Maintenance Director – Landscaping

About the role

Gardens by Oz is a woman-owned landscape design-build and maintenance company serving residential and light commercial clients in Norfolk since 1979. Our maintenance clients trust us to keep their landscapes healthy, not just tidy.

The Head of Maintenance owns the maintenance division: the horticultural standards, the crew, the route and the client relationships. You are a hands-on plant person who knows why each task is done, when it should be done, and how to teach it. You build and run the division's seasonal program and keep maintenance profitable.

• Location: Norfolk, VA
• Type: Full-time, year-round
• Reports to: Operations (owner)
• Direct reports: Maintenance crew members

Key responsibilities

Pruning

• Prune shrubs, small trees and perennials following ANSI A300 Part 1 pruning standards, using proper cuts at the branch collar
• Time pruning to each plant's bloom cycle: prune spring bloomers after flowering, summer bloomers in late winter
• Favor natural form over shearing; use selective thinning and reduction cuts
• Remove dead, diseased, crossing and rubbing wood, and maintain clearance from structures, walkways and sightlines
• Recognize work that needs a certified arborist and refer it out

Bed maintenance

• Set the division's standard for weeding, edging, mulching and bed detailing
• Identify weeds and choose the right control: hand removal, pre-emergent timing or targeted treatment
• Apply mulch at 2–3 inches and never volcano-mulch trees
• Monitor plant health: spot pests, disease, nutrient deficiency, and drought or overwatering stress
• Recommend soil tests, amendments, fertilization and plant replacements to the client
• Care for native and conservation landscapes differently from ornamental beds: leave seed heads and stems for wildlife where appropriate and avoid over-tidying

Seasonal cleanups

• Plan and run spring and fall cleanups across all maintenance properties
• Cut back perennials and ornamental grasses at the right time for each species
• Manage leaf removal, gutter-line debris and storm cleanup after nor'easters and hurricanes
• Plan seasonal color, bulb and annual changeouts when contracted

Division leadership

• Hire, train and supervise maintenance crew members; write and teach clear task standards
• Build and manage the maintenance route and weekly schedule with the scheduling coordinator in Jobber
• Track labor hours against budgeted hours for each property and flag overruns
• Pick up materials (mulch, plants, amendments) and keep equipment maintained and safe
• Hold the crew accountable for safety, uniforms and company policies

Client and quality management

• Walk properties regularly and keep a quality checklist for each site
• Serve as the main maintenance contact for clients and HOA managers
• Document site conditions and completed work with photos in CompanyCam
• Identify and write up upsell and enhancement work: replacements, drainage fixes, native conversions
• Help price maintenance contracts and annual renewals with the owners

Qualifications

Required

• 5+ years in landscape maintenance, with at least 2 years supervising a crew
• Strong plant identification for Mid-Atlantic ornamentals, natives and common weeds
• Working knowledge of pruning timing and technique by plant type
• Able to diagnose common plant health problems and recommend a fix
• Comfortable scheduling, tracking hours and using field software (Jobber or similar)
• Valid driver's license and an acceptable driving record; able to tow a trailer
• Clear, professional communication with clients and crew

Preferred

• Virginia Certified Horticulturist (VCH) or Certified Landscape Technician
• Virginia Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator, or willing to obtain within 6 months
• ISA Certified Arborist or formal pruning training
• Degree or coursework in horticulture or a related field
• Experience with native plant and conservation landscape maintenance

Physical requirements

• Lift and carry up to 50 lbs (mulch bags, debris, equipment)
• Work outdoors in heat, humidity and cold; walk, bend, kneel and climb ladders for full days
• Split time between field work and planning, scheduling and client communication

Compensation and benefits

• Pay range: $23 – $25/hr based on experience
• Paid time off and holidays
• Company vehicle or truck use during work hours
• Support for certifications (VCH, pesticide applicator, ISA)
• Company sponsored retirement plan with 2% match

Pay: $23.00 - $27.00 per hour

Expected hours: 32.0 – 40.0 per week

Benefits:

• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Retirement plan

Application Question(s):

• How many years of experience managing crews do you have?
• How many years of experience in the landscaping industry do you have?

Work Location: In person