Landscape Construction Project Manager Job San Diego area,California USA,Construction

Landscape Construction Project Manager

$70-$100,000 DOE | Full-Time | San Diego County

Drab to Fab is hiring a Landscape Construction Project Manager to help manage the transition from design to construction and keep projects moving smoothly from planning through completion.

This role is focused on project management, construction coordination, material planning, subcontractor management, estimating support, and department oversight
. The right person will help take operational pressure off leadership, design, and construction by making sure jobs are properly planned before they hit the field.

This is not primarily a design or CAD role
. CAD experience is a bonus, but it is not a core requirement.

Role Overview

The Landscape Construction Project Manager will:

Bridge the gap between design and construction
Improve project handoffs before construction begins
Coordinate materials, vendors, subcontractors, irrigation, and enhancements
Work closely with construction leads to keep projects on schedule
Help identify missing details, scope gaps, and potential field issues early
Support estimating, job costing, and project planning
Ensure designers can focus more time on designing instead of managing construction details

Key Responsibilities

Pre-Construction Planning & Design Handoff

Lead pre-planning meetings with the design team before projects move into construction
Review designs for constructability, sequencing, access, material needs, irrigation needs, and potential field issues
Identify unclear scope, missing details, or project risks before construction starts
Create clear internal handoff notes for construction leads, irrigation, enhancements, subcontractors, and purchasing
Confirm project scope, client expectations, inclusions, exclusions, and key deadlines
Make sure the construction team has the information needed to build the job efficiently

Project Management & Construction Coordination

Manage projects from design handoff through completion
Work closely with construction leads to coordinate daily and weekly priorities
Track project timelines and help ensure work stays on schedule
Communicate updates, delays, changes, and issues to the right team members
Clarify scope, materials, sequencing, and design intent during active projects
Help solve problems before they become expensive field mistakes
Ensure the final build aligns with approved scope, budget, quality standards, and client expectations

Materials, Vendors & Procurement

Coordinate all project materials needed for construction
Review plans and scopes to identify required materials and lead times
Generate or support material takeoffs for:
- Plants
- Hardscape
- Irrigation
- Lighting
- Drainage
- Soil
- Mulch
- Specialty materials
Place, confirm, and track material orders with vendors and suppliers
Schedule deliveries to align with construction timelines
Communicate material substitutions, shortages, delays, or changes to the team
Help reduce downtime caused by missing, incorrect, or late materials

Estimating & Job Cost Support

Assist with baseline estimating and takeoffs as needed
Help build or review estimates in LMN before final approval
Identify missing scope, missing materials, subcontractor needs, and unclear pricing assumptions
Support job costing by helping ensure receipts, subcontractor costs, materials, and labor time are tracked accurately
Provide feedback after projects to improve future estimates and production planning

Subcontractor Management

Coordinate subcontractors for items such as:
- Irrigation
- Concrete
- Masonry
- Electrical
- Drainage
- Lighting
- Specialty trades
- Enhancement work
Confirm subcontractor scope, schedule, expectations, and site readiness
Make sure subcontractor work aligns with plans, quality standards, and timelines
Communicate subcontractor issues quickly to construction leads and leadership
Hold subcontractors accountable for schedule, quality, and completion of assigned work

Irrigation & Enhancement Department Oversight

Oversee coordination for the irrigation and enhancement departments
Help prioritize department schedules and resources
Coordinate irrigation and enhancement work with the larger construction schedule
Support department leads with:
- Planning
- Material coordination
- Scheduling
- Client…