Director of Landscaping

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As the Landscaping Director, you will lead and oversee the comprehensive landscape maintenance program for the club, HOA, and residential homes. Your role ensures a pristine and visually stunning environment, reflecting Discovery Land Company’s dedication to excellence.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE POSITION:

Leadership & Team Management

• Lead and manage the project’s landscape team, including hiring, training, scheduling, and performance management. Build a team with complementary skills that cover all areas of the project.
• Provide guidance and direction to ensure best practices in all landscaping tasks.

Landscape Maintenance & Aesthetics

• Maintain landscapes across the golf course, club amenities, residential homes, and common areas.
• Oversee all weeding (chemical and manual), lawn mowing, edging, mulching, pruning, raking, and leaf removal.
• Install, water, and maintain new plantings and annual color (spring and fall) in multiple locations.

Project Coordination & Scheduling

• Develop project plans, proposals, and schedules for landscape enhancements or repairs.
• Manage the departmental budget, including forecasting revenues and expenses.
• Coordinate with homeowners, creating proposals, selling enhancements, and following up on plan execution.

Communication & Reporting

• Create communication pieces for the community, updating members on seasonal changes and landscape status.
• Provide detailed reports on expenses, labor, materials, and other project-related costs.
• Communicate effectively with other departments, including Golf Maintenance, to align on landscaping projects and service impacts.
• Any additional tasks assigned by management that align with the skill set and contribute to achieving the company's goals.
• Open communication with all divisions of the project, building relationships to achieve better results, and fostering a one-team culture.
• Collaborating with the organic farm team to share best practices for the administration and maintenance of the nursery and greenhouse.

Sustainability & Compliance

• Manage ponds, water supplies, and irrigation systems to promote responsible water usage.
• Maintain knowledge of and properly apply chemical and fertilizer applications, adhering to environmental and safety standards.
• Working in alignment with local culture and respecting Costa Ricans' environmental focus on their land.

Equipment & Safety Oversight

• Ensure safe operation of all hand tools and equipment such as mowers, skid steers, tractors, and mini-excavators.
• Keep work areas orderly and neat, and promptly report any safety or maintenance issues.

HOA & Organic Waste Removal

• Manage organic waste disposal and weed removal for homes, COA, and HOA.
• Ensure compliance with HOA regulations, zoning laws, and environmental standards.

Vendor Management & Outsourcing

• Manage outsourced landscape contracts when necessary, ensuring quality and timely service.
• Build relationships with trusted local nurseries, plant suppliers, and other external vendors.

REQUIRED ATTITUDES/ BEHAVIORS  

• Service-Oriented Mindset: Uphold a positive and professional demeanor, delivering exceptional service to members, guests, and team members.
• Collaboration: Foster a team environment, partnering with colleagues in other departments to ensure seamless operations.
• Adaptability: Stay calm and focused during peak periods or in changing weather conditions.
• Professional Communication: Exhibit clarity and courtesy when interacting with homeowners, staff, and vendors.
• Fluent in Spanish and English.
• High emotional intelligence, great listener, and mentor.

REQUIRED EXPERIENCE, ABILITIES, and/ or SKILLS

• Proven experience in landscape project management, preferably within a residential or hospitality setting.
• Basic knowledge of native flowers, plants, chemical and fertilizer applications, and sustainable landscape practices.
• Proficiency in operating landscape machinery (push mowers, string trimmers, blowers, riding mowers, skid steers, tractors).
• Ability to schedule, budget, and manage multiple landscaping projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in project management software and tools for budgeting and scheduling.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to interact effectively with homeowners, vendors, and internal stakeholders.
• Ability to provide clear written updates, community notices, and departmental reports.
• Familiarity with HOA regulations, zoning laws, and environmental standards. Competence in using reporting software (Excel, Word, Outlook) for administrative tasks.

COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS IN THE ROLE

• Leadership & Mentorship: Cultivate a high-performing team committed to excellence in landscaping.
• Strategic Thinking: Anticipate seasonal needs and plan enhancements in alignment with property-wide objectives.
• Problem-Solving: Identify issues proactively and develop innovative solutions to maintain aesthetic and environmental standards.
• Detail-Oriented Approach: Pay attention to the small details that ensure a cohesive, visually appealing environment.

REQUIRED EDUCATION

• Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, or a related field (preferred).
• Additional certifications in horticulture, landscape design, or project management are advantageous.

Safe Equipment Operation:

• Must follow all safety protocols when using mowers, skid steers, and other heavy equipment.
• Adhere to chemical handling and fertilizer application safety guidelines.

About the Project - Zapotal Beach Club

Zapotal Golf & Beach Club is located on the North Pacific shore of Costa Rica in the heart of the Gold Coast.  Costa Ricans are known for their Pura Vida attitude- a “pure life” with low stress, good times, and the great outdoors. Guanacaste is one of National Geographic’s five Blue Zones and retains its allure as one of the most hospitable places in the world. Members can enjoy adventures on sea and land, a leisurely round on the 18-hole Tom Fazio golf course, delight in local organic meals, and indulge in a spa treatment or a workout. Take this friendliness and infuse it into a one-of-a-kind private family community, and you get pure magic. It’s the Discovery way. Our employees use their personal talent, passion, and resources to meaningfully integrate with diverse cultures and communities to provide the highest level of guest service and be a part of creating memorable experiences. For more information about our club, please visit: https://zapotalbeachclub.com/

About Discovery Land Company

Founded in 1994 by Michael S. Meldman, Discovery Land Company specializes in building luxury residential private club communities and resorts worldwide. We have grown to be the premier player in the high-end resort residential niche with 20 world-class projects in our portfolio. Our communities are distinct with their own architectural styles, world-class amenities, and high levels of service.

We don’t build buildings, but rather we build settings where families can create intergenerational memories and enrich their lives in exquisite and untouched sanctuaries. These settings offer a casual and comfortable sense of community through outstanding clubhouses, premier golf courses, welcoming staff, world-class culinary offerings, and outdoor pursuits. To ease and enrich your experiences, Discovery holds itself to the highest service standards. Every decision we make is driven by one fundamental objective: to make the time you spend with the people you care about most not merely enjoyable, but memorable.