Horticultural Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Horticultural Crew Lead
Full-Time Preferred; Part-Time Considered for the Right Candidate
About Drab to Fab
Drab to Fab is an award-winning landscape design, construction, and horticultural services company serving San Diego County. As a Certified B Corporation, we believe business should be a force for good, creating exceptional outdoor spaces while improving our environment, supporting our team members, and serving our community.
We are not a typical mow-and-blow landscape company.
Our work is rooted in thoughtful horticulture, sustainable practices, excellent design, and long-term landscape stewardship. We care for landscapes with the expectation that they should become healthier, more beautiful, and more resilient over time.
Our team works with some of San Diego County's most unique residential landscapes, including diverse plant collections, mature specimen trees, native and climate-appropriate planting palettes, edible gardens, and environmentally responsible outdoor spaces.
A Leadership Opportunity in Professional Horticulture
The Horticultural Crew Lead plays a critical role in the success of Drab to Fab's horticultural services team.
This position is for someone who has the technical skill to perform high-quality landscape care and the leadership ability to guide a crew in the field. The right person will help set the tone for professionalism, efficiency, safety, plant health, and client satisfaction on every property we steward.
This is not a role for someone who simply wants to manage a route and get through the day. We are looking for someone who takes pride in the craft of horticulture, enjoys leading others, and wants to be part of a company that is raising the standard for what residential landscape care can be.
Learn and Lead Under Experienced Horticultural Leadership
This position offers the opportunity to work under the guidance of our Director of Horticulture & Development, John Clements.
John previously served as Director of Gardens at the San Diego Botanic Garden and brings more than 50 years of horticultural experience throughout Southern California. His knowledge of plant care, garden management, sustainable horticulture, and regional growing conditions is an extraordinary resource for our team.
For the right candidate, this role offers the chance to grow as both a horticultural professional and a field leader under John's stewardship and leadership. You will help translate high-level horticultural standards into daily field execution while supporting the development of the Horticulturalists working on your crew.
This is the kind of professional growth opportunity more commonly associated with respected institutions such as the San Diego Zoo, San Diego Zoo Safari Park, and San Diego Botanic Garden.
Position Summary
Drab to Fab is seeking a highly motivated, skilled, and detail-oriented Horticultural Crew Lead to join our growing team.
The Horticultural Crew Lead is responsible for performing high-quality horticultural stewardship while leading a crew in the field. This includes coordinating daily work with the Landscape Maintenance Manager, communicating assignments to team members, ensuring quality standards are met, identifying plant health and irrigation concerns, and accurately logging all work hours and job details through LMN Crew software.
This role requires strong horticultural knowledge, practical landscape care experience, leadership ability, communication skills, organization, and a genuine passion for plants.
This position is ideally full-time, though part-time arrangements may be considered for the right candidate.
Hourly pay ranges from $25-$30 per hour, depending on experience, qualifications, leadership ability, and demonstrated horticultural knowledge.
Key Responsibilities
Horticultural Field Work

• Perform high-quality horticultural stewardship across residential properties.
• Prune, weed, plant, mulch, fertilize, and perform soil improvement work.
• Monitor plant health and identify signs of stress, pests, disease, irrigation problems, and environmental issues.
• Perform basic irrigation inspection, troubleshooting, and repairs for sprinkler and drip systems.
• Assist with seasonal planting, minor landscape enhancements, and small property improvement projects for existing clients.
• Operate and maintain landscape and horticultural equipment safely and effectively.
• Maintain clean, organized, and safe job sites, vehicles, tools, and equipment.
• Support sustainable landscape practices, including organic products where applicable, electric equipment, and environmentally responsible methods.

Crew Leadership

• Lead the daily work of assigned Horticulturalists and crew members in the field.
• Collaborate closely with the Landscape Maintenance Manager to understand daily and weekly schedules.
• Communicate property-specific tasks, priorities, standards, and client requests to crew members.
• Ensure the crew understands the scope of work for each property.
• Set the pace and standard for quality, professionalism, safety, and efficiency.
• Provide hands-on training, coaching, and support to crew members.
• Monitor work progress and proactively address delays, quality issues, or field challenges.
• Serve as the on-site point of contact for immediate crew questions or concerns.
• Help maintain a positive, respectful, and productive crew culture.
• Support the growth and development of team members who are building careers in horticulture.

Quality Control and Client Standards

• Ensure work is completed to Drab to Fab's horticultural, aesthetic, and professional standards.
• Identify opportunities to improve plant health, property appearance, irrigation performance, and long-term landscape outcomes.
• Report plant health concerns, irrigation issues, safety concerns, property damage, and client requests to management promptly.
• Help ensure every property is left clean, polished, and professionally stewarded.
• Represent Drab to Fab professionally while working on client properties.

Time Tracking and Reporting

• Accurately log all work hours by job site and task using LMN Crew software.
• Ensure crew members follow company time tracking procedures.
• Verify time entries for accuracy before submission.
• Document completed work, observations, and issues as required.
• Promptly report discrepancies, missed entries, or software issues to the Landscape Maintenance Manager.

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of two years of professional landscape maintenance, horticulture, or related field experience.
• Proven ability to perform high-quality landscape maintenance and horticultural care.
• Demonstrated leadership ability or prior experience in a lead, supervisor, foreman, or crew leadership role.
• Strong understanding of plant care, pruning, weeding, planting, mulching, and landscape maintenance best practices.
• Experience identifying basic plant health, pest, irrigation, and site condition issues.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to communicate clearly with crew members, managers, and clients.
• Ability to lead by example in the field.
• Proficiency operating and maintaining common landscape maintenance equipment.
• Ability to learn and use time tracking software, preferably LMN Crew.
• Valid California Driver's License with a clean driving record.
• Social Security Number and ability to pass I-9 verification.
• Conversational English sufficient to communicate professionally with clients, managers, and team members.
• Ability to follow company policies, safety procedures, and professional standards.
• Strong work ethic, reliability, and positive attitude.
• Genuine passion for plants, horticulture, and outdoor work.

Preferred Qualifications

• Knowledge of Southern California plants and climate-appropriate landscapes.
• Bilingual English/Spanish.
• Qualified Applicator License or Qualified Applicator Certificate a plus, but not required.
• Enrollment in or completion of horticulture-related coursework.

Physical Requirements

• Ability to work outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds.
• Ability to bend, kneel, stoop, climb, and stand for extended periods.
• Ability to safely operate landscape and horticultural equipment.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work throughout the day.

Pre-Employment Screening
After a phone screening and one-way video interview, successful candidates may be invited to participate in one or more in-person interviews.
Candidates must be able to pass pre-employment testing, criminal and civil background investigations, employment verification, and physical/drug screens.
We do not screen for cannabis/marijuana.
Employee Benefits
Eligibility begins after 60 days of full-time employment averaging 32+ hours per week, with some benefits available for part-time employees averaging 20+ hours per week.
Health Insurance
Medical, dental, and vision insurance with:

• 75% company-paid premiums for full-time employees averaging 32+ hours per week.
• 50% company-paid premiums for part-time employees averaging 20+ hours per week.

Paid Time Off

• Accrue 40 hours of PTO annually.

Retirement Savings

• 401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions.

Education Assistance
We strongly support continuing education and professional growth.
Drab to Fab offers tuition reimbursement for approved horticulture, landscape, irrigation, construction, and related programs, including the Cuyamaca College Ornamental Horticulture Program. Reimbursement includes tuition, fees, books, and parking expenses.
Why Join Drab to Fab?

• Lead a crew in a company that takes plant care seriously.
• Work under the guidance of one of Southern California's most experienced horticultural leaders.
• Help develop Horticulturalists who are building careers in the field.
• Work with diverse and interesting residential landscapes throughout San Diego County.
• Build a long-term career in horticultural leadership.
• Join a mission-driven Certified B Corporation.
• Help redefine what professional residential landscape care should look like.
• Grow with a company that values sustainability, craftsmanship, education, and professionalism.

To Apply
Candidates are encouraged to submit a resume and a brief cover letter outlining their relevant experience, leadership background, and interest in horticultural work.
Applicants should clearly describe their landscape maintenance, horticulture, irrigation, crew leadership, or related experience.
Drab to Fab is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in the workplace. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, disability status, or any other protected status.