Regional Director of Operations, MidWest UVM

ARBORWORKS LLC•Oklahoma City, OK

12d•Hybrid

About The Position

The Regional Director of Operations – Utility Vegetation Management (UVM), Midwest plays a critical leadership role in advancing ArborWorks’ mission to deliver safe, reliable, and high-quality vegetation management services across the region. This position offers the opportunity to lead large-scale utility contracts, shape regional strategy, and directly impact the safety and reliability of critical infrastructure that serves communities every day. This role is ideal for a results-driven leader who thrives in dynamic, field-based environments and is passionate about building high-performing teams. The Regional Director brings together operational leadership, client partnership, and business acumen to drive performance, strengthen relationships, and support sustainable growth across a multi-state footprint. By developing leaders, influencing strategic decisions, and delivering operational excellence, this role serves as a key contributor to ArborWorks’ continued success and long-term market expansion.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Forestry, Arboriculture, Natural Resources, Business, or a related field preferred, or equivalent industry experience.
Minimum of 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in utility vegetation management or related industry.
Proven experience leading multi-state or regional operations with multiple contracts or business units.
Demonstrated success managing Operations Managers and developing leadership teams.
Strong track record of driving safety performance, operational efficiency, and financial results.
Strategic leadership with the ability to translate corporate objectives into regional execution.
Advanced financial acumen, including P&L ownership and operational budgeting.
Strong operational analytics and performance management capabilities.
Exceptional leadership, coaching, and team-building skills.
High-level communication and client relationship management abilities.
Ability to manage complex, fast-paced operations with competing priorities.
Valid Driver’s License with a clean driving record.
Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) preferred.
OSHA 10-hour or 30-hour certification (or ability to obtain).
Utility vegetation management safety and compliance training.
ArborWorks leadership, operational, and compliance training programs.

Nice To Haves

ISA Certified Arborist.
Bilingual (English/Spanish).
Experience working with investor-owned utilities, cooperatives, or municipalities.
Familiarity with GIS systems, work management platforms, and enterprise resource planning tools.
Experience with large-scale contract negotiations and strategic account management.
Professional certifications such as PMP, CSP, or equivalent.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, direction, and accountability to Operations Managers and regional leadership teams across the Midwest region.
Develop high-performing teams through coaching, mentoring, and succession planning to strengthen leadership bench depth.
Establish clear performance expectations, KPIs, and accountability structures across all regional operations.
Foster a culture of safety, operational discipline, and continuous improvement across all field teams.
Oversee utility vegetation management operations across multiple states, contracts, and client portfolios within the Midwest region.
Ensure consistent implementation of ArborWorks’ operational standards, processes, and best practices.
Monitor production metrics, cycle times, and quality performance to drive operational efficiency and contract compliance.
Lead standardization efforts across crews, equipment utilization, and work planning processes to improve scalability and consistency.
Maintain executive-level relationships with utility clients, municipalities, and regulatory stakeholders across the region.
Lead contract performance reviews, business reviews, and strategic client meetings.
Ensure all contracts are executed in alignment with service level agreements (SLAs), regulatory requirements, and safety expectations.
Act as the primary escalation point for complex client issues, service disruptions, and performance risks.
Partner with Business Development to identify and pursue regional growth opportunities within the Midwest territory.
Provide operational leadership and subject matter expertise for RFPs, proposals, and pricing strategies.
Support large-scale bid efforts including workforce planning, equipment strategy, and cost modeling.
Represent ArborWorks in regional industry associations, utility forums, and networking events.
Own regional P&L performance, including revenue growth, margin optimization, and cost control across all contracts.
Analyze financial, operational, and production data to drive data-informed decision-making.
Develop and manage regional budgets, forecasts, and resource allocation strategies.
Ensure timely and accurate reporting, billing alignment, and financial tracking across all operations.
Champion and enforce ArborWorks’ safety-first culture across all regional operations.
Ensure full compliance with OSHA, ANSI, DOT, environmental, and client-specific regulations.
Oversee incident management processes, including investigations, corrective actions, and reporting.
Proactively identify and mitigate operational risks, including safety exposures, regulatory compliance, and contract performance risks.
Provide leadership during storm response and emergency restoration events, ensuring rapid mobilization and safe execution.
Coordinate resources across regions to support emergency response and mutual aid efforts.
Maintain readiness plans, resource allocation strategies, and operational continuity for high-demand scenarios.
Partner with Safety to strengthen training, compliance, and field safety performance.
Collaborate with Human Resources on workforce planning, labor strategy, recruitment, and retention initiatives.
Work with Finance and Estimating to align operational execution with financial goals and contract requirements.
Support enterprise-wide initiatives, process improvements, and organizational strategy execution.