Chief Operating Officer (COO)

This opportunity offers the chance to serve as the Chief Executive Officer’s (CEO) right-hand partner in overseeing a premier horticultural powerhouse with a legacy of excellence. This position is designed for a highly strategic, execution-oriented leader who will bridge the gap between executive strategy and field-level execution for our multi-site operations. Candidates will step into a high-autonomy role within an excellent culture

Position Summary

The Chief Operating Officer (COO) takes definitive ownership of production excellence, inventory planning, logistics, purchasing, and human resources. This COO will transition this multi-site operation into a unified, high-performance grower model. This "boots-on-the-ground" leader will professionalize Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and modernize labor efficiency to support sustained growth and market leadership.

Core Responsibilities

Multi-Site Production & Agronomic Leadership: Direct all cultivation, propagation, and maintenance activities across the multi-site operation to ensure consistent quality across diverse microclimates.

Operational Excellence: Formalize, document, and enforce company-wide SOPs for soil mixing, shifting, and propagation; oversee comprehensive pesticide, herbicide, and fertilization programs to ensure strict regulatory compliance.

Inventory Planning & Systems Optimization : Assume executive oversight of the Inventory, leveraging the ERP system to drive production forecasting and synchronize biological growth cycles with multi-year sales targets.

Supply Chain & Logistics : Direct all outbound shipping and inbound logistics, optimizing delivery networks across the Western United States and establishing centralized procurement strategies to negotiate favorable terms.

Human Resources & Safety Culture : Lead and optimize a large workforce, managing labor forecasting and contracted labor relationships while driving an uncompromising Cal/OSHA safety culture.

Strategic Growth & Mentorship : Mentor and unify the site managers using a coaching approach that shifts from siloed mentalities to a cohesive team, while leading the reactivation of dormant acreage and shared resources.

Qualifications & Profile

• Experience: 10+ years of senior operational leadership experience within a large-scale commercial agribusiness, wholesale nursery, or highly regulated horticultural environment. Proven track record of successfully managing multi-site operations.

• Technical Acumen: Advanced proficiency with enterprise-level ERP systems for inventory management, production tracking, and financial reporting.

• Horticultural Knowledge: Deep technical understanding of ornamental horticulture, plant pathology, and propagation across a diverse plant palette.

• Financial Literacy: Strong ability to manage complex operating budgets, analyze cost data to uncover savings, and track sophisticated KPIs related to yield and labor efficiency.

• Licensing: Possession of a California Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) Qualified Applicator License (QAL) or Pest Control Adviser (PCA) license is highly advantageous.

• Language Skills: Bilingual proficiency (English/Spanish) is strongly preferred.

• Work Style: A restless leader with a bias for action who communicates honestly and thrives in a low-bureaucracy environment. Ability to travel to regional yards multiple days a week.