Operations Manager (Aboriculture)

Overview

We are looking for an Operations Manager to lead and develop our arboricultural operations. Our current services cover commercial, domestic, housing association, private estate, highways, and utilities clients.

This is a hands-on role focused on running high-quality day-to-day operations, alongside taking ownership of pricing, quoting, and technical surveying work, reporting to the Operations Director.

For the right person, this role is designed to evolve into Head of Arboriculture as the team expands and the business builds a stronger base of repeat and contracted work.

The role (now)

• Lead day-to-day arb operations across all jobs
• Manage scheduling, resourcing, and team deployment
• Maintain high standards of safety, efficiency, and workmanship
• Support, manage, and develop climbing and ground teams
• Price and quote work, ensuring jobs are commercially sound
• Carry out tree surveys and inspections (PTI Level 3 minimum)
• Work closely with Forestry and Mechanised Arb teams to coordinate resources and support wider operations
• Contribute to cross-team planning and prioritisation of work across the business
• Take ownership of improving systems, processes, and standards across all arb operations

Team and culture

• Recruit, develop, and retain high-quality arborists
• Build a strong, professional, and team-oriented culture
• Set clear expectations around standards, attitude, and performance
• Lead from the front, earning respect through actions and consistency
• Address underperformance directly and constructively

We are looking for someone who takes pride in building a strong team, not just managing one.

The opportunity (growth and progression)

We are actively building towards a more structured arb division with multiple teams and a stronger base of contracted and repeat work.

This role will play a key part in that journey. Progression to Head of Arboriculture will come as:

• The number of teams grows
• A consistent pipeline of contracted or repeat work is established
• You take increasing ownership of how the arb side is structured and run

As this develops, the role will expand to include:

• Defining systems, standards, and structure across teams
• Input into pricing strategy and profitability
• Greater responsibility for team growth and organisational design
• Helping shape the long-term direction of the arb division

What makes this different

This is not a static operations role. Heartwood Trees is part of Vermala Group, an ambitious and growing arboriculture and forestry group. Alongside Heartwood, the Group acquired Teign Trees (Devon and Bristol) in September 2025, with further growth planned over time.

The current focus is on strengthening and growing these businesses organically, building solid operational foundations, and raising standards across the Group before expanding further.

This creates an opportunity to be part of a business that is thinking long term and aiming to redefine standards within the industry, while still being close enough to the ground for your work to have a direct and visible impact.

There is genuine scope to take ownership and build something within the business. We are looking for someone who wants to go beyond running jobs and is motivated by the opportunity to help grow and shape a division.

What we are looking for

• Strong arboricultural experience
• PTI Level 3 (minimum)
• Proven leadership capability
• Experience pricing and quoting arb work
• High standards and attention to detail
• Commercial awareness or interest in developing it
• A mindset geared towards ownership, improvement, and growth

What success looks like

• Smooth, well-run day-to-day operations
• Accurate, commercially sound pricing and quoting
• Strong team performance and retention
• High-quality, consistent surveying and technical work
• A professional, motivated, and accountable team culture

Why this role

This is an opportunity to step into a key operational role with the potential to grow into a leadership position as the business scales.

We are looking for someone who wants to be part of that journey and take ownership of building something over time.

Compensation

• £40,000 - £50,000 per annum depending on experience
• Discretionary annual bonus linked to company performance, with scope for additional performance-related incentives aligned to the growth of the arboriculture division and your direct contribution to it
• 30 days holiday (including Bank Holidays)
• Company vehicle (works use)