Director of Landscape Construction Operations

Summary

The Director of Construction is a senior leadership role responsible for providing strategic, operational, and financial oversight of all landscape construction activities across the organization. This role may include responsibility for pre-construction coordination, project execution, production performance, financial outcomes, safety, quality, personnel leadership, and cross-functional alignment. The Director of Construction ensures landscape construction operations are scalable, compliant, profitable, and aligned with organizational goals while supporting clients, field leadership, and executive management.

Responsibilities and Duties

Strategic Leadership & Planning

• Establish and execute construction operational strategies aligned with company objectives.
• Participate in executive planning related to growth, market expansion, staffing models, and capital investments.
• Develop short- and long-term construction operational plans.
• Support mergers, acquisitions, and integration of new construction operations.
• Evaluate organizational structure and recommend improvements for efficiency and scalability.

Financial Management & Accountability

• Own construction department P&L performance.
• Review and approve project budgets, forecasts, and cost controls.
• Analyze margin performance, labor productivity, and cost trends.
• Implement corrective actions to address cost overruns or performance gaps.
• Partner with Finance on forecasting, accruals, WIP reporting, and financial close processes.
• Establish financial controls and approval thresholds.

Pre-Construction & Estimating Oversight

• Provide oversight and strategic input to pre-construction processes.
• Ensure effective project handoff from estimating to operations.
• Collaborate on bid strategies, pricing assumptions, and resource planning.

Project Execution & Production Oversight

• Oversee all active construction projects from award through close-out.
• Ensure projects are delivered according to contract scope, schedule, and budget.
• Monitor production performance and job progress across multiple sites.
• Support resolution of complex project challenges and escalations.
• Approve major schedule changes, scope adjustments, and resource reallocations.

Safety, Quality & Compliance

• Establish and enforce construction safety standards and expectations.
• Ensure compliance with OSHA, local, state, and federal regulations.
• Partner with Safety leadership to reduce incidents and improve field compliance.
• Review serious incidents, near misses, and corrective action plans.
• Set quality standards and conduct audits to ensure consistency across projects.

Leadership & People Management

• Directly manage senior construction leaders (Project Managers, Production Supervisors, Construction Managers).
• Hire, train, develop, and retain construction leadership talent.
• Establish performance expectations, KPIs, and accountability frameworks.
• Conduct performance reviews and provide coaching and development.
• Support succession planning and workforce development initiatives.

Client & Stakeholder Management

• Serve as an executive-level escalation point for clients and partners.
• Participate in key client meetings and project reviews.
• Resolve disputes related to scope, schedule, quality, or cost.
• Maintain strong relationships with owners, general contractors, architects, and consultants.

Vendor, Subcontractor & Procurement Oversight

• Oversee subcontractor performance and compliance.
• Support negotiation of major subcontractor and vendor agreements.
• Review subcontractor scopes, change orders, and performance issues.
• Ensure procurement strategies align with production and financial goals.

Contract Administration & Risk Management

• Review major contract terms and risk provisions.
• Ensure change order processes are followed and documented.
• Monitor claims, disputes, and potential legal exposure.
• Partner with Legal and Risk Management on mitigation strategies.

Systems, Processes & Reporting

• Implement and improve construction systems, SOPs, and workflows.
• Review operational dashboards, KPIs, and performance reports.
• Ensure accurate and timely reporting of project and departmental data.
• Leverage technology to improve efficiency, visibility, and accountability.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Maintenance, Enhancements, Arbor, Safety, Fleet, HR, and Finance teams.
• Align construction operations with company policies and initiatives.
• Support workforce planning, onboarding, and training programs.

Continuous Improvement & Innovation

• Identify inefficiencies and implement process improvements.
• Standardize best practices across construction operations.
• Lead continuous improvement initiatives focused on safety, quality, and profitability.
• Support sustainability and compliance initiatives where applicable.

Additional Duties

• Represent SDL at industry events and professional organizations.
• Support executive leadership with special projects and strategic initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned to support business needs.

Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Construction Management, Engineering, Business, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

Experience

• 10+ years of progressive landscape construction or field operations experience.
• 5+ years in senior leadership roles.
• Demonstrated experience managing large teams, multiple projects, and significant budgets.

Physical Demands

This role requires a combination of office and field activity, including frequent travel to job sites, standing and walking, extended computer use, and occasional lifting of up to 25–50 pounds. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.