About SouthWest Landscape
Founded in 1982, SouthWest Landscape, Inc is a family owned and generated company proudly serving communities across Southern California, including Orange County, Los Angeles, and the Inland Empire. What started as a small local operation has grown into a full service landscape company with division specializing in Maintenance, Tree Care, Development & Enhancements, and Support Services.
Our success is rooted in our people. We take pride in creating a safe, professional, and supportive work environment where every employee from field crews to management has the opportunity to grow and succeed. At SouthWest Landscape, we combine decades of industry expertise with modern tools and technology to deliver exceptional quality, reliability, and customer care to our clients.
We believe in teamwork, integrity, and continuous improvement values that shape our culture and the way we do business every day.
Job Summary:
The Operations Manager is the primary field leader of the L.A. Branch Maintenance Division. This position is directly responsible for the daily execution of all L.A. maintenance operations including crew dispatch, property service quality, labor efficiency, and safety compliance and is the single accountable owner of field performance standards across all L.A. maintenance crews.
The Operations Manager directly supervises L.A. Crew Leaders, Gardeners, Laborers, and Irrigation Technicians, and works in close coordination with the Client Representatives and Branch Manager. Success in this role is defined by an L.A. maintenance division that delivers consistent, high-quality service on every visit, operates within budget, and develops crew leaders who can step up.
Responsibilities
CREW DISPATCH & DAILY FIELD OPERATIONS
- Own the daily crew dispatch process ensure all L.A. maintenance crews are assigned, equipped, and departed on time every scheduled service day with complete and accurate route assignments.
- Plan and sequence daily workloads including pruning rotations, job sequencing, and irrigation visits; adjust assignments in real time when crew size, weather, or site conditions change.
- Oversee yard opening in coordination with the Branch Manager; make the final call on crew readiness, vehicle assignments, and departure.
- Monitor field crew progress throughout the day; address delays, quality issues, or safety concerns as they arise without waiting for end-of-day reporting.
- Direct all Aspire work order updates, route adjustments, and schedule changes; the Operations Manager DECIDES and DIRECTS data entry and documentation are managed through the designated system owner.
SERVICE QUALITY & PROPERTY INSPECTIONS
- Conduct regular property inspections across all assigned L.A. client routes; document findings, assign corrective actions to crew leaders, and follow up to confirm resolution before the next scheduled service visit.
- Create and review punch lists with crew leaders; ensure outstanding items are tracked, assigned, and completed within the timeframe communicated to the client.
- Establish and enforce clear service quality standards for all L.A. maintenance operations and hold crew leaders accountable to those standards daily.
- Partner with Client Representatives on property quality concerns and irrigation issues; provide field input that supports accurate proposals and client communication.
LABOR MANAGEMENT & OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY
- Manage labor deployment to match the approved schedule and budget; adjust crew sizing, overtime, and route assignments proactively when actual hours are tracking above plan.
- Review labor cost summaries and use that data to make scheduling decisions; identify and act on labor cost concerns immediately.
- Minimize avoidable overtime through efficient scheduling decisions and proactive productivity gap identification.
- Monitor equipment and vehicle readiness; coordinate maintenance and repair; escalate unresolved fleet issues to the Branch Manager before they cause service disruption.
SAFETY LEADERSHIP & COMPLIANCE
- Conduct and document biweekly safety tailgate meetings with all assigned crew leaders and field employees.
- Enforce zero tolerance for unsafe behaviors, missing PPE, or improper equipment operation; address violations immediately and document same day.
- Inspect vehicles, trailers, and equipment regularly; remove defective equipment from service immediately and initiate repair.
- Respond to all field incidents, near-misses, and injuries promptly; complete required documentation and notify the Branch Manager same day.
EMPLOYEE LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT
- Supervise, coach, and develop all field direct reports Crew Leaders, Gardeners, Laborers, and Irrigation Technicians through daily field presence, regular feedback, and structured performance conversations.
- Hold crew leaders accountable for the performance, attendance, and conduct of their crews; address performance gaps with documented coaching.
- Provide training on horticulture, irrigation, equipment operation, and safety; ensure new employees are properly onboarded before working independently.
- Partner with HR on all disciplinary matters, corrective actions, and termination decisions; never administer discipline above a verbal warning without HR involvement.
TECHNOLOGY & SYSTEMS
- Use Aspire to review operational data, labor summaries, and production reports; use this data to make field management decisions.
- Use WeatherMatic and Nexus to monitor irrigation system status across assigned properties; direct the appropriate technician to log and action any alerts.
- Use the Meeting Portal for all required internal meetings, safety meeting documentation, and team communications.
- Hold crew leaders accountable for completing their required Aspire field entries; escalate compliance gaps as needed.
This job description is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed and is not an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities, or qualifications required. Responsibilities and activities may change or be assigned at any time with or without notice, based on the needs of the organization. The employer reserves the right to revise or update this description as necessary.
Requirements
- Minimum 3 years of experience in landscape maintenance operations in a supervisory or lead role managing field crews.
- Demonstrated ability to manage crew scheduling, labor tracking, and daily field operations across multiple routes or properties.
- Strong working knowledge of horticulture practices, irrigation systems, and landscape maintenance standards applicable to Southern California.
- Proficiency in or ability to learn Aspire, WeatherMatic, Nexus, and the Meeting Portal within the established onboarding period.
- Valid California driver's license with clean driving record; ability to operate company vehicles and travel between job sites daily.
- Bilingual English/Spanish required.
- Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions; ability to perform site inspections on foot for extended periods.
- Ability to pass background check and pre-employment screening per SWL policy.
- Experience managing irrigation audit programs.
- Prior experience with Aspire landscape management software, WeatherMatic, or Nexus.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
