (week 1): 25.5 hours over 4 days

Mid-season (week 2): 28.5 hours over 4 days

High season (week 1): 32 hours over 4 days

High season (week 2): 32 hours over 4 days

2

Person Specification

Area

Essential

Desirable

Knowledge and
Attributes

Knowledge of purchasing in a
retail and visitor environment.

Experience of working in a plant
sales area (or similar).

Plant knowledge for a wide range
of indoor and outdoor plants

A people person, who can provide
advice and guidance to visitors
when required.

Knowledge of Birmingham
Botanical Garden’s
Heritage and Scientific
significance.

Awareness of
Birmingham’s heritage and
cultural landscape.

A passion for plants,
gardens, conservation and
sustainability.

A high level of attention to detail.

GCSE Maths and English
Grade 4/C or equivalent

Sourcing, purchasing, and
collecting a range of plant
stock. Awareness of how
to minimise stock less and
maximise sales.

High standards of
merchandising and
interpretation pricing.

Literate and numerate

Works well in a busy environment.

Skills and
Experience

Proven experience managing
plants sales and skills to care for a
variety of plants

Proven experience of working with
external suppliers and partners.

Computer literature – knowledge
of MS Office and MS Office 365 or
similar.

Experience in sales & revenue
generation and driven by targets.

Can use initiative and is flexible

3

What we can offer:

•  Pension through Royal London; Life-assurance through Zurich

•  24hour Employee Assistance Programme through BUPA

•  An extra day of annual leave for your birthday!

•  Company sick pay

•  Free parking is generally available onsite

•  Tea/Coffee and cold drinks provided during the working day

•  Discounts & Tickets: 20% discount in the gift shop; 10% discount in the Cafe;
tickets for immediate family into the Gardens and special offers for one-off
events throughout the year

Enquiries:
If you have any questions, wish to have an informal discussion about the role,
or would like access support to apply for this role in a different way, please
email jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

To apply:
Please send your CV and covering letter
to jobs@birminghambotanicalgardens.org.uk

Application deadline: 18th March 2026, midday

Interviews: Likely to be Wednesday 1st April 2026

Alternative dates for interview will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Online interviews will be considered on request to accommodate specific travel or
access needs.

4