Irrigation Manager

Cultivar Group; Petaluma (CA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision insurance

401(k) with company match

Paid time off & holidays

Company vehicle or allowance

Phone & laptop provided

Paid certifications & education

Job summary

Cagwin & Dorward is seeking an experienced irrigation leader to manage budgets, program central control systems, and optimize water use across Northern California properties.

You will inspect sites, diagnose issues, and drive ROI through upgrades and maintenance while training teams and supporting branch management. This role requires travel across North Bay regions and a California driver’s license.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of commercial landscape irrigation experience, including leadership or supervisory responsibilities.
• Extensive hands-on knowledge of irrigation systems, hydraulics, valves, controllers, and wiring.
• Experience with smart irrigation and central control systems (Weathermatic, WeatherTRAK, Calsense, Baseline, Rain Bird IQ, Hunter Centralus, Toro, ETwater, etc.).
• Strong understanding of two-wire irrigation systems.
• Ability to communicate and train in English and Spanish.
• Comfort with water budgets, usage data, and ROI calculations.
• Proficient with Google Workspace or similar software.
• Strong presentation and consultative sales skills.
• Valid California Driver's License with clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Build and manage water budgets for client properties and track usage versus targets.
• Program and manage smart/central irrigation control systems to reduce water use while maintaining plant health.
• Conduct site inspections and audits, turning findings into ROI-driven recommendations.
• Diagnose irrigation issues including hydraulics, two-wire faults, and pressure problems.
• Complete irrigation portions of new property start-ups, including programming and maps.
• Bring acquired properties into water budgets within 90 days.
• Identify and process rebates for clients.
• Present recommendations and water-saving strategies to stakeholders.
• Recruit, train, and develop irrigation technicians and share expertise with branches.
• Train Account Managers on irrigation best practices and controller technologies.
• Ensure backflow testing, MWELO compliance, and related documentation.
• Achieve annual sales goals through enhancements, repairs, and renovations.

Skills

Irrigation systems

Hydraulics

Troubleshooting

Bilingual EN/ES

Sales skills

Computer literacy

Tools

Weathermatic

WeatherTRAK

Calsense

Baseline

Rain Bird IQ

Hunter Centralus

Toro

ETwater

Job description

ABOUT THE ROLE

Cagwin & Dorward has been caring for Northern California landscapes since 1955. Water management is central to what we do. We maintain irrigation systems across our maintenance portfolio, test backflow devices, build water budgets, and employ more than 25 CLCA-certified Water Managers.

WHY THIS ROLE MATTERS

Water conservation is one of the most important priorities in commercial landscape management today. In this role, you'll directly impact client satisfaction, resource conservation, regulatory compliance, and branch profitability by helping properties operate more efficiently while maintaining landscape quality.

You’ll have the opportunity to make a measurable difference and see the results of your work reflected in reduced water consumption, healthier landscapes, and improved system performance across the properties you support.

What You Will Do

• Build and manage water budgets for client properties, tracking usage and savings against established targets
• Program and manage smart and central irrigation control systems to reduce water consumption while maintaining plant health
• Conduct site inspections and irrigation audits, transforming findings into prioritized recommendations with clear return on investment
• Diagnose complex irrigation issues, including hydraulic problems, two-wire faults, pressure challenges, excessive water use, and chronic repair concerns
• Complete the irrigation portion of new property start-ups, including controller programming, repair recommendations, irrigation maps, and baseline water usage assessments
• Bring newly acquired properties into established water budgets within their first 90 days
• Identify and process available water agency and utility rebates on behalf of clients
• Present recommendations, project proposals, and water‑saving strategies to property managers, HOA boards, management companies, and municipal clients
• Recruit, train, and develop irrigation technicians while serving as the irrigation subject matter expert for branch management teams
• Train Account Managers and Operations teams on irrigation best practices, controller technology, and water management strategies
• Ensure backflow testing, MWELO requirements, recycled water compliance, and related documentation remain current and properly tracked
• Achieve annual sales goals through irrigation enhancements, upgrades, repairs, and renovation projects

Requirements

• 5+ years of commercial landscape irrigation experience, including leadership, training, or supervisory responsibilities
• Extensive hands‑on knowledge of irrigation systems, hydraulics, valves, controllers, drip irrigation, wiring, troubleshooting, and repair
• Experience working with smart irrigation and central control systems, including platforms such as Weathermatic, WeatherTRAK, Calsense, Baseline, Rain Bird IQ, Hunter Centralus, Toro, ETwater, or similar technologies
• Strong understanding of two‑wire irrigation systems
• Ability to communicate and train effectively in both English and Spanish
• Comfort working with water budgets, usage data, and return‑on‑investment calculations
• Proficiency with computers and business software, including Google Workspace or similar platforms
• Strong presentation, communication, and consultative sales skills
• Valid California Driver's License with an acceptable driving record

Preferred Certifications

Certifications are preferred but not required. We actively support professional development and credentialing, including:

• CLCA Certified Water Manager
• QWEL (Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper)
• Irrigation Association CLIA or CIC certifications
• Backflow Tester Certification

WHAT WE OFFER

• Competitive salary plus performance‑based incentive opportunities tied to irrigation enhancements, upgrades, and renovation sales
• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• Company vehicle or vehicle allowance
• Company phone and laptop
• Paid certifications and continuing education opportunities
• Career growth with one of Northern California's most established landscape companies
• The support and resources of Sperber Companies while maintaining a local, employee‑focused culture
• Meaningful work where you can directly measure the water savings and impact you create

WORK ENVIRONMENT

This position combines office‑based work with frequent travel to client properties and branch locations throughout the North Bay region. The role requires flexibility to attend occasional early morning site meetings and evening HOA or client board meetings. Employees should be comfortable walking properties, navigating uneven terrain, driving between locations, and performing occasional lifting, carrying, or moving of materials weighing up to 50 pounds. Frequent use of computers, mobile devices, and other tools of the trade is required.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Cagwin & Dorward is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law.