Operations Manager

Position Overview

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative, Inc. seeks an organized, collaborative, and solutions-oriented Operations Manager to support the day-to-day operations and continued growth of our eco-friendly landscape design build cooperative.

The Operations Manager reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for the systems, structure, and communication that allow our field teams, designers, clients, and field crews to work effectively together. This position combines operations management, team coordination, scheduling, administrative oversight, client communication, and organizational development.

The ideal candidate is a practical problem-solver who enjoys working with people, implementing and upholding systems, and balancing the needs of a growing business with the values of a cooperative workplace.

Key Responsibilities

Operations & Administration

• Oversee daily business operations and ensure that projects, crews, and administrative functions run smoothly.
• Administering and upholding the existing operational systems, policies, procedures, and workflows.
• Coordinate calendars, schedules, job assignments, meetings, and operational priorities.
• Monitor project timelines, staffing needs, materials, equipment, and other resources.
• Maintain accurate operational records and ensure information is accessible to the appropriate team members.
• Identify inefficiencies and implement practical improvements.
• Support purchasing, vendor relationships, inventory, equipment, and supply management.
• Coordinate office and field operations to ensure crews have the information and resources they need.

Team & Crew Coordination

• Coordinate schedules and communication among gardening crews, install crews, designers, cooperative owners, and leadership.
• Help establish clear expectations, roles, responsibilities, and communication systems between all employees and departments.
• Hold all field crew teams accountable for weekly tailgate safety meetings and documentation.
• Uphold the Standards of Practice for each department and participate in the monthly Standards of Practice meetings for each department.
• Support onboarding and training of new employees.
• Facilitate regular team meetings and operational check-ins.
• Help address scheduling conflicts, workflow challenges, and day-to-day operational issues.
• Promote a respectful, inclusive, communicative, and accountable workplace culture.
• Support cooperative decision-making and help ensure that operational decisions align with the organization's shared values.

Client & Project Support

• Serve as a key point of contact for clients regarding scheduling, project logistics, service questions, and operational concerns.
• Help ensure clients receive timely and professional communication.
• Coordinate information between clients, field staff, designers, and management.
• Track project status and follow up on outstanding tasks.
• Assist with resolving client concerns and identifying appropriate solutions.
• Support the transition of projects from design and planning into field implementation.

Financial & Business Operations

• Oversee budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, payroll coordination, and financial recordkeeping as assigned.
• Monitor operational expenses and help identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.
• Coordinate with bookkeeping/accounting resources as needed.
• Track key operational metrics and prepare reports for cooperative leadership and members.
• Support annual planning, business development, and organizational goal-setting.
• Monitor profitability on each project and advise management on how to maintain a 25% profit margin on each project.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

• Help maintain safe work practices and ensure that operational procedures support employee and client safety.
• Coordinate required documentation, licenses, certifications, insurance, and compliance activities as appropriate.
• Support incident reporting and follow-up.
• Help ensure company policies and procedures are consistently communicated and implemented.

Cooperative Leadership

Because Mariposa Gardening & Design is a cooperative, the Operations Manager will play an important role in supporting a democratic, collaborative, and mission-driven workplace, the Operations Manager will:

• Model cooperative values in everyday decision-making and communication.
• Encourage transparency, shared responsibility, and constructive problem-solving.
• Support cooperative members in understanding operational priorities and business realities.
• Help translate decisions into clear action plans.
• Balance operational efficiency with the needs and values of workers, clients, and the organization.
• Contribute to a culture where people feel respected, heard, and accountable.

Qualifications

Required:

• 3+ years of experience in operations, business administration, project coordination, landscaping, gardening, construction, facilities, or a related field.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and changing schedules.
• Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.
• Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively within a collaborative team.
• Proficiency with common office, scheduling, communication, and project-management software.
• Strong attention to detail and follow-through.
• Commitment to respectful, equitable, and collaborative workplace practices.

Preferred:

• Experience working in a cooperative, nonprofit, small business, or mission-driven organization.
• Experience with landscape, gardening, horticulture, ecological landscaping, or related services.
• Experience supervising or coordinating field-based teams.
• Familiarity with budgeting, invoicing, payroll, or bookkeeping systems.
• Experience developing operational systems and standard operating procedures.
• Knowledge of sustainable, regenerative, or environmentally responsible landscaping practices.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal Operations Manager is:

• Organized: You can bring structure to a busy, changing environment.
• People-oriented: You communicate clearly and build trust across different roles and personalities.
• Resourceful: You see problems as opportunities to improve systems.
• Collaborative: You value shared decision-making and collective success.
• Accountable: You follow through and take ownership of commitments.
• Adaptable: You can move between strategic planning and hands-on problem solving.
• Values-driven: You understand that a cooperative's success includes both financial sustainability and the well-being of its members, employees, clients, and community.

Working Environment

This is a primarily administrative and coordination-focused position that may include time in the field, at client properties, and at the cooperative's workplace.The position may require:

• Travel between job sites.
• Participation in manager, scheduling, standards of practice, cross-departmental, design and garden care team meetings.
• Occasional work outdoors and exposure to varying weather conditions.
• Occasional schedule flexibility to respond to operational needs.
• Ability to communicate regularly with field staff who may be working away from the office.

Compensation & Benefits

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative, Inc. is committed to providing fair and competitive compensation consistent with the responsibilities of the position and the cooperative's financial capacity.

Compensation: Salary, $90,000-130,000/year

Schedule: Full-time

Benefits:

• PTO accrual after 6 months
• Sick time accrual from start date
• IRA matching up to 3%
• $75 Monthly Health & Wellness stipend after 3 months
• Monthly Cell phone reimbursement from start date
• Opportunity to co-own in profitable business
• Opportunity to expand skill sets

Equal Opportunity & Cooperative Values

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative, Inc. is committed to creating a workplace where people are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. We welcome applicants with diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills.We encourage people who are passionate about gardening, ecological design, cooperative economics, community, and building healthy workplaces to apply.

Pay: $90,000.00 - $130,000.00 per year

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Oakland, CA 94612