Job Description
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.