Director of Landscaping & Grounds

Location: Los Angeles, CA, 90025, United States

Base Pay: $120,000.00 - $150,000.00 / Year
Job Category: Corporate
Employee Type: Exempt Full-Time
Required Degree: 4 Year Degree
Travel: 40%
Manage Others: Yes
Minimum Experience: 10 Years

Join E&S Ring – A Leader in Residential Property Management

At E&S Ring Management, we manage apartment communities in some of California’s most sought-after neighborhoods. With a legacy of excellence and a strong presence in vibrant communities, we’re proud to deliver high-quality living experiences and that starts with an exceptional team.

We’re currently seeking a Director of Landscaping & Grounds

The Director of Landscaping & Grounds leads the strategy, standards, and day-to-day performance of all exterior grounds and landscape operations across a 21-property, 7,000-unit portfolio. This role ensures curb appeal, safety, cost control, landscape plantings quality and maintenance protocols, hardscape maintenance and protocols, water stewardship, and vendor/crew performance while aligning with asset plans and resident experience goals.

What We Offer

We believe a rewarding career includes more than just a paycheck. When you join us, you’ll enjoy:

A dynamic role where you’ll showcase your [Job Skills] service skills while contributing to process improvements
A collaborative, upbeat work environment that values positivity, professionalism, and team spirit.
A comprehensive benefits package, including:   
Medical, Dental, Vision, and Life Insurance
401(k) with Company Match
 Flexible Spending Accounts
Paid Vacation, Sick Leave, Personal Days & Holidays
Tuition Reimbursement
Wellness Reimbursement

Key Responsibilities

Strategy & Standards

Set portfolio-wide landscape standards (specs, planting palettes, turf care, pruning cycles, color rotation, mulch, bed maintenance).
Establish seasonal plans (spring/fall cleanups), storm readiness, and drought/heat contingencies.
Implement sustainable practices (smart irrigation, drought-tolerant plantings, IPM)
Operations & Inspections
Conduct recurring property walks; score appearance, safety, and compliance; issue corrective actions.
Oversee irrigation audits, scheduling, and repairs; minimize water waste and leaks.
Coordinate tree care program (risk assessments, pruning, removals, replacements).
Vendor & Contract Management
Write scopes, run RFPs, select vendors; negotiate pricing and SLAs.
Manage contracts (mowing, enhancement projects, arbor, irrigation, snow/ice if applicable); enforce KPI-based performance.
Budgeting & Cost Control
 Own OPEX and CAPEX planning (annual maintenance, enhancements, replacements).
 Track spend vs. budget; drive savings via standards, sourcing, and water/chemical reductions.
Safety, Risk, and Compliance
Ensure safe work methods and PPE; partner with Risk/HR on training and incident response.
Maintain compliance with local codes, water restrictions, pesticide regulations, and HOA/state, local, and municipal requirements.
 Lead emergency response for storms, flooding, wind events; coordinate quick cleanup and hazard mitigation.
Projects & Enhancements
Coordinate with Landscape Designers, Plan and deliver curb-appeal upgrades, entry/amenity refreshes, and erosion/drainage fixes.
Coordinate with Construction/CapEx on site work impacting landscaping (utility trenching, hardscape).
Data, Tools & Reporting
Use work-order/CMMS tools to triage, prioritize, and close grounds tickets.
Report monthly on KPIs (appearance scores, water usage, vendor SLA attainment, budget variance).

Qualifications

10+ years in landscaping/grounds leadership across multi-site residential, hospitality, commercial, or campus environments; 3+ years managing managers and vendors.
 Strong knowledge of regional plant material, turf care, irrigation systems/controllers, arboriculture basics, and seasonal operations (snow/ice if applicable).
 Proven success running RFPs, negotiating contracts, and managing large OPEX/CAPEX budgets.
Familiar with work-order systems and portfolio reporting (e.g., CMMS/ (Yardi) property ops platforms).
Valid driver’s license; ability to travel routinely across properties.
Preferred: Certifications such as ISA Certified Arborist, CLP/CLT, QWEL, pesticide applicator; bilingual English/Spanish.
Work Conditions
Field-heavy role with frequent walking sites/grades; lifting up to 40 lbs occasionally.
On-call support during severe weather or emergencies.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If you’re ready to bring your Landscaping & Grounds expertise to a company that values both performance and personality, we’d love to hear from you. Apply at https://www.esring.com/careers
Employment offer is contingent upon sati