Assistant Operations Manager

Thornton’s Tree Service; Abilene (TX); On-site; USD 54,000 - 66,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full benefits

Year-round full-time

Job summary

Thornton’s Tree Service in Abilene, TX is seeking a hands-on Operations Associate to join the team as a second layer of management. You’ll own a preventive maintenance calendar, assist with estimating, scheduling and customer support to free up the senior arborist for high-value work.

You’ll work with our Director of Operations and ISA-Certified Arborist, help price standard tree jobs, coordinate daily scheduling, and generate off-season work.

Qualifications

• Hands-on experience with fleet, equipment, or facilities maintenance.
• Comfortable in the field and in front of customers.
• Organized self-starter with calendar management.
• Willingness to pursue a certified tree-care safety qualification.
• Valid driver\'s license with a clean record.

Responsibilities

• Build and own a preventive maintenance calendar for the fleet.
• Run daily pre-trip inspections with documented reviews.
• Assist with estimating, scheduling and customer support.
• Help generate off-season work from past customers and accounts.
• Support the operations team and workshop with repairs and safety initiatives.

Skills

Fleet maintenance

Field communication

Scheduling

Safety compliance

Job description

ABOUT US:

Thornton's Tree, Dumpster & Crane Services is a family-owned company that has served West and Central Texas since 1991. We operate across three lines of business — professional tree care, roll-off dumpster rental, and boom truck crane services — and we're growing. We're looking for an organized, hands-on operator to help us run a tighter ship on equipment and fleet, and to free up capacity on our estimating team.

THE ROLE

This is a second layer of operations management — a right hand to our Director of Operations and our ISA-Certified Arborist. The two priorities are building a real preventive maintenance program for our fleet and equipment, and taking on routine estimating, scheduling and customer support so our senior arborist can focus on high-value work. You'll own the maintenance calendar, work the shop's punch list with our mechanic, help price standard tree jobs, support daily scheduling, and help generate off-season work. Over time this role has real room to grow into broader operations leadership.

WHAT YOU'LL DO:

Equipment, Fleet & Maintenance:

• Build and own a written preventive maintenance schedule for the whole fleet — service, greasing, fluids and filter intervals by unit.


• Run daily pre-trip inspections and make sure they're actually reviewed, not just filed.


• Maintain a calendar for annual DOT, crane and equipment inspections so nothing lapses.


• Keep critical wear parts on hand — chipper knives, grinder teeth, hydraulic hose, filters, bar and chain — so a shortage never idles a crew.


• Work the standing work-order list with our mechanic and confirm repairs are completed.


• Track repeat failures and cost-per-hour outliers to inform repair-vs-replace decisions.

Safety & Compliance:

• Conduct regular crew safety and compliance checks; coach employees and flag issues.


• Complete required safety documentation.


• Work toward an appropriate certified tree-care safety qualification.


• Help lead employee training and safety meetings.

Estimating, Scheduling & Customers:

• Price standard tree jobs and communicate directly with customers.


• Assist with the daily schedule and make sure crews have the right equipment and information.


• Perform job-site visits and post-job quality-control checks.


• Follow up with customers to drive satisfaction and strong reviews.


• Support the operations team and office staff as needed.

Off-Season Work Generation:

• Reach out to past customers, apartment complexes, HOAs, churches and commercial accounts during slower periods.


• Help develop winter work to keep crews productive year-round.

WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR:

• Hands-on experience with fleet, equipment or facilities maintenance — or a strong desire to build that skill set.


• Comfortable in the field and in front of customers; tree care, landscaping, construction or related trades background is a plus.


• Organized self-starter who can own a calendar and follow through without being chased.


• Clear communicator, comfortable coaching crews on safety and quality.


• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record.


• Willingness to work toward a certified tree-care safety qualification.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS:

• Starting at $60,000 per year, commensurate with experience, plus benefits.


• This is a full-time, year-round position with room to grow as the role and the company do.