Garden Care Manager

Berkeley CA

Description

The GCM is responsible for managing the Mariposa maintenance crew and overseeing the work that keeps all of our gardens beautiful and thriving year round. They oversee the Garden Care department and collaborate with the Designer and Project Manager as needed to ensure the original design is maintained and the department is growing in both profit and proficiency in our work. 1. Oversee the department and keep all gardens thriving year round - Make sure that the gardens are consistently thriving and blooming year round - Utilize Mariposa standards of practice for pruning, seasonal clean ups, upkeep of soil health, irrigation practices, and regular organic supplements of soil nutrients - Stay abreast of the irrigation needs in all of our gardens, and adjust accordingly - Know how to assess and fix any and all irrigation issues - Keep the soil in all our gardens at a consistent saturation level of a damp sponge, where the soil sticks together, but is not mucky or crumbly when checked - Oversee the daily maintenance work flow and keep work moving forward efficiently, while still maintaining the integrity of each garden - Stay on top of individual tasks and potential fixes associated with each project - Order materials, plants, tools/equipment as needed - Maintain maintenance database - Keep detailed records of each garden and the timing of tasks in the garden 2. Oversee the maintenance crew - Participate in the hiring/firing process - Manage and train new gardeners to conduct maintenance competently - Maximize efficiency on job sites through organization, motivation, and creating a healthy and safe workspace - Keep up morale - Find strength/weaknesses of employees and work with the garden care team to develop each person to perform on a more productive level - Manage time and timesheet approval - Manage scheduling for the department 3. Oversee budgets and profitability - Project income for the month and report to the management team - Set goals on how to grow the department and increase productivity/profitability 4. Oversee the care of all tools/equipment for the maintenance department - Keep track of all MG&D tools - Tool up for each maintenance site - Keep tools orderly both on the job site and when they are in storage - Organize and put tools away at the end of each workday - Maintain tools regularly: Cleaning, oiling, repairing, and replacing - Ensure all consumable supplies are fully stocked at all times (seeds, paper bags, twine, gloves, irrigation, pruners, hori-hori’s, lopers, sharpener & oil, first aid kit, etc) 5. Oversee the care of the Mariposa Nursery and Office Garden - Conduct a weekly maintenance of the office garden - Propagate and maintain plants for Mariposa clients - Manage leftover plants from projects, keep them healthy and alive for future projects. May include: - Pruning, planting, irrigation design and maintenance, soil amending - Keeping the watering consistent - Regular fertilization, weeding, pest and disease checks - Keeping and maintaining worm bins, harvesting the castings, and making. compost tea blends for plant health, growth, and maximum blooms - Root division, and potting up, as required by each of the plants or plant group - Cleanup of litter and debris, especially weeds and seasonal leaf debris from nursery areas 6. Handle communication with all maintenance stakeholders - Oversee and visit all maintenance accounts monthly or quarterly - Communicate clearly and regularly with clients - Schedule weekly jobs and special projects - Schedule and conduct consultations for new maintenance clients and smaller install jobs ($2-15K budget size) - Work with Project Manager and/or Designer to develop bids as needed* - Follow up emails with each client after a maintenance is completed 7. Special responsibilities - Write maintenance newsletter on a monthly basis, with gardening tips Skills & Experience - Deep understanding of drip irrigation systems and how to troubleshoot - Experience with ecological gardening practices - Knowledge of native plants and how to care for them - Minimum of 3 years of crew management experience - Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and employees - Ability to communicate effectively with clients - Experience with working in a multicultural and diverse environment - Ability to get along well with others Other Requirements: - Current CA Driver’s License - Smart phone Benefits: - Accrued sick and PTO - Supportive team environment - Matching IRA - Opportunity to expand skill sets - Opportunity to co-own in profitable business