Job Description
Lead the San Diego maintenance region to deliver exceptional service, profitable growth, and a best-in-class safety culture. You will own regional performance end-to-end—developing leaders, strengthening client relationships, and driving operational discipline across branches.
Key Responsibilities
Operational Excellence
- Establish a consistent operating rhythm across branches (weekly KPI reviews, site walks, quality audits, and action plans).
- Standardize SOPs for routing, scheduling, equipment readiness, and materials management; eliminate waste and rework.
- Conduct regular property walks with teams; verify scope compliance, horticultural quality, and seasonal readiness.
- Partner with Tree Care, Irrigation, Enhancements, and Construction to deliver integrated solutions.
- Ensure yards are clean, compliant, and efficient; maintain fleet and small equipment uptime targets.
Client Success & Growth
- Serve as executive sponsor for priority accounts; guide renewals and expansions with value-based proposals.
- Coach Branch and Account Managers on proactive communication, issue resolution, and QBR (Quarterly Business Review) cadence.
- Build market visibility with HOAs, property managers, municipalities, and institutional buyers; monitor competitor moves and local demand.
- Oversee estimating accuracy, pricing discipline, and win-loss reviews to protect margins and improve close rates.
Financial Leadership
- Own regional P&L, budgets, and forecasts; meet or exceed revenue, gross margin, and EBITDA targets.
- Drive labor efficiency (planned vs. actual hours), materials control, and enhancements mix.
- Manage AR/DSO and cash flow; partner with finance on monthly closes and variance analyses.
- Track WIP/backlog, productivity, and branch scorecards; translate insights into decisive action.
People & Culture
- Recruit, develop, and retain Branch Managers and high-potential leaders; build bench strength and succession.
- Set clear goals, coach performance, and address gaps quickly; recognize wins and model accountability.
- Champion a positive, inclusive, and safety-first culture aligned to company values.
- Provide continuous training in leadership, client service, estimating, and technical horticulture.
Safety, Compliance & Risk
- Enforce Cal/OSHA and company safety programs; lead safety huddles, near-miss reporting, and corrective actions.
- Maintain TRIR goals; perform incident reviews and implement prevention measures.
- Ensure licensing, permits, vehicle records, and chemical handling (IPM) are current and compliant.
- Mitigate contract, property, and environmental risk; collaborate with legal and HR as needed.
Water & Irrigation Management
- Lead irrigation audits, water budgets, and smart controller strategies to reduce consumption and costs.
- Ensure compliance with drought-stage restrictions and municipal/agency requirements.
- Present water-savings roadmaps and ROI cases to clients; measure and report outcomes.
Qualifications
Must-Have
- 5+ years leading multi-branch commercial landscape maintenance operations with full P&L accountability.
- Proven results in client retention, revenue growth, margin improvement, and safety performance.
- Strong financial and analytical skills (pricing, forecasting, productivity, AR/DSO).
- Working knowledge of SoCal horticulture, irrigation controls, IPM, and contract management.
- Excellent communication and executive presence; able to influence at all levels.
- Valid CA driver’s license; routine travel within greater San Diego.
Nice-to-Have
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Horticulture, Landscape Management, or related field.
- Bilingual English/Spanish.
- Experience with municipal, HOA, and institutional portfolios and public procurement/RFPs.
Core Competencies
- Leadership & Talent Development: Hires well, sets clear standards, coaches for performance.
- Operational Discipline: Builds systems, measures what matters, and executes consistently.
- Client Centricity: Anticipates needs, resolves issues fast, and earns trusted-advisor status.
- Financial Acumen: Makes data-driven decisions; protects margin while growing share.
- Safety Mindset: Prevents incidents through planning, training, and accountability.
- Change Agility: Improves processes, scales best practices, and manages through ambiguity.
Job Tags
Contract work, Seasonal work, Local area,