We're Hiring

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative, Inc. seeks an organized, collaborative, and solutions-oriented Operations Manager to support the day-to-day operations and continued growth of our eco-friendly landscape design build cooperative.

The Operations Manager reports directly to the CEO and is responsible for the systems, structure, and communication that allow our field teams, designers, clients, and field crews to work effectively together. This position combines operations management, team coordination, scheduling, administrative oversight, client communication, and organizational development. 

The ideal candidate is a practical problem-solver who enjoys working with people, implementing and upholding systems, and balancing the needs of a growing business with the values of a cooperative workplace.

Operations & Administration

● Oversee daily business operations and ensure that projects, crews, and administrative functions run smoothly.

● Administering and upholding the existing operational systems, policies, procedures, and workflows.

● Coordinate calendars, schedules, job assignments, meetings, and operational priorities.

● Monitor project timelines, staffing needs, materials, equipment, and other resources.

● Maintain accurate operational records and ensure information is accessible to the appropriate team members.

● Identify inefficiencies and implement practical improvements.

● Support purchasing, vendor relationships, inventory, equipment, and supply management.

● Coordinate office and field operations to ensure crews have the information and resources they need.

Team & Crew Coordination

● Coordinate schedules and communication among gardening crews, install crews, designers, cooperative owners, and leadership.

● Help establish clear expectations, roles, responsibilities, and communication systems between all employees and departments.

● Hold all field crew teams accountable for weekly tailgate safety meetings and documentation.

● Uphold the Standards of Practice for each department and participate in the monthly Standards of Practice meetings for each department.

● Support onboarding and training of new employees.

● Facilitate regular team meetings and operational check-ins.

● Help address scheduling conflicts, workflow challenges, and day-to-day operational issues.

● Promote a respectful, inclusive, communicative, and accountable workplace culture.

● Support cooperative decision-making and help ensure that operational decisions align with the organization's shared values.

Client & Project Support

● Serve as a key point of contact for clients regarding scheduling, project logistics, service questions, and operational concerns.

● Help ensure clients receive timely and professional communication.

● Coordinate information between clients, field staff, designers, and management.

● Track project status and follow up on outstanding tasks.

● Assist with resolving client concerns and identifying appropriate solutions.

● Support the transition of projects from design and planning into field implementation.

Financial & Business Operations

● Oversee budgeting, forecasting, invoicing, payroll coordination, and financialrecordkeeping as assigned.

● Monitor operational expenses and help identify opportunities to improve efficiency and profitability.

● Coordinate with bookkeeping/accounting resources as needed.

● Track key operational metrics and prepare reports for cooperative leadership and members.

● Support annual planning, business development, and organizational goal-setting.

● Monitor profitability on each project and advise management on how to maintain a 25% profit margin on each project.

Safety, Compliance & Risk Management

● Help maintain safe work practices and ensure that operational procedures support employee and client safety.

● Coordinate required documentation, licenses, certifications, insurance, and compliance activities as appropriate.

● Support incident reporting and follow-up.

● Help ensure company policies and procedures are consistently communicated and implemented

Because Mariposa Gardening & Design is a cooperative, the Operations Manager will play an important role in supporting a democratic, collaborative, and mission-driven workplace, the Operations Manager will:

● Model cooperative values in everyday decision-making and communication.

● Encourage transparency, shared responsibility, and constructive problem-solving.

● Support cooperative members in understanding operational priorities and business realities.

● Help translate decisions into clear action plans.

● Balance operational efficiency with the needs and values of workers, clients, and the organization.

● Contribute to a culture where people feel respected, heard, and accountable.

Required:

● 3+ years of experience in operations, business administration, project coordination, landscaping, gardening, construction, facilities, or a related field.

● Strong organizational and time-management skills.

● Excellent written and verbal communication.

● Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities and changing schedules.

● Strong problem-solving and conflict-resolution skills.

● Ability to work independently while also functioning effectively within a collaborative team.

● Proficiency with common office, scheduling, communication, and project-management software.

● Strong attention to detail and follow-through.

● Commitment to respectful, equitable, and collaborative workplace practices.

Preferred:

● Experience working in a cooperative, nonprofit, small business, or mission-driven organization.

● Experience with landscape, gardening, horticulture, ecological landscaping, or related services.

● Experience supervising or coordinating field-based teams.

● Familiarity with budgeting, invoicing, payroll, or bookkeeping systems.

● Experience developing operational systems and standard operating procedures.

● Knowledge of sustainable, regenerative, or environmentally responsible landscaping practices.

The ideal Operations Manager is:

● Organized: You can bring structure to a busy, changing environment.

● People-oriented: You communicate clearly and build trust across different roles and personalities.

● Resourceful: You see problems as opportunities to improve systems.

● Collaborative: You value shared decision-making and collective success.

● Accountable: You follow through and take ownership of commitments.

● Adaptable: You can move between strategic planning and hands-on problem solving.

● Values-driven: You understand that a cooperative's success includes both financial sustainability and the well-being of its members, employees, clients, and community.

This is a primarily administrative and coordination-focused position that may include time in the field, at client properties, and at the cooperative's workplace.

The position may require:

● Travel between job sites.

● Participation in manager, scheduling, standards of practice, cross-departmental,

design and garden care team meetings.

● Occasional work outdoors and exposure to varying weather conditions.

● Occasional schedule flexibility to respond to operational needs.

● Ability to communicate regularly with field staff who may be working away from the office.

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative, Inc. is committed to providing fair and competitive compensation consistent with the responsibilities of the position and the cooperative's financial capacity.

Compensation: Salary, $90,000-130,000/year

Schedule: Full-time

Benefits:

● PTO accrual after 6 months

● Sick time accrual from start date

● IRA matching up to 3%

● $75 Monthly Health & Wellness stipend after 3 months

● Monthly Cell phone reimbursement from start date

● Opportunity to co-own in profitable business

● Opportunity to expand skill sets

Equal Opportunity & Cooperative Values

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative, Inc. is committed to creating a workplace where people are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. We welcome applicants

with diverse backgrounds, experiences, perspectives, and skills.

We encourage people who are passionate about gardening, ecological design, cooperative economics, community, and building healthy workplaces to apply.

*Candidates with similar job titles are encouraged to apply: Foreman, site supervisor, landscape construction manager, landscape & irrigation specialist, lead crew supervisor

About Mariposa Gardening & Design: We are a women-led Bay Area landscape design and build company committed to restoring ecologically sound outdoor spaces in urban areas. In every garden, we see a unique opportunity to reconnect a space with its natural systems. We fuse art and ecology into the landscape, bringing beauty to the practice of sustainability.

About the role: The Ecological Crew Leader (CL) is responsible for co-managing the Mariposa Installation Crew and overseeing the successful delivery of our garden installation projects. This role will be working with the support of the Project Manager and Designer. Reporting under the Founder/General Manager, the Crew Leader will work to ensure projects are delivered to Mariposa standards of excellence in craftsmanship while prioritizing safety, timeliness, and

adherence to the given budget and design.

We’re Looking For Someone With:

● Dedication to sustainability: Shows a commitment to promoting sustainable practices in all aspects of their work and is dedicated to minimizing the environmental impact of their actions.

● Commitment to diversity and inclusion: Creates a safe and inclusive work environment that celebrates diversity and fosters acceptance, including for gender-expansive individuals.

● Love of learning: Embraces a growth mindset, continuously seeking to learn and understand new approaches and methods.

● Strong leadership: Possesses strong leadership qualities, including the ability to set clear goals, lead by example, and inspire and motivate others.

● Strong sense of teamwork: Possesses a collaborative mindset and is eager to work alongside others to achieve common goals.

● Passion for art and nature: Demonstrates a love and appreciation for the beauty of nature, and the integration of natural and artistic elements into projects.

Ensure the ecological aspect of Mariposa is at the heart of all installations.

● Oversee the daily construction process of our garden installations, including the installation crew(s) and the care of all tools and equipment for the installation department.

● Provide progress reports to manager meetings.

● Demonstrate the ability to fix and prioritize unexpected problems in the field.

● Conduct technical training on irrigation, flagstone setting, hand grading, carpentry, and plant health maintenance.

● Mobilize and organize job sites, establish where all tools and deliveries go, and keep them organized throughout the project.

● Open and close the site every day to ensure there is an organized workflow and the tools are secure and protected from the weather.

● Guide the team on tasks related to the installation, build team morale, and conduct regular employee reviews.

● Monitor Break times and ensure they are kept to two 15 min paid breaks and one 30 min unpaid lunch.

● Lead daily circle ups to guide the crew in their work for the day.

● Take care of plants from the time they are delivered to the site until they are installed.

● Demonstrate knowledge of OSHA and enforce rules and regulations to keep the job site safe, healthy, and clean by leading weekly "tailgate" safety meetings.

● Be able to lead diversity training skills and hold a safe workspace devoid of sexual harassment, harassment, bigotry, or racism.

● 3+ years Crew Leading experience in landscape construction, ecological landscaping and irrigation

● Able to lift 30-50 lbs on a semi-regular basis

● Experience and skills in irrigation, flagstone setting, hand grading, following construction documents, and plant health maintenance.

● Experience in project management. Ability to lead a team, prioritize tasks, and maintain team motivation.

● Strong communication skills and client-oriented mindset.

● Organizational skills and attention to detail.

● Knowledge of OSHA regulations and safety standards.

● Commitment to diversity and inclusivity in the workplace.

● Valid CA driver’s license

● A smartphone

● Experience and skills in advanced stonework, advanced carpentry, general contracting, pond building expertise, rainwater harvesting, rainwater harvesting, and greywater systems.

The hourly pay rate for this role is $30-50

● Accrued sick and PTO

● Opportunity to co-own in profitable business

● Opportunity to expand skill sets

● Matching IRA

● Health and Wellness stipend

At Mariposa, our mission is to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love, including our employees. We’re taking on the most exciting challenges of our working lives, and we succeed with a team that represents an inclusive and diverse set of identities and backgrounds.

We honor equity and welcome all to apply!

Job Type: Full-time

Salary: $30-50 per hour

Mariposa Gardening & Design Cooperative is known for building beautiful gardens that bring the natural world to the built environment. We use organic gardening methods such as water harvesting and composting. We are looking for motivated workers to help us grow our company together. Employees of Mariposa are encouraged to join our team to become Worker-Owners.

The ideal candidate has skills and expertise in handling and operating tools and machinery required in the construction phase. Physical fitness and agility is key as this position requires carrying heavy materials and equipment almost on a daily basis. This is a full time position.

● Implement the Build-Out of Our Gardens

    ○ Perform a variety of physical tasks involving labor in construction projects,

    perform manual work in stone work such as flagstone patios and pathways, dry

    stacked stone walls, irrigation, and landscaping. All tasks need to be performed to

    the Mariposa Standards of Practice. This could include:

    ■ Shoveling, trenching, excavating and backfilling trenches and ditches

    ■ Grading earth to design specifications, using picks, shovels, hoes and grading rakes

    ■ Drip Irrigation layout and valve installation

        ■ Sheet Mulching

    ■ Planting

    ■ Driving trucks to carry materials and equipment from office to sites

    ■ Loading and unloading materials and equipment from trucks

    ■ Erecting and dismantling temporary structures

    ■ Moving stones, drain rock, compost and other heavy materials on and off jobsites

    ■ Layout and setting stone patios and pathways

● Conduct Job Site Set Up

    ○ Prepare sites to ensure optimization of construction work procedures

    ○ Bring all necessary tools, equipment, and material on site and set up as required

    ○ Assure all the necessary safety equipment for the job is present and in working order before proceeding with work

● Conduct Job Site Clean Up

    ○ Clean construction sites of debris, trash, and hazardous materials each day

    ○ Pick up all tools, equipment and materials to secure job site each day in order to eliminate potential hazards and keep the site clean for the clients

● Perform Other Tasks as Required by The Project/Site with Safety as a Top Priority

    ○ Read and interpret construction plans

    ○ Use hand tools to cut and shape stones as per instructions

    ○ Measure, mark, and record openings and distances to lay out areas where construction work will be performed

    ○ Carry out proper material handling and storage

    ○ Carry out all proper construction and installation methods, as per the Standards of Practice, necessary for the safe and successful completion of the project

    ○ Clean and maintain construction tools and equipment appropriately

    ○ Ensure that all work is being done in compliance with the Mariposa Standards of Practice

    ○ Ensure that proper safety and incident reporting procedures are followed and bring issues to the immediate attention of the Crew Leader

    ○ Comply with all local building codes, labor, and safety laws during construction

    ○ Maintain positive relationships with clients, subcontractors, and team members

$25-32.50/hr D.O.E.

● 6 months or more of field/construction experience preferred

● Valid California driver's license and be insurable by company insurance carriers

● The ability to consistently carry 50 lbs on a semi-regular basis in order to fulfill the demands of the position

● OSHA safety certified, First AID and CPR certified preferred

● GED + Vocational training or more desired

● Personal vehicle

● PTO accrual after 6 months

● Sick time accrual from start date

● IRA matching up to 3%

● $75 Monthly Health & Wellness stipend after 3 months

● Monthly Cell phone reimbursement from start date

● Opportunity to co-own in profitable business

● Opportunity to expand skill sets

At Mariposa, our mission is to bring everyone the inspiration to create a life they love, including our employees. We’re taking on the most exciting challenges of our working lives, and we succeed with a team that represents an inclusive and diverse set of identities and backgrounds.

We honor equity and welcome all to apply!

Please submit your resume to info@mariposagardening.com for review and consideration.