Who We Are
Alpine Tree Service is a high-growth, full-service tree care company serving residential and commercial clients across New Jersey. We operate with a focus on safety, professionalism, and execution — following ANSI standards and delivering a premium customer experience. We are building a team of professionals, not just workers.
The Role
The Director of Plant Health Care leads Alpine's PHC department: overseeing daily field operations, treatment protocols, technician development, and the strategic growth of the department.
This is a senior role that blends technical expertise, field execution, and department management. You'll diagnose, treat, and protect trees and shrubs on residential and commercial properties across New Jersey, while simultaneously building out the team and territory.
What You'll Do
As Alpine's Director of Plant Health Care, you'll be responsible for:
Leading and growing the PHC department — providing feedback, insight, and recommendations on operations and territory expansion
Performing daily PHC fieldwork: diagnosis, treatment, and client communication
Scheduling services and routing daily PHC operations
Managing chemical inventory and ensuring proper application protocols
Supervising, educating, and training 1–2 PHC technicians
Advising on marketing strategies tied to seasonal pests and diseases
Coordinating with Sales Arborists on PHC recommendations and client opportunities
How We Operate
Leading PHC at Alpine is part technical craft, part department leadership. Here's what that looks like in practice:
Actively Seek Knowledge: You stay sharp on pest and disease lifecycles, treatment efficacy, NJ pesticide regulations, and emerging best practices in plant health care. The PHC field moves — you move with it.
Think Ahead to Solve Problems: You anticipate seasonal pest pressure before it hits, plan routes efficiently, and spot territory and service opportunities the rest of the team would miss.
Be Adaptable: Weather shifts, treatment plans evolve, and client situations vary. You adjust without losing momentum and keep the department executing at a high level.
Loyalty to the Team: You mentor and develop your technicians. You support Sales Arborists with accurate diagnoses and treatment recommendations. You communicate clearly with the office and clients.
Have the Motivation to Be the Best: You're not just running a department — you're growing one. The PHC department's reputation, revenue, and impact reflect directly on you.
Qualifications
This role is for a seasoned plant health care professional ready to lead.
2- or 4-year degree/certificate in Horticulture or related field, OR minimum 5 years of industry/field experience
Possession of a New Jersey Pesticide Applicator's License (Core, 3a, 3b, 3c, and 8a) — or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment
ISA Arborist Certification — or ability to obtain within 6 months of employment
Valid driver's license
Excellent communication skills, written and verbal
Ability to be self-directed, manage time, and execute work efficiently and safely
Physical ability to lift a minimum of 50 lbs and work 8+ hours a day in variable weather conditions
English proficiency
Authorized to work in the United States
Preferred:
Prior team leadership or supervisory experience
Established familiarity with NJ tree species, pest pressure, and disease patterns
Why Alpine
We're growing — and we're looking for people who want to grow with us. That means real training, real equipment, and a real career path in one of New Jersey's top tree care companies.
- Real Training, High-Tech Equipment: ISA Certified Arborists on staff, ANSI Z133 standards on every job, and the best gear in the industry — including the Tree-MEK, one of the most capable cranes in the region.
- Clear Advancement: Ground crew become climbers. Climbers become operators. Operators become crew leads. We promote from within whenever we can, and we pay for the certifications that get you there.
- Team-First Culture: No passengers, no ego. We hire people who want to be part of something — not people clocking in.
Compensation & Benefits
Pay
- $70K–$90K/year based on experience.
- Optional opportunity to participate in sales work with commission for the right candidate.
Every full-time Alpine employee gets:
Health & Wellness:
- Health insurance
- Dental insurance
- Vision insurance
Time Off:
- Paid time off
- Paid holidays
- Paid sick time (in line with NJ policy)
Financial:
- Competitive pay based on performance, not just tenure
- 401(k) with 3% company match
Growth & Development:
- On-the-job training from day one
- Ongoing professional development
- Company-paid certifications — ISA Arborist and Pesticide Applicator licenses where applicable
- Clear advancement path with internal promotion priority
Equipment & Tools:
- Industry-leading equipment, including the Tree-MEK crane
- Full safety equipment provided
- Company phone
Who This Role Is For
This role is for someone who:
This may not be the right fit if you:
- Prefer pure field work without management responsibilities
- Don't enjoy the operational and administrative side of running a department
- Aren't ready to mentor and develop technicians
