Director of Field Operations - Tree Care/Trades

The Professional Tree Care Company•Berkeley, CA

5d•$130,000 - $160,000•Onsite

About The Position

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.

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.

Nice To Haves

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.

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.