Lead Landscaper

Onni Properties LLC; Carlsbad (CA); On-site; USD 52,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

3 weeks PTO

401(k) match

Annual education allowance up to $1, 0

Residential housing discount after 1 y

Friends and family rates for Hotel/Phl

Job summary

Onni Properties LLC in Carlsbad, CA is seeking a Lead Landscaper to manage a small crew across multiple properties, prioritize projects, and actively participate in hands-on lawn and irrigation work.

You will train and mentor 2–3 technicians, oversee irrigation systems, monitor plant health, and ensure safety protocols and quality standards. This role requires leadership experience, a valid driver’s license, irrigation certification, and the ability to coordinate schedules.

Qualifications

• 1–3 years of experience leading a landscaping team.
• Must possess a current, valid driver's license with a driving record acceptable under the company’s insurance requirements; experience safely driving a landscaping truck and trailer.
• Demonstrated experience diagnosing and repairing irrigation systems (controllers, valves, drip systems, backflow devices).
• Experience operating all standard landscaping-related tools and equipment.
• Strong knowledge of plant material, turf care, and regional growing conditions.

Responsibilities

• Manage and direct a crew of 2–3 landscaping technicians and groundskeepers across assigned properties.
• Prioritize projects and assign daily work tasks and routes, ensuring efficient use of labor, time, and equipment.
• Participate hands-on in the execution of all work orders alongside crew members.
• Train, mentor, and educate crew in landscaping practices, irrigation practices and repairs, and safety protocols.
• Monitor crew performance and provide feedback to management; recommend corrective actions when needed.
• Diagnose and repair irrigation system issues and perform routine audits to optimize plant health and conserve water.
• Oversee pruning, trimming, mulching, fertilization, seasonal planting, and turf care programs.
• Operate all standard landscaping equipment safely and maintain tools and equipment.

Skills

Team leadership

Irrigation systems

Equipment operation

Plant health knowledge

Driver's license

Communication

Education

None

Tools

Landscaping equipment

Job description

Job Description

The Lead Landscaper is responsible for managing the landscaping team and overseeing the daily operations multiple properties, parcels, and outdoor areas. This position prioritizes projects, assigns work tasks, and participates hands‑on in daily lawn and landscaping functions and equipment operation alongside the team. The Lead Landscaper takes ownership of irrigation system performance, plant health, crew scheduling, work order completion, and site quality control, ensuring all work is completed to the highest standard.

Perks and Benefits

• When you feel good, you do good.
• At Onni we put your health at the forefront and give you the choice to select a benefits package that best represents you.
• From no cost to $19, or $103 per pay our PPO, HSA and HMO have you covered.
• 3 weeks PTO
• 401(k) match
• Annual education allowance of up to $1,000
• Referral program
• Residential housing discount after 1 year of continuous employment
• Friends and family rates for our Hotel Properties throughout the company

What You Will Do

• Manage and direct a crew of 2–3 landscaping technicians and groundskeepers across assigned properties
• Prioritize projects and assign daily work tasks and routes, ensuring efficient use of labor, time, and equipment
• Participate hands‑on in the execution of all work orders alongside crew members
• Train, mentor, and actively educate crew members in proper landscaping practices, irrigation practices and repairs, and safety protocols
• Monitor crew performance, provide management with employee performance feedback, and recommend corrective action or disciplinary measures when performance issues arise; final approval and issuance of any disciplinary action rests with the Operations Manager
• Provide consistent, timely updates to management using established company communication processes, including company-provided smartphone applications
• Diagnose and repair irrigation system issues, including valves, controllers, sprinkler heads, drip lines, pipe connections, timers, and backflow devices
• Perform routine irrigation audits and adjust watering schedules seasonally to optimize plant health and conserve water
• Manage and complete the daily production schedule for assigned sites, across multiple properties, parcels, or common areas, with the highest quality standards
• Take ownership of assigned work through completion, ensuring quality and deadlines are met, and escape delays, obstacles, or resource needs to management in a timely manner
• Conduct regular site walkthroughs and inspections to identify issues before they elevate
• Always interact with clients and vendors in a professional and positive manner
• Maintain and promote the health and growth of trees, shrubs, flowers, turf, and other plant material
• Diagnose plant health issues (pests, disease, nutrient deficiencies) and implement corrective treatments
• Oversee pruning, trimming, mulching, fertilization, seasonal planting, and turf care programs
• Operate all standard landscaping equipment, tools, and vehicles, including trucks and trailers, in a safe manner
• Maintain assigned equipment and tools in good working order and report deficiencies to the Operations team.
• Enforce safety protocols and PPE requirements across the crew, and ensure proper safety and incident reporting procedures are followed
• Complete work orders and maintain electronic record‑keeping for each project using company‑provided smartphone applications (Prism)
• Properly document and track expenses for all jobs, and assist with procurement of materials as needed
• Create, read, and execute basic field reports and job directions
• Perform other work‑related duties as assigned

What You Bring

• 1–3 years of experience leading a landscaping team, with demonstrated experience in commercial or residential landscaping
• Must possess a current, valid driver's license with a driving record acceptable under the company's insurance requirements; must have experience safely driving a landscaping truck and trailer
• Demonstrated experience diagnosing and repairing irrigation systems (controllers, valves, drip systems, backflow devices)
• Must have experience operating all standard landscaping‑related tools and equipment
• Strong working knowledge of plant material, turf care, and regional growing conditions
• Ability to create, read, and execute basic field reports and job directions
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple sites, and complete daily activities according to a work schedule with minimal supervision
• Strong communication and leadership skills; able to train, mentor, and motivate a small team
• Ability to use and learn company‑provided smartphone applications for scheduling and record‑keeping
• Must speak fluent English; bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus but not required
• Ability to understand, follow, and transmit written and oral instructions
• Ability to meet attendance schedule with dependability and consistency
• Irrigation certification (e.g., Certified Irrigation Technician or equivalent)
• Pesticide/herbicide application license or certification

You do need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you.

Onni Properties, LLC (“Onni”) will consider qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records for employment in accordance with the California Fair Chance Act, the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for Employers and the City of Los Angeles Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring, and other local ordinance, as applicable. You do need to disclose your criminal history or participate in a background check until a conditional job offer is made to you. After making a conditional offer and running a background check, if Onni is concerned about a conviction or convictions that is/are directly related to the job, you will be given the chance to explain the circumstances surrounding the conviction(s), provide mitigating evidence, or challenge the accuracy of the background report. A criminal history may have a direct, adverse and negative relationship upon certain job duties of this employment position, and such criminal history may result in the withdrawal of a conditional offer of employment.

These job duties are

• Train, mentor, and actively educate crew members in proper landscaping practices, irrigation practices and repairs, and safety protocols
• Always interact with clients and vendors in a professional and positive manner
• Enforce safety protocols and PPE requirements across the crew, and ensure proper safety and incident reporting procedures are followed

About the Company

Onni For over half a century, Onni has been building communities for people to live, work, and play. Our success reflects our commitment to our employees and partners, and our dedication to quality construction, innovation, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. Our expertise expands across North America, with offices in Vancouver, Toronto, Los Angeles, Seattle, Phoenix, and Chicago.

Salary Range

Salary Range: $25.00 - $26.00

AI Use

This role may involve the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools to support research, analysis, content development, design, reporting, or operational efficiency. Employees are expected to use AI responsibly and in compliance with company policies, data privacy requirements, confidentiality obligations, and applicable laws. All AI-generated or AI-assisted outputs must be reviewed for accuracy, quality, and appropriateness before use. Employees are also expected to disclose when AI tools have been used in the creation of work and must not present AI-generated content as solely their own original work.