Operations Manager

Position Overview

The Operations Manager will be responsible for building, managing, and growing a high-end residential fine gardening and horticultural services operation. This leadership role combines hands‑on horticultural expertise with operational and business management to deliver exceptional fine gardening, ornamental plant care, and long‑term landscape maintenance services for high‑end residential and estate clients.

The role will initially focus on serving current and past residential clients before expanding to new high‑end residential customers once operations achieve consistent performance and scalable processes. Services will focus exclusively on residential properties.

The Operations Manager will establish service standards, operating systems, team structure, client experience, and financial processes while ensuring exceptional horticultural quality across every property.

Operations Strategy & Growth

• Define the vision, scope, service offerings, and operating model for the fine gardening and horticultural services.
• Develop and execute a phased growth strategy focused on high‑end residential clients.
• Establish systems, processes, and performance standards required to support sustainable growth.
• Develop standard operating procedures, service protocols, and quality standards for fine gardening services.
• Identify specialized equipment, tools, vehicles, and technology required to operate and scale the business.
• Research and procure equipment and resources as operational needs grow.
• Develop new service opportunities, pricing structures, and recurring maintenance programs.
• Partner with sales and account management teams to identify and convert qualified residential opportunities.

Fine Gardening & Horticultural Standards

• Oversee fine gardening practices for ornamental shrubs, specimen trees, hedges, perennial beds, and other high‑end landscape features.
• Establish and maintain standards for ornamental pruning, shaping, deadheading, edging, mulching, soil cultivation, seasonal cutbacks, and garden cleanup.
• Ensure gardening practices preserve the aesthetic intent and long‑term health of each property.
• Develop plant health and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.
• Establish procedures for pest and disease scouting, identification, prevention, and treatment.
• Ensure appropriate plant selection, spacing, placement, and maintenance practices.
• Stay current with horticultural best practices, plant varieties, techniques, and fine gardening trends.
• Continuously improve horticultural standards and craftsmanship across the operation.

Long-Term Landscape Maintenance

• Develop customized long‑term maintenance plans for residential properties.
• Create seasonal maintenance calendars covering pruning,soil health, mulching, plant health, and replacement requirements.
• Monitor the long‑term structural and visual integrity of maintained gardens.
• Develop relationships with nurseries and growers to secure quality plant material, competitive pricing, and reliable availability.
• Establish quality‑control inspections to evaluate plant health, garden structure, craftsmanship, and visual presentation.
• Identify potential plant health or maintenance issues before they become significant problems.
• Track and forecast maintenance schedules, materials, labor requirements, and replacement needs across the client portfolio.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, and develop gardeners, horticulturists, crew leads, and other garden‑care professionals.
• Build a skilled team capable of delivering premium fine gardening services.
• Develop training programs covering pruning, plant health, horticultural practices, equipment use, and garden maintenance.
• Establish clear performance expectations and service standards.
• Conduct…