Garden Maintenance Operations Manager

Company Description

Groundswell Landscapes is a locally owned and operated landscaping company, with more than 25 years experience creating and maintaining properties within Queenstown and Wanaka. We specialise in creating and maintaining landscapes for residential and commercial properties, including native planting, reforestation, irrigation installation, earthworks and property maintenance. We work closely with other local businesses, who understand the region, to achieve the best result for our clients gardens.

Role Description

Groundswell Landscapes is offering an outstanding senior leadership opportunity for an experienced professional to take ownership of our garden maintenance division during an exciting period of growth.

This is a key leadership role within the business, responsible for driving the performance, growth and ongoing development of our high-end garden maintenance operations across both Queenstown and Wānaka. The successful candidate will play a major role in shaping the future of the division through team leadership, client relationship management, business development, quoting and pricing, customer service, and the continual improvement of systems and processes.

The role is approximately a 50/50 split between hands-on gardening work and operational management. You will spend part of your time working alongside the team on-site, delivering exceptional horticultural outcomes, and part of your time managing the business side of the operation, including planning and scheduling, client communication, reporting, logistics, quoting, sales opportunities, team management, and administration.

Based predominantly in Queenstown, with occasional Wānaka work, you will lead a skilled maintenance team caring for some of the region's most prestigious residential properties. This includes overseeing the planning, delivery and quality of maintenance services across all properties, while ensuring exceptional client relationships and outcomes.

This role requires someone who is equally comfortable on the tools, in front of clients, on the phone, and behind a computer managing the day-to-day operations of a growing division.

This position offers significant autonomy, responsibility and influence within the company and is ideally suited to someone looking to take ownership of a high-performing division, drive growth, and help shape the future direction of Groundswell's maintenance operations.

What we are looking for

Essential Skills & Experience

• Proven leadership experience in a senior or management role, with 5+ years preferred
• Strong project management and organisational skills.
• Comfortable with budget management and financial oversight
• Full, clean manual driver’s licence

· Proven experience managing high-end gardens

· Strong communication, reporting and technology skills

· An entrepreneurial mindset with sound business acumen and commercial awareness

Desirable Skills and Qualifications

· At least 7 years’ experience in horticulture, gardening or landscape maintenance

· Strong lawn and turf management experience

· Diploma or Level 4 horticulture qualification

· Growsafe certification, or equivalent

We are offering

• $100,000 – $140,000 salary
• Company ute
• Performance-based bonuses
• Senior role with growth opportunity
• Senior leadership responsibility

· Opportunity to influence business growth

· Premium residential garden portfolio

This is a senior opportunity for an experienced leader who wants to take ownership, deliver exceptional client outcomes, and play a key role in establishing us as one of the region’s leading garden maintenance businesses.

• Applications will be reviewed when received and interviewing held on an ongoing basis until the position is filled.