Job Descriptions

DISCLAIMER: The following are some very ‘general’ job descriptions. They are to help give you an idea as to what responsibilities ‘may’ be involved for each of the job titles. Each individual company may, at its own discretion, modify job descriptions to suit its own needs…so DO NOT ASSUME that these are exact…these job descriptions are provided for your general use only.

Account Executive: One responsible for maintaining relationships with existing clients and ensuring they are well taken care of through their business transactions with your company. (This title is typically used with supplier companies).

Account Representative: One responsible for maintaining relationships with existing clients and ensuring they are well taken care of through their business transactions with your company.

Area Manager: Maximize customer satisfaction, revenue, growth and profitability of a branch office through effective management and coordination of customer service, employee training and development, equipment and facility resources, safety programs, and promotion of all corporate goals and objectives.

Arborist: A specialist, typically certified, in the care of trees.

Assistant Sales Manager: Assists the Sales Manager in their duties.

Branch Manager: See ‘Area Manager’

Business Developer: Gains new business for the company by developing new relationships and building on existing ones.

Chemical Applicator: Provides service to by making timely lawn/landscape applications, diagnosing and correcting lawn/landscaping problems through service calls and other customer communications, and selling/upselling services to new and/or existing customers, resulting in growth of the customer base.

Crew Leader: The member of the crew who is in charge of directing the other team-members, and is tasked with ensuring the work gets accomplished.

Division Manager: One in charge of the division (maintenance, construction, etc) and responsible for overall sales, estimating, production, profit and loss, equipment, etc…

Estimator: One who performs take-offs (either from plans or in the field) to determine quantities of materials and labor needed for projects, calculates those costs along with subcontractor costs, adding overhead and profit percentages and determining the final proposal amounts to bid on projects.

Field Manager: The field manager is completely responsible for the success of his or her projects including safety, interviewing and hiring crewmen, client contact, enhancement sales, production, and overall quality of service.

Floral Designer: Design, cut and arrange live, dried or artificial flowers and foliage into designs to express the sentiments of the customer.

Florist: See ‘Floral Designer’

Foreman: See ‘Crew Leader’

Forester: The forestry profession focuses on caring for trees, soils, water, wildlife and other forest benefits, both for now and for future generations. It includes such diverse specialties as forest, wildlife and fisheries, pest, disease and fire management; research and teaching; forest recreation, wilderness, and watershed management; agro- and urban forestry; policy and economics; communications; technology applications; genetics; and environmental education.

General Manager: See ‘Area Manager’

Golf Course Superintendent: This person is entrusted with the maintenance, operation, and management of a golf course. This can include:

• Supervising the construction and maintenance of the golf course(s)
• Supervising the maintenance and repair of construction and maintenance equipment
• Rendering professional advice, opinions, assistance and services to the facility's board of directors or managing body as required
• Participating in all long-range planning meetings

Greenskeeper: Greenskeepers usually participate in many of the same tasks as maintenance personnel, but typically have more extensive knowledge in horticulture, landscape design and construction, pest management, irrigation, and erosion control. In addition, greenskeepers may have supervisory responsibilities.

Grower: One who is familiar with all aspect of plant development – be it from seed or grafting through production to distribution.

Hardscape Foreman: One in charge of a crew performing hardscape work such as retaining walls, pavers, etc…

Human Resource Manager: writing job descriptions, policies and procedures, developing a staff training, career development, performance appraisal and incentive program, employee relations, developing a staff recruitment and internship program to include building strategic alliances with colleges and staffing agencies and implementing related marketing activities. Essential functions will also involve payroll and benefits administration, and ensuring federal and state labor law compliance.

Inside Sales Representative: One who works at a site where people come to buy various materials. It includes greeting the customer (face-to-face), providing the customer with product information and closing the sale. This is typically a supplier/distributor.

Interior Plant Technician: One who maintains interior plants.

Irrigation Installation Technician: Responsible for not only leading a crew for installing new irrigation systems, but also to communicate with management about job site conditions, relate progress on the job and have the ability to review project plans and put them in to action as well as communicate effectively with team members.

Irrigation Repair Technician: Technicians are responsible for regular property inspections, have the ability to troubleshoot irrigation systems and repair or improve conditions before they become issues.

Irrigation Specialists: Responsible for installing and repairing irrigation systems.

Landscape Architect: One registered by the state to practice landscape architecture.

Landscape Designer: One, not registered by the state, but well versed in plant knowledge (plant types and growth habits) that provides landscape design services. These landscape designs may be drawn either by hand or by means of computer aided design.

Lawncare Specialist: See ‘Chemical Applicator’

Maintenance Division Manager: One that is responsible for the outcome of the entire maintenance division - to include, but not limited to:  sales, production, equipment, and profit and loss.

Mechanic: Responsible for preventative maintenance and repairs made to company vehicles, trucks & trailers, and small equipment.

Nursery Manager: One who manages the operations of a nursery – either wholesale or retail. This individual should be thoroughly familiar with the cultural needs of plants in their particular region – water, fertilization, light, insects, diseases, etc… They must also have knowledge in managing employees and running the financial end of a business.

Operations Manager: This can apply to the various divisions of a business (construction, maintenance, nursery, etc). It typically involves managing the field operations of that division – be it the labor force, equipment, the scheduling, etc…

Outside Sales Representative:  Those that leave the confines of their home office and visit client's and potential client's offices and jobsites in order to build relationships and generate sales.  This title is typically given to those that are with supplier or distributor companies.

Pesticide Applicator: See ‘Chemical Applicator’

Plant Health Care Technician: See ‘Chemical Applicator’

Production Specialist: This individual is responsible for the overall direction of the crews by planning, assigning and directing their work.

Project Director: This individual is the key customer service contact. The Project Director is responsibility for the renewals of existing clients and developing new sales to meet goals and build long term relationships with clients.

Project Manager: One responsible for all costs of a project: labor, materials, subcontractors, equipment, etc. This individually is frequently responsible for the scheduling of the project, coordinating of subcontractors, preparation and processing of change orders and other administrative tasks.

Purchasing Agent: One who works with several vendors to negotiate the best material and shipping/freight price for jobsite delivery and inventory products, as well as consumable items. This position frequently includes travel to nursery sites to view the quality of their materials.

Regional Manager: One who oversees the management of two or more branch offices.

Sales Auditor: Audits all sales by contacting customers after the sale has been made and confirming the information communicated in sales process.

Sales Manager: responsible for achieving sales and operating objectives specific to the facility. A Service Center Manager will drive towards increased market share within an assigned territory, identify and pursue new business, maintain relationships with strategic accounts, and develop agronomic programs for those accounts.

Sales Representative: See ‘Business Developer’

Service Center Manager: Overall responsible for the sales, employee management and profitability of a distribution center.

Spray Technician: See ‘Chemical Applicator’

Supervisor: See ‘Field Manager’

Tree Climber: They work in trees to perform general tree care (ex: removals, pruning, cabling, bracing, lighting protection, etc…)