Campus Tree Operations Manager

About the Department

The NC State University Facilities Division is home to nearly 900 professionals who plan
, build and maintain the spaces that foster an environment where innovation, learning, and community thrive. Through this work, we help create spaces that empower students, faculty, and staff to reach their full potential. Operating year-round, we manage more than 16.7 million gross square feet of built space and oversee 4,733 acres of campus infrastructure through a series of core departments, each composed of multiple specialized units:

• Design & Construction
• Business Operations
• Campus Operations and Maintenance
• Campus Planning and Strategic Investment

Whether responding to a maintenance request, shaping future facilities or creating spaces that inspire discovery, our team is grounded in excellence, service and stewardship.

As a Pack member,
you belong here
, and can enjoy exclusive perks designed to enhance your personal and professional well-being. As you consider this opportunity, we encourage you to review our Employee Value Proposition and learn more about what makes NC State the best place to learn and work for everyone.

Attain Work-life balance with our Childcare benefits,
Wellness & Recreation Membership
, and Wellness Programs that aim to build a thriving wolfpack community.

Join NC State University as our next Campus Tree Operations Manager and take on a key leadership role in protecting, maintaining, and enhancing the university’s varied and dynamic urban forest. As a vital member of our , you will oversee the full spectrum of campus tree care operations from daily maintenance and preservation efforts to long-term planning that supports the health, safety, and sustainability of our tree canopy.

In this highly impactful role, you will guide a skilled crew, ensure compliance with campus standards and arboricultural best practices, and coordinate with internal and external partners to support safe, purposeful, and efficient tree management across more than 2,000 acres of campus grounds. Your work will directly contribute to the environmental, aesthetic, and educational value our urban forest provides to students, faculty, staff, and visitors.

The ideal candidate is a knowledgeable and solutions-oriented arboriculture professional who excels at team leadership, operational planning, and problem-solving in a fast‑paced outdoor environment. If you are committed to environmental stewardship, enjoy leading people, and want to play a meaningful role in the long‑term sustainability of NC State’s landscape, we encourage you to apply and grow with us.

• Lead and develop staff: Manage tree care crew; assign and schedule work; ensure standards and deadlines are met; provide coaching, on‑the‑job training, and required learning opportunities; maintain performance documentation; and oversee hiring, performance management, and employee relations for assigned staff.
• Oversee daily operations: Direct the safe and efficient execution of tree trimming, debris clearing, chipping, and disposal; coordinate crew activities; conduct job inspections and scouting; determine scopes of work; and ensure high‑quality, timely service delivery.
• Manage campus tree maintenance programs: Monitor tree protection measures, enforce compliance with campus codes and standards, review and manage contracts for planting, pruning, removal, stump grinding, and utility pruning; collaborate closely with contractors, the Campus Arborist, Urban Forester, and inspectors.
• Ensure safety and emergency response readiness: Promote and enforce worksite safety protocols; assist with storm/disaster response; and maintain a safe environment for employees and the campus community.
• Coordinate with campus and community partners: Build cooperative relationships with internal departments such as Housing, Utilities, Planning, and Transportation; assist with volunteer planting events; and support positive engagement with campus and external stakeholders.
• Plan, budget, and manage resources: Oversee workload planning, scheduling, and operations; prepare cost estimates using…