Garden centre retail assistant job description
A comprehensive job description template for garden centre retail assistant positions in Australian nurseries and garden centres. Covers plant knowledge, customer advice, plant care and stock management aligned with the General Retail Industry Award.
Garden centre retail assistant job description
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About the garden centre retail assistant role
A garden centre retail assistant combines customer service with practical plant knowledge and hands-on plant care. They help customers select appropriate plants for their gardens, provide care advice and maintain healthy, attractive plant displays through regular watering and maintenance.
In Australia, garden centre retail assistants are typically classified under the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004) at Level 1-3, depending on their plant knowledge and responsibilities. Pay rates include penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work.
This template provides a foundation for creating clear, compliant job descriptions that attract candidates with plant passion and customer service skills. Use rostering software to schedule your garden centre team efficiently.
Key responsibilities
Core duties included in this job description template
Customer service
Greet and assist customers, answer questions about plants and gardening products, provide advice on plant selection and care.
Plant advice
Advise customers on plant selection for specific conditions, seasonal planting, care requirements and problem-solving for common issues.
Plant care
Water, feed and maintain plants, monitor plant health, identify and address pest or disease issues, prune and tidy displays.
Stock management
Receive and unpack deliveries, replenish stock, rotate plants, assist with stocktakes and maintain organised storage areas.
Sales support
Process transactions, suggest complementary products, load customer vehicles, work towards sales targets.
Store operations
Maintain presentation and cleanliness, follow safety procedures, support opening and closing duties.
Skills and attributes
What to look for in garden centre retail assistant candidates
Plant knowledge
Understanding of common plants, growing conditions, seasonal planting and basic plant care requirements.
Communication skills
Friendly, helpful manner with ability to explain plant care advice clearly and listen to customer needs.
Physical capability
Ability to lift and move stock, work outdoors in varying weather, stand for extended periods and perform manual tasks.
Attention to detail
Observant of plant health issues, accurate in providing care advice and thorough in maintaining plant presentation.
Practical skills
Comfortable with hands-on work including watering, potting, loading vehicles and using basic garden equipment.
Team collaboration
Working cooperatively with colleagues to maintain plant care standards and achieve store goals.
Qualifications and requirements
Garden centre retail assistant positions suit candidates with customer service experience, practical interest in gardening and physical capability for outdoor work. Passion for plants often matters more than formal qualifications.
- Customer service experience (Required)
Experience in retail, hospitality or customer-facing roles
- Physical capability (Required)
Ability to lift, carry and perform outdoor manual work
- Availability (Required)
Flexibility to work weekends, public holidays and peak seasons
- Certificate in Horticulture
Formal qualification in horticulture or landscaping
- Garden centre experience
Previous experience in garden centres or nurseries
Working conditions
Set clear expectations about the garden centre environment
- Working retail trading hours including weekends and public holidays
- Physical work including lifting, carrying and moving stock
- Working outdoors in varying weather conditions including heat, cold and rain
- Standing and walking for extended periods
- Early morning starts for plant care and watering
- Exposure to soil, water, fertilisers and plant materials
Award coverage
Understanding the General Retail Industry Award for garden centres
General retail industry award 2020
Garden centre retail assistant positions are covered by the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004). Assistants typically fall under Level 1-3 classifications based on experience and plant knowledge. View current Retail Award pay rates.
Ensure you classify roles correctly and use award interpretation software to calculate penalty rates for weekend and public holiday work accurately.
Career progression
Garden centre retail assistants can progress to senior advisory roles, department supervision or management positions. Building specialist plant knowledge, developing leadership capability and obtaining horticultural qualifications opens advancement opportunities.
Many garden centres support professional development through training programs and promote from within, making retail assistant roles excellent entry points to horticultural careers.
Who should use this template?
This job description template is designed for Australian garden centres and nurseries
Clear job descriptions attract candidates with the right blend of plant knowledge and customer service skills.
How to use this template
Tips for customising the garden centre retail assistant job description
Define plant specialisations
Specify whether you focus on natives, exotics, edibles, succulents or general plants, and the knowledge level required.
Clarify physical requirements
Outline lifting expectations, outdoor work conditions and any specific physical capabilities needed for the role.
Specify seasonal demands
Indicate peak seasons (especially spring) when longer hours or weekend availability is essential.
Include safety requirements
Outline WHS requirements including chemical handling, manual handling and PPE expectations.
Verify award classification
Confirm the appropriate Level 1-3 classification based on plant knowledge and responsibilities under the General Retail Industry Award.
Mention training opportunities
Include information about plant knowledge training, horticultural courses and career development opportunities.
Legal disclaimer
This template is designed to reflect Australian workplace standards and garden centre industry practices at the time of publication. It is provided as a general guide only and does not constitute legal advice.
You should review and tailor this template to suit your business, product range and specific requirements. Confirm the applicable modern award classification and support compliance with all relevant employment laws. For complex situations, seek independent legal or HR advice.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about garden centre retail assistant job descriptions, qualifications and employment. Built for Australian small businesses.
- A garden centre retail assistant helps customers select plants and gardening products, provides advice on plant care and growing conditions, maintains plant health and presentation, and processes sales transactions. They need practical knowledge about plants, seasons and growing requirements under the General Retail Industry Award.
- Garden centre retail assistants typically fall under Level 1-3 of the General Retail Industry Award 2020 (MA000004). Level 1 covers new employees, Level 2 covers those with basic plant knowledge who can advise customers, and Level 3 covers those with specialist horticultural knowledge or additional responsibilities. See our Retail Award pay rates guide.
- A garden centre retail assistant provides customer service, plant advice and stock maintenance in a retail setting. A horticulturist typically has formal qualifications in horticultural science and may work in plant production, landscape design or specialist advisory roles. Some garden centres employ qualified horticulturists for specialist advice.
- Formal horticultural qualifications aren't mandatory but are advantageous. Most importantly, garden centre retail assistants need practical knowledge about common plants, growing conditions, seasonal planting and basic plant care. Passion for gardening and willingness to learn are essential.
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Learn moreRetail award pay rates
Current pay rates, penalty rates and allowances under the General Retail Industry Award 2020.
View ratesRegulatory sources
This job description is aligned with Australian workplace award requirements.
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Disclaimer
This document is a general job description template provided for informational purposes only. It is not legal advice and may not reflect the latest changes in legislation or apply to every workplace situation. RosterElf Pty Ltd and the template provider accept no liability for any loss arising from reliance on this document. Users should seek independent legal advice and customise the template to ensure it complies with all relevant laws, awards and workplace requirements.