Principal Landscape Architect

About the role

The Principal Landscape Architect works with a diverse range of clients and design partners to create vibrant places ranging from urban parks, plazas and streetscapes within a variety of market sectors, including civic, health, science and technology, education, and transit / transportation.

Responsibilities

• Advocate for design excellence in every project.
• Lead and develop site and public realm design through all phases of projects, from master planning and concept development through construction documentation and construction observation.
• Lead and support development of strong client relationships; engage in business development and marketing efforts to win work.
• Develop the project proposal including scope, schedule and fee; lead and manage project through all phases.
• Mentor early career professionals and others to further their growth in design and implementation, client management, and their influence in the design culture within the studio.
• Create and direct others to develop illustrative concept drawings using 3D and 2D digital illustration tools, free hand drawing, and digital color renderings.
• Coordinate workload to ensure deadlines are met, reviewing documents for areas of conflict with other disciplines, writing and editing site design specifications.
• Collaborate with urban designers, landscape architects, architects, planners, engineers and other disciplines on commercial and institutionally scaled planning and design projects.
• Provide excellent communication, time management, graphic and organizational skills.

Requirements

• A minimum of 15 years experience working as a landscape architect.
• Professional Landscape Architect licensed in Iowa and Nebraska.
• Master’s degree in Urban Design, Landscape Architecture or related field.
• Experience and passion for sustainable and/or regenerative design.
• Significant experience leading a design team through construction document preparation, with attention to design quality and technical detailing.
• Proven initiative and experience developing client relationships, including pursuit strategy and proposal content.
• Experience identifying, attracting and maintaining key staff. Capable of strategically growing and retaining a team with strong talent.

Preferred Qualifications

• Professional and community involvement: engaged in key industry and community organizations such as ASLA, APA, AIA, ULI and others that may be relevant locally.
• Excellent communication, time management, graphic and organizational skills.
• Experience with AutoCAD / Civil 3D, Land F/X, and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience directing others to apply digital rendering and production tools, including Revit + Environment, Rhino, Lumion, VRAY, Enscape, Twinmotion, etc.
• Willingness to travel for project work and internal collaboration with the HDR urban design, planning and landscape architecture practice.