Operations Manager – Lawn Care & Landscape Company

Compensation: $90,000–105,000 per year

About the Role

The Operations Manager is responsible for planning, staffing, directing, and executing all field operations to ensure safe, efficient, profitable, and high-quality service delivery across all service lines. This role focuses exclusively on field execution, workforce management, and operational performance, while supporting client issue resolution and maintaining company standards. The position is largely about preventing and fixing problems, requiring initiative, problem-solving awareness, and follow-through to ensure permanent resolutions.

The Operations Manager does not act as a General Manager or oversee office administration or sales management. Instead, this role collaborates with the Owner, General Manager, Office Manager, Controller, and Sales & Project Managers.

Core Objectives

• Ensure all field departments are properly staffed, trained, and equipped
• Ensure consistent, high-quality service execution across all crews
• Maintain safe, compliant, and efficient field operations
• Drive productivity, accountability, and operational discipline
• Support timely and professional resolution of client issues
• Protect company reputation through execution excellence

Responsibilities

1. Field Operations Oversight

The Operations Manager is accountable for day-to-day execution of all field work, including but not limited to:

• Lawn care applications (fertilization, weed control, mosquito and perimeter pest control treatments)
• Lawn care services, mowing, and landscape maintenance
• Landscape construction and enhancements
• Tree service work
• Snow plowing, salting, and winter services

• Ensuring crews are deployed efficiently and correctly each day
• Monitoring route completion, job progress, and adherence to schedules
• Ensuring work is completed to company standards, specifications, and scope
• Addressing execution issues in real time to minimize rework and go-backs
• Adjusting staffing, routing, or workflows as conditions change (weather, call-ins, snow events)
• Coordinating across departments to prevent operational bottlenecks

2. Staffing, Hiring, and Workforce Management

The Operations Manager is the primary authority over field staffing decisions.

• Identifying staffing needs by department and season
• Recruiting, creating employment ads, screening applicants, interviewing, hiring, disciplining, conducting staff reviews, and terminating in-field staff
• Ensuring each department maintains adequate bench strength
• Managing seasonal vs. year-round staffing plans
• Approving field promotions and role changes (with Owner input when required)
• Addressing attendance issues, performance concerns, and conduct violations
• Enforcing company attendance policies, work rules, and standards

Authority includes:

• Final decision-making on in-field staff discipline and termination
• Immediate corrective action to protect safety, quality, or company reputation

3. Onboarding, Training, and Skill Development

The Operations Manager ensures all in-field staff are properly trained, certified, and prepared to perform their roles.

• Developing, implementing, and coordinating onboarding schedules for new in-field hires
• Overseeing department-level training programs and certifications
• Ensuring pesticide applicators and staff maintain valid licenses and/or certifications
• Developing cross-training plans to increase workforce flexibility
• Identifying training gaps and implementing corrective instruction
• Supporting department leaders in coaching and performance improvement

4. Productivity, Efficiency, and Performance Management

The Operations Manager is responsible for maximizing labor efficiency and operational output.

• Monitoring crew productivity metrics (man hours bid per job, crew-by-crew efficiency, route completion rates, go-backs, etc.)
• Identifying inefficiencies and implementing process improvements
• Enforcing time-tracking accuracy and material recording discipline
• Ensuring crews follow routing, sequencing, and work-order instructions
• Holding in-field leadership accountable to performance expectations
• Reducing rework, go-backs, wasted labor, and material losses
• Supporting company initiatives focused on operational efficiency (e.g., “Minutes Matter” culture)

5. Quality Control & Service Standards

The Operations Manager is the final operational gatekeeper for service quality.

• Defining and enforcing field quality standards across all services
• Conducting spot checks, site inspections, and follow-ups
• Ensuring crews understand service specifications and expectations
• Addressing quality complaints promptly and professionally
• Implementing corrective action plans for recurring quality issues
• Ensuring consistency regardless of crew, technician, or location

6. Client Issue Support & Resolution

While client complaints are typically handled by Sales and Project Managers or Office staff, the Operations Manager provides escalation support when execution or field issues are involved.

• Assisting in investigation of field-related client complaints
• Communicating with clients when operational explanation is required
• Coordinating corrective work when necessary
• Ensuring issues are resolved to client satisfaction
• Preventing repeat issues through training or procedural changes
• Protecting company reputation through professional, solution-oriented response

7. Safety, Compliance, and Risk Management

The Operations Manager is accountable for field safety and regulatory compliance.

• Enforcing all safety policies and requirements
• Ensuring proper use of PPE and safe equipment operation
• Investigating accidents, incidents, and near-misses
• Implementing corrective safety actions
• Ensuring compliance with pesticide and DOT regulations
• Coordinating with ownership on risk mitigation and insurance matters

8. Equipment, Fleet, and Asset Coordination

The Operations Manager ensures field teams have operationally ready equipment, while coordinating with ownership, maintenance staff, and outside repair vendors.

• Assigning equipment to crews appropriately
• Developing processes for and ensuring crews perform daily equipment inspections
• Acting on maintenance and repair issues promptly
• Minimizing downtime through proactive planning
• Ensuring proper use, care, and storage of company assets
• Supporting capital planning through operational feedback

9. Leadership & Cross-Department Collaboration

The Operations Manager is a field-focused leader, not an administrative manager.

• Directly supervising all in-field leadership roles (Crew Leaders, Department Managers)
• Setting clear expectations and holding crew leaders accountable
• Communicating operational needs to Office Manager and Controller
• Coordinating with Sales & Project Managers on scheduling and execution feasibility
• Supporting ownership with operational data and insights
• Promoting company core values and professional conduct

Decision Authority

The Operations Manager has authority over:

• In-field staffing levels and deployment
• In-field discipline and termination decisions
• Operational execution standards
• Training process and enforcement
• Safety enforcement in the field

What This Role Is NOT

The Operations Manager does not:

• Act as General Manager
• Override Owner authority
• Manage office staff or administrative operations
• Control accounting, payroll, billing, or AR
• Directly manage Sales & Project Managers
• Set pricing or sell services

Benefits

• 401(k) with 3% employer match
• Health savings account
• Opportunities for advancement
• Paid time off
• Holiday pay
• Retirement plan
• Health insurance reimbursement
• Private office at company location
• Company-provided vehicle, cell phone, and tablet/computer
• Safety equipment provided

Requirements

• Driver's License (Required)