Landscape Manager - Hardscape

Landscape Manager – Hardscape

Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Employment Type: Full-time, Permanent
Reports To: General Manager

About Our Client

Our client is an established landscaping and property services company serving the Ottawa area. They provide a range of landscape construction, hardscape, property maintenance, and winter operations services to residential, commercial, and municipal clients.

They are looking for an experienced Landscape Manager to lead and grow their hardscape and landscape construction operations. This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who combines strong technical knowledge with estimating, design, project management, client relations, and operational leadership.

Position Overview

The Landscape Manager – Hardscape will be responsible for overseeing hardscape and landscape projects from initial estimate and design through to completion. This individual will manage projects, crews, subcontractors, budgets, schedules, client relationships, and overall project profitability.

The successful candidate will also play an important role in the company’s commercial and municipal tendering process, including reviewing plans and drawings, interpreting RFQs and RFTs, preparing accurate estimates, and submitting competitive bids.

During the winter season, this individual will transition into a leadership role within the company’s snow and ice operations, helping oversee crews, equipment, schedules, and service delivery.

Key Responsibilities

Estimating & Business Development

• Prepare accurate estimates and proposals for residential hardscape and landscape projects.
• Review project plans, drawings, specifications, RFQs, and RFTs.
• Prepare and submit bids for commercial and municipal landscape and hardscape tenders.
• Conduct site visits, assess project requirements, and develop scopes of work.
• Review labour, material, equipment, and subcontractor requirements when preparing estimates.
• Identify opportunities to improve project margins and departmental profitability.
• Maintain strong relationships with clients, suppliers, subcontractors, and industry partners.

Hardscape Design & Project Management

• Develop and coordinate hardscape and landscape designs based on client requirements and project specifications.
• Manage projects from initial concept and estimate through completion and final invoicing.
• Coordinate crews, subcontractors, materials, equipment, and project schedules.
• Monitor project budgets, job costs, labour productivity, and material usage.
• Read and interpret construction plans, drawings, and specifications.
• Conduct regular site inspections and ensure projects meet company and client quality standards.
• Resolve project issues and communicate effectively with clients throughout the process.
• Ensure accurate work orders, documentation, and invoicing.

Team & Operational Leadership

• Lead, schedule, and manage landscape and hardscape crews.
• Set clear expectations and hold employees accountable for productivity, quality, safety, and professionalism.
• Support employee development, training, and retention.
• Coordinate with other departments to ensure smooth project execution.
• Develop and maintain organized systems for scheduling, project tracking, and communication.

Winter Operations

• Act as a supervisor/leader within the company’s winter snow and ice operations.
• Assist with planning crews, equipment, routes, and schedules.
• Respond to weather events and operational requirements.
• Monitor service quality and ensure contractual obligations are met.
• Support after-hours and emergency winter operations when required.

Performance Expectations

Success in this position will be measured through:

• Departmental revenue and profitability
• Client satisfaction and retention
• Growth in recurring contracts and new business
• Employee performance, productivity, and retention
• Labour and material cost control
• Accurate and timely invoicing
• Work order completion and response times
• Quality control and reduction of callbacks
• Workplace safety and regulatory compliance
• Departmental organization, communication, and reliability

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the landscape, hardscape, and/or snow and ice industry.
• Minimum 3 years of management or supervisory experience.
• Strong experience with hardscape estimating and project management.
• Demonstrated experience with landscape design and project planning.
• Experience reading plans, drawings, specifications, RFQs, and RFTs.
• Experience preparing bids for commercial and/or municipal tenders.
• Demonstrated experience managing employees, schedules, customers, budgets, and operational performance.
• Strong understanding of hardscaping, landscaping, gardening, and property maintenance practices.
• Experience preparing quotes, managing job costs, reviewing work orders, and coordinating invoicing.
• Previous winter snow and ice operations experience is required.
• Proven ability to improve profitability, develop teams, and grow a service-based department.
• Strong leadership, organizational, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Comfortable using Microsoft Office, QuickBooks Online, Google Workspace, industry CRM platforms, and related technology.
• Valid driver’s licence and satisfactory driving record.
• Ability to respond to occasional after-hours or emergency service requirements.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an experienced landscape professional who understands both the technical and business sides of hardscape construction.

They are comfortable developing designs and estimates, reading construction plans, preparing tenders, managing projects, working directly with clients, and leading field teams. They take ownership of projects from start to finish and understand how decisions around labour, materials, scheduling, and productivity directly impact profitability.

This individual is organized, commercially minded, and accountable, with the ability to lead from both the office and the job site. They will be expected to treat the department as a business within the business and deliver measurable improvements in organization, customer satisfaction, team performance, revenue, and profitability.

Employment Details

• Position: Full-time, Permanent
• Summer Schedule: Monday–Friday, 6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m., as operationally required
• Winter Schedule: Weather and operations permitting
• Reports To: General Manager