Operations Manager

Frederick Fox LLC; Pendleton (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 150,000; Full time

Job summary

Frederick Fox LLC in Pendleton, OR is seeking an Operations Manager to lead a high-end residential fine gardening and horticultural services operation. This role blends hands-on horticulture with business leadership to deliver exceptional estate care.

You will establish service standards, scalable processes, and a skilled team, while managing budgets, client relationships, and long-term maintenance programs to ensure sustainable growth and outstanding client experiences.

Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in high-end garden maintenance or related field.
• Demonstrated leadership or management experience.
• Strong knowledge of fine gardening and ornamental horticulture.
• Experience with pruning, plant health, IPM, and long-term care.
• Experience managing or developing teams.
• Budgeting, pricing, and resource management experience.
• Excellent client relationship and communication skills.
• Ability to work with high-end residential clients.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills.
• Degree or certification in Horticulture/ Landscape Management preferred.

Responsibilities

• Define vision, scope, and operating model for services.
• Develop phased growth strategy for high-end residential clients.
• Establish systems, processes, and standards for growth.
• Develop SOPs, service protocols, and quality standards.
• Identify equipment, tools, and technology needs.
• Develop pricing structures and maintenance programs.
• Partner with sales to convert opportunities.
• Oversee client relationships and service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Horticulture expertise

Budgeting

Client relations

Team development

Education

Degree in Horticulture or related field

Job description

Position Overview

The Operations Manager will be responsible for building, managing, and growing a high-end residential fine gardening and horticultural services operation. This leadership role combines hands‑on horticultural expertise with operational and business management to deliver exceptional fine gardening, ornamental plant care, and long‑term landscape maintenance services for high‑end residential and estate clients.

The role will initially focus on serving current and past residential clients before expanding to new high‑end residential customers once operations achieve consistent performance and scalable processes. Services will focus exclusively on residential properties.

The Operations Manager will establish service standards, operating systems, team structure, client experience, and financial processes while ensuring exceptional horticultural quality across every property.

Key Responsibilities

Operations Strategy & Growth

• Define the vision, scope, service offerings, and operating model for the fine gardening and horticultural services.
• Develop and execute a phased growth strategy focused on high‑end residential clients.
• Establish systems, processes, and performance standards required to support sustainable growth.
• Develop standard operating procedures, service protocols, and quality standards for fine gardening services.
• Identify specialized equipment, tools, vehicles, and technology required to operate and scale the business.
• Research and procure equipment and resources as operational needs grow.
• Develop new service opportunities, pricing structures, and recurring maintenance programs.
• Partner with sales and account management teams to identify and convert qualified residential opportunities.

Fine Gardening & Horticultural Standards

• Oversee fine gardening practices for ornamental shrubs, specimen trees, hedges, perennial beds, and other high‑end landscape features.
• Establish and maintain standards for ornamental pruning, shaping, deadheading, edging, mulching, soil cultivation, seasonal cutbacks, and garden cleanup.
• Ensure gardening practices preserve the aesthetic intent and long‑term health of each property.
• Develop plant health and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs.
• Establish procedures for pest and disease scouting, identification, prevention, and treatment.
• Ensure appropriate plant selection, spacing, placement, and maintenance practices.
• Stay current with horticultural best practices, plant varieties, techniques, and fine gardening trends.
• Continuously improve horticultural standards and craftsmanship across the operation.

Long-Term Landscape Maintenance

• Develop customized long‑term maintenance plans for residential properties.
• Create seasonal maintenance calendars covering pruning,soil health, mulching, plant health, and replacement requirements.
• Monitor the long‑term structural and visual integrity of maintained gardens.
• Develop relationships with nurseries and growers to secure quality plant material, competitive pricing, and reliable availability.
• Establish quality‑control inspections to evaluate plant health, garden structure, craftsmanship, and visual presentation.
• Identify potential plant health or maintenance issues before they become significant problems.
• Track and forecast maintenance schedules, materials, labor requirements, and replacement needs across the client portfolio.

Team Leadership & Development

• Recruit, hire, and develop gardeners, horticulturists, crew leads, and other garden‑care professionals.
• Build a skilled team capable of delivering premium fine gardening services.
• Develop training programs covering pruning, plant health, horticultural practices, equipment use, and garden maintenance.
• Establish clear performance expectations and service standards.
• Conduct performance evaluations and provide ongoing coaching and mentorship.
• Develop crew leads and future leaders within the organization.
• Foster a culture centered on craftsmanship, attention to detail, professionalism, and pride of ownership.
• Promote continuous learning and professional development.

Scheduling & Field Operations

• Oversee crew scheduling, route planning, property assignments, and resource allocation.
• Ensure properties receive consistent, timely, and high‑quality service.
• Conduct regular property visits and field inspections.
• Evaluate garden conditions and identify opportunities for additional services or improvements.
• Monitor field productivity and service quality.
• Coordinate with irrigation, landscape design, installation, and other internal teams to support plant health and landscape performance.
• Evaluate equipment, vehicle, tool, and material requirements.
• Ensure crews have the resources necessary to perform work efficiently and to the required standard.

Client Relationship Management

• Serve as a primary point of contact for residential clients regarding fine gardening and landscape maintenance.
• Build trusted relationships with high‑end residential homeowners and estate clients.
• Conduct property walkthroughs and service reviews.
• Understand client expectations and translate them into clear service standards.
• Address client concerns promptly and professionally.
• Communicate recommendations regarding plant health, landscape improvements, seasonal requirements, and ongoing maintenance.
• Maintain a consistently high level of client service and presentation.

Financial & Operational Performance

• Develop and manage the operating budget for fine gardening and horticultural services.
• Monitor labor, materials, plant procurement, equipment, and operating expenses.
• Develop pricing models and service packages appropriate for high‑end residential clientele.
• Ensure pricing supports sustainable margins and reflects the value of specialized horticultural services.
• Monitor job costing, crew productivity, labor efficiency, and property‑level profitability.
• Identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and financial performance.
• Establish KPIs and reporting dashboards covering revenue, profitability, client retention, crew productivity, service quality, labor efficiency, and client growth.
• Provide regular performance reports and recommendations to leadership.

Required Qualifications

• 5 years of experience in high‑end garden maintenance, horticulture, landscape operations, or a closely related field.
• Demonstrated leadership or management experience.
• Strong hands‑on knowledge of fine gardening and ornamental horticulture.
• Experience with ornamental pruning, plant health, seasonal maintenance, and long‑term garden care.
• Experience managing or developing teams.
• Strong understanding of horticultural equipment, tools, and field operations.
• Business and financial acumen, including budgeting, pricing, job costing, and resource management.
• Strong client relationship and communication skills.
• Ability to work effectively with high‑end residential clients.
• Strong organizational and problem‑solving skills.
• Degree or certification in Horticulture, Landscape Management, or a related field preferred.
• Equivalent hands‑on horticultural and operational experience will be considered.

Preferred Experience

• Experience launching or building a new service line or business operation.
• Experience serving luxury residential or estate properties.
• Background in fine gardening rather than general landscape maintenance or production agriculture.
• Experience with Integrated Pest Management (IPM).
• Established relationships with specialty nurseries, growers, and plant suppliers.
• Experience developing horticultural training programs.
• Experience managing recurring residential service programs.
• Experience developing pricing structures and profitability models for specialty services.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a hands‑on horticultural professional and business‑minded operations leader who can manage and grow a premium residential fine gardening operation.

This individual should combine strong technical knowledge of fine gardening and ornamental plant care with the ability to build teams, establish operating systems, manage budgets, develop client relationships, and drive sustainable growth.

The successful candidate will have a passion for horticultural excellence, craftsmanship, continuous improvement, and delivering an exceptional client experience across high‑end residential properties.