Construction Crew Leader

Who We Are:

Topiarius is a landscape design, build, and maintenance company. Since 2003, our mission has been to design, create, and maintain luxurious outdoor sanctuaries because we believe that people deserve to live beautifully outdoors. You can learn more about Topiarius at www.topiarius.com.

The Role:

We are looking for a Landscape Construction Crew Leader to plan and construct a multitude and a variety of landscape projects that include carpentry, hardscaping, and planting. This position is for the person that has expertise in more than one skill and wants to be challenged by the complexity, sophistication, and elaborate nature of Topiarius’ designs. Under the direction of the Operations Manager, this person and their crew will help redesign Chicago’s urban landscape one rooftop and yard at a time.

This position’s success will be measured by:

·         Job Profitability: keep projects within the contract’s estimated hours.

·         Safety Success: minimize the number of physical, machine, and vehicle incidents through enforcement of safe practices and PPE.

·         Project Management: in partnership with Foreman, generate or identify opportunities for change orders as the need arises, resulting in increased job profitability. This will be measured at the Five-Star Assessment as jobs are completed and reported on.

·         Customer Satisfaction: manage projects and crews in such a way that client feedback (measured by surveys as well as other methods of communication with clients) is positive, from crew interactions to job site cleanliness.

What You Will Do:

Be responsible for the management of your team and equipment.

·         You will professionally work as a leader to manage projects and people in a timely and efficient manner, knowing that at Topiarius we believe the client is the hero and want them to have a phenomenal customer experience.

·         You will know daily which materials and tools are needed.

·         You will be responsible for treating all materials and tools with care. 

Communicate, communicate, communicate.

·         You will communicate daily with the project foreman and teammates about each project.

·         You will communicate daily with your co-workers to assign work, ask for help, or provide help.

·         You will communicate with clients to let them know the progress of the crew (on our way, arrival, and departure) and know how to direct them to the project foreman as needed.

Implement landscape designs on roof tops and ground level.

·         You will read all contracts and construction drawings to understand the full scope of the design as well as the installation process.

·         You will solve practical problems.

·         You will install, but are not limited to, in-ground hardscapes, pedestal paving, basic carpentry, dripline irrigation, low-voltage lighting, planting of trees, shrubs, and perennials, sod, artificial turf, and mulch.

Comply with safety procedures and protocols.

·         Every day you will follow safety procedures around vehicle and tool use.

·         You will also be expected to use materials safely.

Who You Are:

·         You identify with our culture. Topiarius employees are expected to perform with honesty, integrity, and optimism. We enjoy our work and find it very satisfying and have a strong work ethic. We enjoy each other’s company and choose to work as a team and not a lone wolf. We take the details seriously; they are what allows us to stand apart from our competition. And follow through is in the fabric of all we do.

·         You enjoy working on different kinds of projects utilizing different skills. Each of our projects is unique. There may be common threads that repeat, but every client’s site is one of a kind. Our projects include woodworking, metal fabrication, basic electrical and plumbing, planting perennials, trees, and shrubs, and hard scaping. 

·         You aim for operational excellence. You are someone that doesn’t just show up to “phone” in the day. You are mature and professional. You arrive with a smile and early to get your day organized. With a charged cell phone, you regularly check for emails, voicemails, and texts. You understand that clean tools and a clean/organized vehicle make your day successful. You understand that staying on top of paperwork daily is just how it is. You exude pride in all that you do but are humble enough to know when you need to ask for help.

·         You are curious and problem solve. Nothing we do is ever the same. As mentioned there will be common threads to each project, but once on site you will address nuances and unforeseen circumstances. It goes with the territory. So, you are someone that does not get thrown off by this kind of “roadblock.” You enjoy the challenge to solve problems and even have the smarts to ask for help so that the work can be completed in a timely and efficient manner.

·         You enjoy working with a team. You understand that your crew leader assigns you projects. While you have many skills, you understand that others do as well, and you can only benefit from learning from them when necessary.

Required Background:

·         5+ years of experience in the landscape construction industry.

·         Conversational Spanish since you will communicate with staff.

·         Math and reading skills.

·         The ability to read and write English at a 12^th grade level or higher and the ability to perform math / shop arithmetic.

·         Valid IL driver’s license and clean driving record.

·         Ability to perform landscape construction skills in an accomplished and independent manner.

Expected Activity and Movement:

You will frequently lift, carry, or otherwise move and position objects weighing up to several hundred pounds using appropriate tools. You will typically bend, stoops, and crouches on a regular basis. You will constantly move about to work. You will regularly operate and cleans construction and carpentry equipment. You will repeatedly climb stairs and occasionally ladders. You will repetitively work in locations of height (e.g. roof decks, balconies). You will work in outdoor conditions (for instance, low to high temperatures, rain, sun, wind, etc.)

Desirable Background:

·         Experience working with technology, such as cell phone apps.

·         High School degree.

·         Higher education degree.

·         OSHA certified.

What We Provide:

Hours and Compensation:

Mon-Fri 6:30 am – 3:30/4 pm. Minimum 40 hours per week with potential overtime. Potential for Saturday hours.

$22-$27 per hour.

Benefits:

Paid Holidays. Paid Time Off (up to 10 days in first year) and Paid Sick time (up to 40 hours each year). Medical and dental insurance plans (PPO/HSA and HMO options). Dental Insurance. Retirement plan available after 1 year of employment & minimum 1000 hours of worked. Complimentary Life Insurance and Long-Term Disability plans.

Other Details:

Topiarius is a non-union shop. Our final candidates may be required to undergo a background check. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, national origin, or other status protected by applicable law. And nothing in this job description restricts the supervisor’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

To Apply:

First, we highly suggest you visit Topiarius’ website (www.topiarius.com) to become familiar with our company.

Secondly, if you are interested, please apply. We will contact you if we are interested. Please refrain from phone calls.