Landscape Maintenance Operations Manager

Location: Longs, SC
Job Type: Full-Time
Salary: $70,000 to $80,000 annually, based on experience
Reports To: Branch Manager

Position Summary

We are seeking an experienced Landscape Maintenance Operations Manager to lead the daily operations of a commercial landscape maintenance division.

This position is responsible for overseeing Field Managers, multiple maintenance crews, scheduling, staffing, service quality, safety, equipment, budgeting, and overall divisional performance. The Maintenance Operations Manager will ensure all contracted services are completed safely, efficiently, on schedule, and according to established quality standards.

The ideal candidate is a strong operational leader with commercial landscaping experience, financial knowledge, and the ability to develop high-performing teams.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership and Team Management

• Lead, coach, and develop Field Managers and maintenance team members.
• Provide clear direction and establish expectations for performance, quality, safety, and productivity.
• Hold supervisors and crews accountable for operational results.
• Support employee training, development, and advancement opportunities.
• Maintain appropriate staffing levels across all maintenance routes and crews.
• Forecast seasonal labor needs and communicate staffing requirements to branch leadership.
• Assist with recruiting, onboarding, training, and retaining qualified employees.
• Promote a positive workplace culture focused on teamwork, accountability, professionalism, and continuous improvement.

Landscape Maintenance Operations

• Oversee the daily and weekly execution of commercial landscape maintenance services.
• Manage route schedules to improve crew balance, productivity, and operational efficiency.
• Ensure contracted maintenance services and enhancement projects are completed accurately and on time.
• Coordinate new property start-ups, including staffing, equipment, scheduling, and service expectations.
• Adjust work schedules based on weather, seasonal needs, staffing changes, and customer priorities.
• Conduct routine jobsite and property inspections to verify service quality.
• Identify service deficiencies and ensure corrective work is completed promptly.
• Monitor daily production, crew progress, and route completion.
• Ensure work tickets, service records, and job documentation are completed accurately and on time.

Budgeting and Performance Management

• Manage the division’s operating budget, including labor, materials, vehicles, and equipment.
• Monitor key performance indicators, including gross margin, labor efficiency, overtime, productivity, and cost control.
• Review job-costing reports and service-line profitability.
• Track daily, weekly, and monthly labor hours, expenses, revenue, and operational performance.
• Analyze performance trends and implement solutions to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Develop corrective action plans when production or financial goals are not being met.
• Prepare and communicate operational and financial updates to branch leadership.
• Support annual budgeting, forecasting, and strategic planning.

Customer Service and Internal Collaboration

• Partner with Account Managers to ensure contracted services meet customer expectations.
• Coordinate corrective work, enhancement services, and special customer requests.
• Serve as the primary operational contact between branch leadership, Account Managers, Sales, Field Managers, and maintenance crews.
• Ensure customer concerns and operational issues are communicated and resolved quickly.
• Maintain consistent service quality and professional standards across all accounts.
• Coordinate the documentation, removal, and replacement of damaged or dead plant material when required.
• Support customer retention by ensuring reliable and high-quality service delivery.

Safety and Equipment Management

• Enforce company safety policies, procedures, and safe work practices.
• Promote a proactive safety culture across the maintenance division.
• Support safety meetings, training, inspections, incident reporting, and corrective actions.
• Ensure employees use required personal protective equipment.
• Oversee the condition, cleanliness, and proper use of company vehicles, trailers, tools, and equipment.
• Coordinate vehicle, equipment, and repair needs with branch leadership.
• Ensure crews have the tools, materials, equipment, and resources needed to complete their work safely and efficiently.
• Remove unsafe equipment from service and ensure repairs are completed promptly.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 to 5 years of experience in commercial landscape maintenance, landscape management, or operations leadership.
• Previous experience managing supervisors and multiple field crews.
• Strong knowledge of commercial landscape maintenance practices, scheduling, route management, production, and quality control.
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to coach, develop, and hold teams accountable.
• Experience managing labor costs, budgets, job costing, and operational performance metrics.
• Understanding of gross margin, overtime management, productivity, and service-line profitability.
• Strong organizational, planning, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and make decisions in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Excel and other reporting or spreadsheet programs.
• Experience with landscape management software, such as Aspire, is preferred.
• Bilingual English and Spanish communication skills are a plus.
• Valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.
• Ability to successfully complete required background and drug screening.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to regularly travel between commercial properties and job sites.
• Ability to stand and walk for extended periods while inspecting properties and overseeing crews.
• Ability to work outdoors in varying temperatures and weather conditions.
• Ability to bend, kneel, reach, climb, and perform other physical activities as needed.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds when necessary.
• Ability to safely enter, exit, and operate company vehicles.

Work Environment

This position combines office-based administrative responsibilities with field-based operational oversight. The Maintenance Operations Manager must be comfortable visiting active job sites, responding to changing priorities, and supporting field teams throughout the workday.