Director of Field Operations - Tree Care/Trades
Berkeley, CA
Full Time
Larry
Senior Manager/Supervisor
- Do you have experience as a Director of Field Operations in a trades-related industry?
- Are you currently (or recently) working in a position that required running field crews?
- Can you start your workday on-site in Richmond at 5:00 a.m.?
- If so, please keep reading…….
Common titles for this role may include Regional Operations Director, Dir. of Ops, VP of Operations, Division Manager, Senior Manager, Regional Manager, C.O.O., General Manager, etc.
ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY
The Professional Tree Care Co. of Berkeley is seeking a Director of Field Operations who is a natural mentor and leader. She/They/He will have worked in a trades-related industry like tree care, residential or commercial construction, solar, commercial electrical contracting, commercial landscaping, etc. overseeing operational activities and ensuring efficiency and profitability across various regions.
Ideally, the DFO (Director of Field Operations) we hire will know the tree care industry inside and out. They will have overseen high-visibility projects within our service area, Mendocino and Monterey, CA., and understand the equipment, staff, and skillsets needed to exceed customer expectations on a wide range of project types simultaneously.
In all cases, our DFO will be highly computer savvy, have extensive managerial training, be a great writer (hence the request for a cover letter), and be familiar enough with CRM/Sales systems (like Jobber, ArborNote, RealGreen, SingleOps, etc.) to train new hires.
Responsible for all operations in Northern California, our DFO will report directly to our CEO and will serve on the senior leadership team alongside our Director of Finance and Accounting, and Strategic Assistant to the CEO. They will attend weekly finance meetings, quarterly leadership meetings, and annual corporate off sites.
The person we hire will be someone with extensive management training. Their style should take the form of a mentor who leads by example and is willing to put in the hours needed to create company-wide organizational change.
ABOUT THE COMPANY
Since 1980, The Professional Tree Care Company has been trusted for tree services throughout Northern California. Based in Berkeley, CA, we service commercial, residential, and public works projects from Mendocino to Monterey, and from San Francisco to Sacramento.
What makes us unique? We recycle 100% of material removed from job sites at our own Green Waste Recycle Yard (greenwasterecycleyard dot com), create organic mulch, custom mill logs, and (soon) electricity from wood chips. We also have the staff, equipment, resources, and experience to perform tree services at any scale.
Are you seeking stability? We celebrated our 45th anniversary this in 2025. Many of our Operations Managers have been with us 20+ years, and a variety of staff over 10 years. We like to hire folks who seek a work home; people who work hard, push for change, and make friends along the way.
Key Responsibilities
- Manage/mentor up to eight Operations Managers and their respective yards to ensure safe, high-quality, and efficient work is completed on time and on budget.
- Oversee job scheduling, equipment utilization, and project execution across multiple service areas.
- Ride along with each CAE (Certified Arborist/Estimator) to understand their current processes and how they might be improved.
- Attend daily 5:00 a.m. project planning meetings.
- Serve as our de facto Sales Manager; attend monthly ride-alongs with CAE’s (Certified Arborists/Estimators) to ensure they’re able to create residential estimates within 2 hours of visiting a job site using our new software.
- Communicate a clear performance standard for managers: specific goals, behaviors (speed, ownership, coaching), and timelines, and link these to formal performance management and rewards
- Serve as part of the senior management team alongside the CEO, Director of Finance and Accounting, and Strategic Assistant to the CEO to launch two new divisions in 2026.
- Collaborate with leadership on strategic planning, forecasting, and client retention strategies.
- Develop and implement operational policies that improve workflow and maintain arboricultural best practices.
- Foster a strong safety and anti-harassment culture and ensure compliance with all local and federal regulations.
- Work alongside H.R. to support hiring, onboarding, and professional development of field staff and crew leaders including creating inclusive pathways for women and non-binary people in the field.
- Put underperforming team members on a documented plans with measurable outcomes and check‑ins; create performance standards that have visible consequences if improvement does not occur within a defined period. Train you team to do the same.
Qualifications/Requirements
- Minimum 7 years of experience as a senior leader in a TRADES-RELATED industry (ONLY) including 3+ years overseeing multiple field teams or external divisions. Due to the amount and type of leadership required, we are seeking someone who has held a title like: Senior Manager, Regional Manager, C.O.O., Regional Operations Director, VP of Operations, or Division Manager, etc.
- Extensive management training experience including leadership, communication, diversity (DEI), and emotional intelligence
- Able to work from +/- 5:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and/or as needed by the CEO.
- Available to be on call, especially during fire and storm seasons.
- Physically well and able to hike into forested areas and up hills as needed to participate in project analysis.
- Valid driver’s license and clean driving record, clean criminal background, and stellar references.
- Able to work in the U.S. without sponsorship.
- 2-year or 4-year degree.
Bonus points for
- Current or recent employment with a Bay Area tree company or municipal forestry department (NOTE: top pay will only go to someone currently in the tree industry.)
- Proven expertise in arboriculture, crew logistics, and safety management.
- Bilingual: Able to read, write, and speak Spanish.
- Somone seeking a company to stay with for at least the next 5 years.
- You live within a 40-minute commute of Richmond, CA.
- Experience with developing inclusive workplace cultures.
WHY JOIN PROFESSIONAL TREE CARE?
Stability. In business since 1980, we’re seasoned veterans of the tree care industry
Timing. We are re-structuring to attract the most qualified, productive, and positive people we can find
Location: At 4:30 a.m., our location is a 15-minute drive from the east end of the San Rafael bridge, a 25-minute drive from Martinez, and a 25-minute drive from Oakland
Change. We’re changing the way we work and welcome your professional expertise
COMPENSATION AND BENEFITSStability. In business since 1980, we’re seasoned veterans of the tree care industry
Timing. We are re-structuring to attract the most qualified, productive, and positive people we can find
Location: At 4:30 a.m., our location is a 15-minute drive from the east end of the San Rafael bridge, a 25-minute drive from Martinez, and a 25-minute drive from Oakland
Change. We’re changing the way we work and welcome your professional expertise
- IMPORTANT NOTE: The pay range: $130,000-$160,000 per year: $140K to $160K only for those with significant TREE CARE INDUSTRY KNOWLEDGE. $130K to $140K for anyone without tree care experience.
- 100% Paid medical, dental, and optical.
- Company vehicle, cell phone, and gear
- Competitive Paid Time Off
- Paid holidays
- 401(k) Savings Plan
- Generous Employee Discount
- Sick time
OUR HIRING PROCESS
- Write a cover letter outlining your experience as a senior manager and how your experience aligns with the responsibilities of this position.
- Update your resume so it includes: a) your name, b) your cell phone number, c) your email address, d) your location (if you currently live more than 45 minutes from Richmond, CA, explain WHEN you will move), e) your Linkedin profile, f) details of your academic background including when you graduated, and what degree you earned, g) list, in reverse order, roles you’ve held for the past +/-15 years. If not currently working, indicate that you’re looking and when you could start.
- Submit your cover letter and updated resume online.
- If you’re asked to take a survey, do so within 72 hours of it being emailed to you. Note: Upon completion of the survey a copy will be emailed to you immediately. Read through to determine if you believe the results are accurate.
- If asked via email to participate in a phone interview, please reply via text. Due to the volume of candidates we typically receive, our recruiting process begins as text based.
- Thank you in advance for your interest in professionaltreecare dot com.
WHO SHOULD NOT APPLY FOR THIS POSITION. Anyone who:
- Anyone who lives more than 45 minutes from Richmond, CA and does not intend to move BEFORE starting the job.
- Is unwilling/uncomfortable working in a portable office trailer job sites and/or using a Port-o-potty as their primary loo.
- Has not yet worked IN THE TRADES as a Senior Manager, Regional Manager, C.O.O., Regional Operations Director, Dir. of Ops, VP of Operations, Division Manager or Director of Field Operations.
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