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.

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