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Position Title: Director of Landscape Construction

Location: Greenville - Spartanburg, SC

Company Overview

Our client is a commercial landscape company with a dedicated Commercial Landscape Construction Division specializing in large-scale commercial hardscape, irrigation installation, landscape installation, and site development projects. The division's primary market is the Upstate of South Carolina, while also supporting strategic commercial projects throughout the Southeast. Leadership is rooted in five Core Values: Integrity, Excellence, Teamwork, Determination, and Passion, and the organization is committed to recruiting the best in order to be the best.

Position Overview

The Director of Landscape Construction is the senior operational leader responsible for the overall performance, profitability, growth, and long-term sustainability of the Commercial Landscape Construction Division. This role owns a $20M+ commercial landscape construction operation and is accountable for financial performance, labor efficiency, operational execution, safety, talent development, client satisfaction, scheduling accuracy, equipment management, and the successful delivery of every project within the division.

This is not a desk-based leadership position. The Director will maintain a visible presence in the field, on project sites, and alongside Project Managers, Operations Managers, Field Supervisors, and clients. This role serves as the operating leader closest to the work and is responsible for creating a self-sustaining division capable of consistent growth, strong profitability, and leadership continuity.

Key Responsibilities

Division P&L Ownership

• Own and operate a commercial landscape construction division exceeding $20M in annual revenue
• Deliver budgeted revenue, gross margin, labor efficiency, and EBITDA performance targets
• Drive a minimum of 10% annual revenue growth while maintaining profitability objectives
• Monitor project profitability, labor productivity, equipment utilization, and overhead expenses
• Partner with Finance to forecast revenue, labor demand, backlog, and resource requirements
• Hold all construction leaders accountable for financial performance and operational results

Building Leaders

• Lead and develop Sr. Project Managers, Project Managers, Operations Managers, Field Supervisors, and future construction leaders
• Build succession plans for every critical leadership position within the division
• Create a leadership bench capable of supporting future growth and expansion
• Develop coaching, training, and accountability systems that strengthen leadership effectiveness at every level
• Foster a culture of ownership where leaders proactively solve problems and drive results

Operational Excellence & Project Delivery

• Maintain oversight of all active landscape construction projects from award through closeout
• Ensure projects are completed safely, on time, within budget, and according to client expectations
• Establish operational standards, workflows, and accountability systems across all construction departments
• Partner closely with Estimating and Preconstruction to ensure successful project handoffs
• Drive continuous improvement in project execution, communication, scheduling, and field productivity
• Lead resolution of major project challenges, escalations, and operational obstacles

Scheduling, Capacity Planning & Backlog Management

• Own division-wide project forecasting and scheduling
• Maintain visibility into project workload, manpower requirements, and future backlog several months in advance
• Identify workload gaps, resource constraints, and labor shortages before they impact production
• Balance manpower and project schedules to maximize revenue generation and crew utilization
• Ensure the division maintains sufficient backlog and production capacity to support growth objectives
• Collaborate with Sales, Estimating, and Executive Leadership to proactively address future workload needs

Labor Efficiency & Productivity Management

• Monitor labor performance across all construction departments
• Establish productivity benchmarks and performance standards
• Track budgeted versus actual labor hours on all projects
• Implement corrective action plans when labor efficiency falls below expectations
• Reduce rework, downtime, and non-billable labor activities
• Drive accountability for field productivity at every level of the organization

Client Experience & Relationship Management

• Serve as a senior point of contact for key clients, general contractors, developers, and strategic partners
• Participate in project meetings and client reviews when necessary
• Resolve escalated client concerns quickly and professionally
• Build long-term relationships that strengthen the company's reputation and position within the marketplace
• Partner with Business Development and Executive Leadership on strategic opportunities

Operational Infrastructure & Asset Management

• Oversee procurement planning, logistics, fleet, equipment, and company assets across the division
• Ensure projects are properly resourced and materials are available to support production schedules
• Drive accountability for equipment utilization, maintenance, inventory, and stewardship of company resources
• Implement systems that improve operational efficiency, scalability, and profitability

Safety, Training, & Continuous Improvement

• Lead a culture where safety is a non-negotiable expectation and ensure compliance with OSHA standards, company policies, and client requirements
• Develop leaders through training, coaching, and professional development
• Monitor operational performance, identify inefficiencies, and implement sustainable improvements
• Standardize processes and operating procedures that improve consistency, accountability, and execution across the division

Qualifications & Experience

Required

• 7+ years of progressive leadership experience in Commercial Landscape Construction, Heavy Civil Construction, Site Development, or a comparable construction environment
• 5+ years leading multiple Project Managers, Operations Managers, and field leadership teams
• Proven experience managing construction operations exceeding $15M–$20M in annual revenue
• Strong knowledge of commercial hardscape, irrigation, landscape installation, grading, site development, and construction sequencing
• Demonstrated success improving labor efficiency, profitability, and operational performance
• Extensive experience with project scheduling, forecasting, manpower planning, and backlog management
• Strong financial acumen including budgeting, forecasting, job costing, labor analysis, and margin management
• Experience leading large teams through growth, change, and organizational development
• Deep understanding of construction safety, risk management, and OSHA compliance

Preferred

• Experience with Aspire or comparable construction management software
• Bachelor's degree in Construction Management, Business Management, Landscape Construction, or equivalent experience

What Does Success Look Like

First Year Expectations & Ongoing Excellence

• Gain complete command of division financial performance, backlog, labor utilization, and project forecasting
• Establish direct relationships with all key leaders within the construction organization
• Evaluate organizational structure and identify leadership development opportunities
• Implement a comprehensive division forecasting and manpower planning process
• Improve labor efficiency and project profitability across all construction departments
• Strengthen project scheduling accuracy and backlog visibility
• Build leadership development plans for high-potential team members
• Standardize construction operating procedures and accountability metrics
• Reduce operational bottlenecks and increase project execution consistency
• Create a scalable organizational structure capable of supporting long-term growth and future expansion

Comp & Benefits

• Base Salary of $115,000–$130,000, depending on experience
• Annual bonus up to 15% of base, tied to divisional revenue and EBITDA performance
• Company-provided vehicle
• Full benefits package including medical, dental, and vision
• 401(k) with a 5% match

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