Franz Witte Landscape Contracting, Inc.
Garden Center General Manager | Future VP Opportunity
Garden Center
Build One of the Most Inspiring Garden Centers in America
We believe a garden center can be much more than a place to buy plants. It can be a destination - a place where people are inspired, families make memories, the community gathers, and customers return again and again. That is exactly what we are building, and we are looking for the leader who wants to build it with us.
About Franz Witte
Franz Witte is a three-department company with divisions in landscape construction, commercial landscape maintenance, and garden center retail. Since 1971, we have been building and maintaining distinctive, reputable, and exceptional landscapes in Idaho. With more than 200 employees, our culture is grounded in safety, leadership, profitability, relationships, quality, vision, passion - and a healthy sense of fun. Our pink flamingo reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously while doing serious, meaningful work.
About the Garden Center
Our independent, approximately $4.5 million Garden Center operates across 10 acres on a historic Idaho ranch property. The experience includes retail nursery and greenhouse operations, home decor and gifts, workshops and community events, U-Pick flowers, seasonal displays, and growing operations. With a team of approximately 35 employees, we are building a lifestyle destination centered on gardening, beauty, hospitality, community, and joy.
Position Summary
The Garden Center General Manager will lead the people, performance, and future direction of the Garden Center Department. This is not a traditional store management role. The right leader will partner closely with the CEO and President to translate a bold vision into an actionable plan, build a high-performing team, elevate merchandising and customer experience, strengthen systems and accountability, and drive profitable growth. For the right person, this role is intended to develop into Vice President of the Garden Center Department within three to five years.
What You Will Do
Translate the long-term vision for the Garden Center into clear annual priorities, seasonal plans, measurable goals, and consistent execution
Lead, coach, and develop approximately 35 employees while building a culture of accountability, growth, hospitality, teamwork, and fun
Develop department leaders and emerging talent so employees know where to go for guidance, problem-solving, and professional growth
Create the best possible customer experience across the full 10-acre property, from the first impression to the final purchase
Set and maintain exceptional standards for visual merchandising, seasonal presentation, product storytelling, store flow, and overall appearance
Oversee plant and hardgoods purchasing, inventory management, pricing, vendor relationships, greenhouse growing, and operational coordination
Manage department financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, labor planning, margins, inventory turns, sales goals, and profitability
Develop systems, processes, and procedures that improve consistency, efficiency, scalability, and accountability
Keep your head up and look ahead - anticipate problems, seasonal needs, staffing gaps, inventory challenges, and customer opportunities before they become urgent
Work collaboratively with the Marketing and Events team while providing strong operational partnership for events, workshops, promotions, and community experiences
Communicate clearly with ownership, company leadership, department leaders, employees, vendors, and customers
Lead with authority, make sound decisions, and bring solutions while remaining a collaborative and dependable team player
What Success Looks Like
The Garden Center has a clear plan that connects daily work to the larger vision
Employees trust this leader, seek them out for help, and become better because of their coaching
Leaders and team members understand expectations and take greater ownership of results
Customers consistently experience an inspiring, welcoming, memorable destination
Merchandising is creative, cohesive, seasonal, and commercially effective
Operational issues are anticipated early and addressed with practical solutions
Financial performance, inventory discipline, labor planning, and profitability steadily improve
The Garden Center is positioned for continued growth and national recognition
What We Are Looking For
A visionary retail leader who can move comfortably between strategic thinking and hands-on execution
A proven team builder who creates clarity, develops people, holds standards, and earns trust
A proactive problem-solver who looks ahead rather than waiting for problems to arrive
A confident decision-maker who acts with authority while inviting collaboration and good ideas
A creative merchandiser with a strong eye for beauty, presentation, customer flow, and retail storytelling
A business-minded operator who understands budgets, financial performance, labor, inventory, and profitability
A leader who genuinely loves gardening, plants, outdoor living, and the lifestyle surrounding them
A humble, energetic, approachable person who enjoys building something bigger than themselves
Qualifications
Minimum of five years of progressively responsible management experience in garden center, nursery, destination retail, specialty retail, hospitality-driven retail, lifestyle brands, or a related environment
Demonstrated success leading and developing teams in a seasonal, customer-facing business
Strong experience with budgeting, forecasting, financial analysis, resource planning, and operational improvement
Experience overseeing purchasing, inventory, merchandising, sales, customer service, and vendor relationships
Strong written, verbal, organizational, analytical, and interpersonal skills
Proficiency with Microsoft Office and retail/POS systems
Bachelor degree preferred; equivalent leadership and operating experience will be considered
Garden center product knowledge and horticultural experience strongly preferred
Ability to work extended hours during peak seasons, including some weekends and holidays
Why This Opportunity Is Different
Most Garden Center Manager positions ask someone to maintain what already exists. We are asking this leader to help create what does not exist yet. This is an opportunity to shape the future of an independent destination garden center, influence the customer experience from end to end, build a stronger leadership team, and grow into an executive role with meaningful responsibility.
Why Idaho?
Idaho offers an exceptional quality of life, with mountains, rivers, skiing, hiking, fishing, open space, and vibrant communities. Our Garden Center is located in the Treasure Valley, one of the most dynamic and desirable regions in the state. Relocation is probable for the right candidate, and relocation assistance may be available.
Compensation and Benefits
Salary Range: $95,000 - $125,000[
Full-time, senior leadership position
Clear growth path toward Vice President of the Garden Center Department within three to five years
Relocation assistance may be available
Benefits may include Health, Dental, Vision, Life Insurance, 401(k) with 4% company match, Paid Time Off, Holiday Pay, 529 Education Plan, and employee discounts
Apply Today
Ten years from now, we want people across the country to say, \"You have to visit Franz Witte.\" If you are the kind of leader who wants to help build that future - not simply manage today's business - we would love to meet you. Apply today and join the flock.
Franz Witte Landscape Contracting, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer, including disabled individuals and veterans. Pre-employment and random drug testing required.
