Landscaping jobs in Tadworth

The Company
Thorburn Landscapes is an established and growing landscaping business based in Southwest London. Known for delivering high-end projects and meticulous garden maintenance, we have built a reputation for quality and reliability.

We are currently in an exciting scale-up phase, transitioning from a founder-led business into a professionally managed operation. This is not just a maintenance role; it is a business transformation opportunity. We are looking for a leader who wants to build the infrastructure that will allow us to grow without losing our agility.

The Role
We are seeking an Operations Manager to act as the operational engine of the business. Working directly alongside the Managing Director, you will help oversee the day-to-day running of the business, taking ownership across people, clients, projects, scheduling, commercial performance and operational delivery. A key objective of the role is to reduce the day-to-day operational burden on the Managing Director by independently managing issues, making decisions and ensuring actions are followed through.

This is a "hands-on" leadership role. You will take ownership of the workflow—from quoting through to project sign-off—with a specific focus on implementing structure without creating unnecessary bureaucracy.

Key Responsibilities & Outcomes

• Job Readiness: Ensure labour, materials, and information are organised before teams arrive on-site to eliminate downtime.
• Management Accountability: Manage and hold accountable operational managers, coordinators, and team leaders/foremen, building a culture of ownership and reducing the day-to-day operational burden on the Managing Director.
• Enquiries + Projects: Taking ownership of landscaping enquiries and projects from initial client meeting through to quotation and delivery. You will be confident discussing garden ideas with clients, preparing quotations, contributing to planting schemes and landscape solutions, and organising labour, materials and scheduling to deliver projects successfully.
• Commercial Control: Oversee the estimating and quoting function, with clear control of labour costing, material margins, variations, and project profitability while ensuring proposals go out promptly.
• Client Resolution: Act as the escalation point for complaints and variations, ensuring that clients don't feel the need to bypass the team and contact the MD directly.
• Reporting: Establish weekly KPIs covering pipeline, labour utilisation, and project margins to provide the leadership team with clear visibility.

What We Are Looking For

• Industry Experience: Proven experience working within the professional landscaping, landscape construction, horticulture or grounds-maintenance industry is essential. Experience specifically within landscaping or horticulture would be highly advantageous.
• Management Experience: Previous experience in an operational management, contracts management, project management or similar leadership role, with responsibility for multiple teams, sites or projects.
• Technical Understanding: A strong practical understanding of landscape construction and/or horticultural maintenance, including labour requirements, materials, site logistics, project sequencing and quality standards.
• Commercial Skills: Strong commercial awareness, including experience of estimating or quoting, labour costing, margin control, variations and project profitability.
• Leadership: The ability to manage and hold managers, coordinators and team leaders accountable while remaining supportive, approachable and decisive.
• Mindset: A proactive “fixer” who identifies inefficiencies, takes ownership and implements practical solutions without needing constant direction.
• Driving Licence: A full UK driving licence is required for regular site visits across London and the surrounding area.

What We Offer

• The chance to fundamentally shape the future and culture of a growing business.
• Work directly with the Managing Director, with genuine autonomy to shape how the business operates.
• Use of a company vehicle.
• Pension scheme.
• Discretionary staff bonus.
• Additional holiday with length of service.
• Sick pay.

Pay: £52,000.00-£60,000.00 per year

Application question(s):

• Describe landscaping/horticulture experience
• Briefly describe one operational improvement you introduced in a previous business and what impact it had
• Which industries have you worked in?

Experience:

• in an operations management or similar management role: 3 years (required)
• Landscaping : 3 years (preferred)
• Horticulture: 3 years (preferred)

Licence/Certification:

• Driving Licence (required)

Work Location: In person