Plant Studio Manager

Job Description

Variegated NYC is a growing interior landscaping company that designs, installs, and maintains plantscapes, florals, and greenery for a diverse clientele across New York City. Our mission is to create vibrant, healthy environments that elevate the spaces where people live and work. We're looking for a Plant Studio Manager to run our plant studio and warehouse, oversee the prep and staging that fuels every install, and lead the team that keeps the space moving.

This role is equal parts operations management and team leadership. You'll own the day-to-day of our studio/warehouse: managing the team, organizing the space, receiving deliveries, running inventory, and making sure plants and materials are prepped and ready when our install crews need them. You'll be the person who keeps the engine room of the business running clean.

Responsibilities

Studio & Warehouse Operations

• Own the day-to-day of the plant studio and warehouse: layout, organization, cleanliness, and flow.
• Receive inbound deliveries of plants, planters, soil, hardware, and supplies. Inspect quality and quantity. Flag issues with vendors.
• Maintain accurate inventory of plants, planters, tools, and consumables.
• Build and enforce systems for staging, labeling, and tracking materials by project.

Plant Prep & Project Readiness

• Coordinate with designers and install leads on what each upcoming project needs and by when.
• Direct the prep team to ensure plants are cleaned, potted, conditioned, and staged ahead of every install.
• Oversee pre-build work on planter assemblies, irrigation components, and other install materials.
• Hold a clear staging area so crews can load out efficiently with no confusion.

Team Leadership

• Manage studio and prep staff day to day: scheduling, task assignment, training, and accountability.
• Set and uphold standards for plant handling, inventory accuracy, and studio safety.
• Provide regular feedback, complete performance reviews, and guide the development of the team.
• Provide input on hiring decisions for warehouse and prep staff.
• Run regular team meetings and syncs to review project pipeline, upcoming installs, and prep priorities.

Vendor & Procurement Coordination

• Work with plant suppliers and material vendors on delivery timing and quality.
• Flag inventory shortfalls early so purchasing stays ahead of project needs.
• Build relationships with key vendors to improve reliability and reduce costs.
• Track material costs and consumption to support purchasing decisions.

Driving & Install Support

• Drive cargo vans and small box trucks for occasional material runs and install support.
• Step in on installs when crews need additional capacity, particularly on larger jobs.
• Help with loading, on-site staging, and breakdown as needed.
  

Requirements

• Experience leading a workspace and managing a small team in a production, horticulture, or trades environment.
• Experience managing or supervising a small team: assigning work, reviewing output, giving direct feedback, and holding people accountable.
• Strong organizational skills and a process-oriented mindset. You build systems, track details, and don't let things fall through the cracks.
• Valid driver's license with a clean record. Comfortable driving cargo vans and small box trucks in NYC.
• Physically capable of lifting 50+ lbs and moving plants, planters, and materials throughout the day.
• A genuine interest in plants, horticulture, or how physical spaces come together. You don't need to walk in as a plant expert. We'll train you on species and handling. But you should be someone who's curious and picks things up quickly.
• Comfortable with the realities of a working studio: dirt, water, plants, deliveries, cargo vehicles.

Nice To Haves

• Any existing knowledge of plants, horticulture, or landscape design. This will accelerate your ramp-up but is not required. We have a strong team that can teach you the plant side.
• Direct experience in interior landscaping or a closely related field (exterior landscape, floral, nursery, greenhouse).
• Familiarity with inventory management software and Google Workspace.
• Experience coordinating across design, install, or care teams in a multi-functional operation.