Commercial landscape general manager job description
A commercial landscape general manager runs a branch or market: its maintenance crews, installs, snow work, clients and profit. They walk sites, review crew numbers with leaders, settle client issues, and make sure equipment and materials are used well.
By the HireBus team · Updated · Pay data: BLS, May 2025
Lead and oversee commercial landscaping operations to ensure top-tier site maintenance and crew performance. Implement strategic initiatives that drive efficiency and customer satisfaction. Serve as a key liaison between executive leadership and on-site teams.
2. Essential Duties and Responsibilities
Direct and manage multiple landscaping crews to achieve service excellence.
Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to ensure operational targets are met.
Maintain high standards of site maintenance and safety practices.
Optimize resource allocation and scheduling to maximize efficiency.
3. Key Tasks / Daily Activities
Conduct daily walk-throughs of commercial sites to assess maintenance needs.
Review and analyze performance reports and KPIs with team leaders.
Collaborate with clients to address any service issues or improvement opportunities.
Oversee inventory management and ensure proper use of equipment and supplies.
4. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
On-time site maintenance completions: ≥ 95%.
Customer Satisfaction Rating: > 4.8 stars on post-service surveys.
Crew Productivity: ≥ $150 revenue per hour per crew member.
Service Callback Rate: < 5% within 30 days.
5. Required Qualifications and Skills
Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Horticulture Management, or a related field.
Minimum of 5 years’ management experience in service operations.
Exceptional leadership and team management skills.
Strong analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making abilities.
6. Preferred Experience
Prior experience in commercial landscaping or a similar home services industry.
Proven track record of managing multi-site operations and large teams.
Experience in budget management and operational planning.
Familiarity with industry-specific safety and environmental regulations.
7. Physical Requirements
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds as needed during site visits.
Comfortable working in various outdoor weather conditions.
Frequent mobility across large commercial properties.
Occasional exposure to noise, dust, and other environmental factors.
8. Work Environment and Schedule
Standard 40-hour work week with occasional extended hours.
Regular travel between multiple commercial sites as required.
On-call duties during emergencies or peak service periods.
A mix of office-based planning and on-site operational supervision.
9. Compensation and Benefits
Annual salary range: $85,000 - $110,000 USD depending on experience.
Eligibility for performance-based bonuses.
Comprehensive Health, Dental, and Vision insurance.
401(k) plan with company match and additional fringe benefits.
10. Company Culture and Overview
At [INSERT COMPANY NAME HERE], we foster a culture of collaboration, growth, and continuous improvement.
We believe in empowering our team with the resources and support needed to succeed.
Our environment is built on respect, innovation, and a genuine commitment to customer satisfaction.
Join us to experience a career where your leadership skills can truly make an impact.
11. How to Apply
If you meet the above criteria and want to be part of a growth-oriented company focused on customer satisfaction, please send your resume to [INSERT EMAIL HERE] or apply online at [INSERT WEBSITE LINK HERE].
Need help filling this role? HireBus posts the ad, Iris interviews every applicant by phone before you do, and you decide who to hire. Start hiring now
What changes for a general manager in commercial landscaping
General managers run people and profit in any trade. In commercial landscaping, fertilizer rules, limits on young workers and the math of crew hours shape the job.
Wisconsin limits what goes on the turf
In Wisconsin, no one may apply turf fertilizer labeled as containing phosphorus unless they are establishing grass from seed or sod that growing season, or a lab soil test from the past 36 months shows a deficiency. Fertilizer can't go on frozen ground or on paved surfaces, and any that lands on a lot or walk must be removed right away. The GM sets the product list and spot-checks crews. Source: Wisconsin Statutes 94.643: Restrictions on the use and sale of turf fertilizer containing phosphorus.
Young summer workers can't run the mowers
If you hire 14- or 15-year-olds for summer help, federal child labor rules bar them from operating power-driven machinery, including lawn mowers, trimmers, weed-eaters and edgers. Check your state's rules as well, since they can add limits. Write down which tasks each young worker may do, and make sure crew leaders know before the first shift. Source: eCFR: 29 CFR 570.33, Occupations prohibited for minors 14 and 15 years of age.
Revenue per crew hour starts with the bid
The template's productivity target only works if the estimate and the time clock agree. Each week, compare the hours each site was bid at with the hours crews logged there. A site that runs long may have scope creep, a slow crew or a bad bid. Fix the first two in the field and the third at renewal.
Snow calls need one person in charge
When a storm comes, someone has to decide when to plow and salt each site, based on the contract trigger and the forecast. Name one decision maker for every event, the GM or a snow lead the GM chooses. Write down who calls the event, who tells property managers, and who signs off the service log before billing.
How much commercial landscape general managers make
The closest BLS group for commercial landscape general managers is general and operations managers. General and operations managers who work for landscaping companies earned a median of $89,990 a year ($43.26 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. That’s below the $105,770 median for general and operations managers in all industries. About 34,230 of the 3,503,020 general and operations managers in that survey work for landscaping companies.
Expect a salary plus a performance bonus; tying it to branch profit and client retention keeps the focus on renewals.
Landscaping companies
$89,990$89,990 median Middle half $62,400–$123,080 10th–90th $46,520–$164,110
All industries
$105,770$105,770 median Middle half $72,320–$167,280 10th–90th $50,090–$253,390
$0k$50k$100k$150k$200k$250k$300k
10th–90th percentileMiddle halfMedianAnnual pay, May 2025. Source: BLS Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics.
Annual pay by percentile
Group
10th
25th
Median
75th
90th
Landscaping companies
$46,520
$62,400
$89,990
$123,080
$164,110
All industries
$50,090
$72,320
$105,770
$167,280
$253,390
BLS reports residential and commercial landscaping companies together. Post a real range for your market in the ad.
The pay line in the template above is an example from our Role Blueprint. Set yours from these figures and what local companies pay.
Skills to hire for, and what you can teach
Hire for these
Has managed several crews across multiple commercial sites
Reads job cost and crew hour reports and acts on them
Handles property manager complaints calmly and in writing
Plans labor, equipment and materials for a full season
Knows the fertilizer, pesticide and safety rules in your state
Teach these on the job
Your estimating method and site budgets
Your field platform's reports
Snow contract terms and triggers
Your client survey and audit process
Field service software for routes, crew hours and site reports, a phone app for photo site audits, and job cost figures from the accounting system. Name your platform in the ad, since a GM who has used it can coach crew leaders on it right away.
Commercial landscape general manager interview questions
Two of the 6 questions we'd ask, and what a strong answer sounds like. Ask every candidate the same questions, and rate each answer on your own before you compare notes.
Situational · Contract out to bid
A large HOA client tells you they're putting your contract out to bid. What do you do?
A strong answer: Meets the board, reviews performance, fixes known issues, prepares a strong bid and leans on the relationships built.
Behavioral · Developing leaders
Tell me about a crew leader or account manager you developed into a stronger leader. What did you do?
A strong answer: Names the person, the specific skill gap, the coaching and what they can do now.
Who should sell enhancement work, the GM or the sales team?
Enhancements such as seasonal color, mulch refreshes, tree work and irrigation upgrades often start with what the GM and account managers see on site. One approach is to let account managers propose them while sales chases new contracts. Either way, the GM sets the pricing rules and checks that crews have room in the schedule before anything is promised.
How much does a commercial landscape general manager make?
General and operations managers who work for landscaping companies earned a median of $89,990 a year ($43.26 an hour) in May 2025, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The middle half earned between $62,400 and $123,080 a year. Pay also depends on your local market, experience and bonus terms.
How should a GM decide which sites to walk each week?
Rank sites by risk, not habit. Put first the accounts up for renewal, sites with recent complaints, sites with a new crew leader, and your largest contracts. Rotate the rest so every site gets a GM visit during the season. Bring photos and notes to the weekly crew review so leaders see what the GM saw.
How should a GM handle a crew leader who quits mid-season?
Move a strong second into the lead right away and pair them with a field supervisor for the first week. Check the routes that crew covers for anything special, such as gate codes or service windows. Call the property managers on the biggest affected sites before they notice a change, then start recruiting, since a replacement can take weeks to find.
How should a GM ad describe the physical side of site visits?
List the tasks. The GM walks large commercial properties over turf, slopes and parking lots in all kinds of weather, may lift materials or equipment up to 50 pounds, and spends time near mowers, blowers and dust. Write those duties into the ad and note that you will consider accommodations for qualified candidates.
