General Manager - Davey Institute

Company: The Davey Tree Expert Company

Locations: Kent, OH

Additional Locations: N/A

Work Site: On Site

Req : 228934

The General Manager of the
Davey Institute provides strategic and operational leadership for the Davey Institute under the direction of the Executive Vice President for the Davey Institute and Employee Development. The Davey Tree Expert was founded in 1880, and the Davey Institute was established in 1909, and is the company's industry-pioneering research, science, and technical innovation department. This role directs strategy for scientific research, product development, diagnostics, advanced training, and environmental stewardship programs, positioning the Institute as an industry leader in plant health science and arboriculture.

The General Manager cultivates strategic external partnerships, guides the Institute's financial and operational performance, and serves as a member of Davey's senior leadership team, ensuring the Davey Institute's programs drive scientific excellence, competitive advantage, and environmental leadership across the company and the broader green industry.

The Davey Tree Expert Company and its subsidiaries value each individual and strive to encourage diverse ideas and perspectives to inspire collaboration and empower our employees. We believe our commitment to building a culture of belonging by treating everyone with respect, dignity, empathy, and care is critical to achieving our vision and mission.

• Determines strategic priorities for the Davey Institute and SEED campus, directing research initiatives, scientific innovation efforts, and program goals that reinforce Davey's position as an industry leader in plant health science and arboriculture.
• Directs the Institute's core programs, including research and development, technical services, diagnostic laboratory, ecosystem services, software innovation, business innovation, product sales, geospatial analysis, environmental programs, and pesticide and fertilizer licensing, ensuring scientific rigor, operational excellence, and enterprise relevance.
• Drives scientific innovation by guiding multidisciplinary research teams to advance discoveries in arboriculture sciences, plant health, pest and disease management, climate science, utility vegetation management, and environmental stewardship.
• Identifies and spearheads strategic business development opportunities across Davey's core service offerings.
• Shapes the Institute's advanced training and technical education strategy, ensuring field operations and clients receive expert tree and soil care, diagnostics, consultation, and instruction grounded in current science.
• Leads strategic financial planning and budget allocation for the Institute, guiding resource investment and spending decisions across programs to support long-term sustainability and scientific leadership.
• Forges lasting partnerships with external research institutions, academic organizations, government agencies, and industry bodies to advance the Institute's scientific mission and expand its influence in arboriculture and environmental science.
• Serves as the Institute's principal spokesperson and ambassador, representing Davey's scientific expertise and environmental stewardship leadership with clients, the green industry, and the public.
• Champions the company's corporate responsibility and environmental stewardship commitments by aligning Institute research and environmental programs with enterprise sustainability priorities.
• Partners with field operations, HR, and business leaders to ensure Institute technical services, diagnostics, and training programs address the evolving needs of Davey's workforce and clients, providing technical guidance and subject-matter expertise as needed.
• Advocates for the Davey Institute within corporate and service line leadership, serving as the primary liaison between the Institute and the broader organization to ensure Institute priorities and capabilities are represented in enterprise planning.
• Participates as a member of Davey Tree's senior leadership team, contributing Institute perspective to company-wide strategy and decision-making.
• Upholds the Institute's compliance with applicable regulations, licensing requirements, and company standards governing research programs, the Diagnostic Laboratory, pesticide and fertilizer licensing, and SEED campus operations.
• Maintain regular and reliable attendance and punctuality.
• Follow all company policies,…