Benefits:- 401(k) matching
- Bonus based on performance
- Company car
- Health insurance
- Opportunity for advancement
- Paid time off
- Profit sharing
- Signing bonus
- Training & development
Operations Manager
Location: Columbus, Ohio
Position: Full-Time
Reports To: Owner / President
Compensation: $60,000–$80,000 annual base salary, plus performance-based bonus & Profit Sharing
ABOUT PATIO WIZARDS
Patio Wizards is a growing Central Ohio hardscape company specializing in paver patio and hardscape restoration, repair, cleaning, sanding, sealing, leveling, yard drainage and new hardscape installations.
We are looking for an experienced Hardscape Operations Manager to take ownership of our production crews, oversee daily field operations, and help build a professional, efficient, and profitable production department.
This position requires someone with actual hands-on hardscape installation experience AND proven experience managing production crews and field operations.
We are not looking for someone who only schedules jobs or manages paperwork. We need a strong field leader who understands the work, knows how to manage people, and can consistently get projects completed on time, within budget, and to company quality standards.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Hardscape Operations Manager is responsible for overseeing all production crews, field employees, jobsite activities, and daily operations at Patio Wizards.
This individual will manage crew leaders, coordinate project schedules, oversee hardscape installations, yard drainage, paver repair and paver restoration projects, monitor labor productivity, manage materials and equipment, and ensure every project meets company standards.
The Operations Manager will work directly with the Owner and Sales Manager to ensure projects are properly estimated, scheduled, staffed, and completed profitably.
The successful candidate must be comfortable managing multiple crews, visiting jobsites daily, solving field problems, and holding employees accountable for performance. Customer engagement to acquire positive online reviews.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Production Crew Management
- Directly manage and supervise all production crews and field employees.
- Oversee daily crew assignments, jobsite schedules, and production activities.
- Ensure crews arrive on time with the proper equipment, materials, and instructions.
- Manage crew leaders and establish clear expectations for performance.
- Monitor daily production progress and address problems immediately.
- Hold employees accountable for productivity, workmanship, attendance, and professionalism.
- Develop strong crew leaders capable of independently managing jobsites.
- Build and manage a multi-crew production operation.
2. Hardscape Installation and Field Operations
- Oversee paver patio installations, repairs, restorations, and other hardscape projects.
- Have a thorough understanding of excavation, grading, base preparation, compaction, screeding, paver installation, cutting, edging, joint sand, drainage, and finishing.
- Understand retaining wall construction and related hardscape installation techniques.
- Understand paver cleaning, sanding, sealing, leveling, and restoration processes.
- Inspect active jobsites to ensure proper installation methods and workmanship.
- Troubleshoot installation problems and provide practical solutions.
- Train employees on proper installation techniques and company standards.
- Ensure projects are completed according to approved scopes and specifications.
3. Scheduling and Production Planning
- Create and maintain weekly and monthly production schedules.
- Coordinate multiple crews and projects simultaneously.
- Assign employees, equipment, and materials based on project requirements.
- Confirm jobsite readiness before scheduling work.
- Coordinate material deliveries and supplier requirements.
- Monitor project timelines and keep jobs moving efficiently.
- Communicate schedule changes and delays to the appropriate team members.
- Coordinate production capacity with the Sales Manager.
4. Job Costing and Labor Management
- Review project estimates and labor budgets before production begins.
- Track actual labor hours against estimated hours.
- Monitor material usage, equipment costs, and job expenses.
- Identify production problems that reduce job profitability.
- Review completed jobs and report actual costs.
- Work with the Owner and Sales Manager to improve estimating accuracy.
- Reduce wasted materials, unnecessary labor, and production downtime.
- Maintain accountability for job profitability and labor productivity.
5. Quality Control
- Establish and enforce company installation and restoration standards.
- Conduct regular jobsite inspections.
- Inspect completed projects before customer handoff.
- Ensure proper grading, drainage, base preparation, compaction, installation, and finishing.
- Minimize callbacks, warranty issues, and customer complaints.
- Ensure jobsites are clean, organized, and professional.
- Correct workmanship issues before projects are considered complete.
6. Employee Leadership and Development
- Recruit, interview, and assist with hiring production employees.
- Train new employees and develop existing team members.
- Conduct employee performance evaluations.
- Establish clear job descriptions and responsibilities for crew leaders.
- Address performance issues and enforce company policies.
- Build a dependable team focused on quality, safety, and productivity.
- Identify employees with potential to advance into leadership positions.
7. Equipment, Materials, and Fleet Management
- Oversee company trucks, trailers, machinery, and tools.
- Ensure equipment is maintained and ready for daily operations.
- Coordinate material purchasing and deliveries.
- Monitor inventory and material usage.
- Establish equipment inspection and maintenance procedures.
- Control unnecessary equipment, fuel, and material expenses.
8. Safety and Jobsite Management
- Enforce company safety policies and procedures.
- Conduct regular safety meetings.
- Ensure proper use of personal protective equipment.
- Monitor safe operation of machinery, vehicles, and tools.
- Address unsafe conditions immediately.
- Maintain a professional and organized jobsite environment.
9. Reporting and Communication
- Provide weekly production reports to the Owner.
- Report labor productivity, job costs, and production progress.
- Communicate staffing and equipment needs.
- Identify scheduling conflicts and operational challenges.
- Coordinate closely with the Sales Manager.
- Recommend improvements to production systems and company procedures.
REQUIRED EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
These are mandatory requirements:
- Minimum 5 years of hands-on hardscape installation or closely related field experience.
- Minimum 3 years of experience managing construction, landscaping, or hardscape production crews.
- Proven experience supervising multiple employees and coordinating multiple jobsites.
- Strong working knowledge of paver patio installation and construction methods.
- Experience with excavation, grading, base preparation, compaction, paver installation, cutting, edging, and drainage.
- Understanding hardscape restoration, repair, cleaning, sanding, sealing, and leveling.
- Ability to read project scopes, understand estimates, and manage labor budgets.
- Experience scheduling crews, managing materials, and coordinating equipment.
- Strong leadership and employee accountability skills.
- Valid driver's license and acceptable driving record.
- Able to lift 50 lbs repetitively
Preferred qualifications:
- Experience managing two or more production crews.
- Experience with retaining walls, outdoor living projects, and larger hardscape installations.
- Experience with job costing and construction management software.
- Experience hiring, training, and developing crew leaders.
- Strong understanding of construction safety practices.