Associate — Project Landscape Architect

Serenity Recruitment Group; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Serenity Recruitment Group is seeking an Associate Project Landscape Architect for a San Francisco studio. The role focuses on leading DD/CD packages, mentoring junior staff, and delivering high-quality landscape architecture across construction systems.

The successful candidate will manage design development, collaboration with Directors, and client communications while maintaining design intent and detailed documentation.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in landscape architecture.
• Strong production and package delivery skills across DD and CD phases.
• Solid understanding of construction systems, materials, and specifications.
• Experience mentoring or guiding junior staff.
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite.

Responsibilities

• Lead and mentor staff across delegating, guiding, and directing tasks.
• Support the Project Manager with workflow plans and schedule tracking.
• Maintain awareness of overall project status and provide weekly briefs.
• Primary ownership of DD and CD packages from base compilation through to close.
• Support the Design Director and Technical Director to solve design problems and select construction systems.
• Understand and protect the design intent at all times.
• Prepare studies for finish grading, layout, planting plans, and standard details.
• Creator and curator of the Technical Project Bible and corresponding check set.
• Secondary specifier supporting the Technical Director on outline and 3-part specifications.
• Research construction systems, assemblies, and methodologies.
• Build and maintain the digital and hard resource and materials library.
• Support periodic pin‑up reviews and perform redline reviews of in-progress work.
• Act as secondary point of client contact when PM is unavailable.
• Manage and keep current RFI and Submittal logs during construction.
• Maintain current personal time and expense reports.

Skills

Mentoring junior staff

Production and packaging delivery

Attention to detail

Project leadership

Time management

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

Job description

San Francisco, CA · On-site / Hybrid · Full-time, Permanent · Competitive salary dependent on experience

About the opportunity

We are retained by a highly regarded boutique landscape architecture studio to find an Associate Project Landscape Architect for their San Francisco office. This is a confidential search.

This role sits at the core of project delivery — working closely with the Design Director, Technical Director, and Project Manager to produce exceptional landscape architecture. The right person brings strong production skills, technical knowledge, and the ability to lead junior staff while maintaining a sharp eye for design quality and detail.

Key responsibilities

• Lead and mentor staff across delegating, guiding, and directing tasks
• Support the Project Manager with workflow plans and schedule tracking
• Maintain awareness of overall project status and provide weekly briefs
• Primary ownership of DD and CD packages from base compilation through to close
• Support the Design Director and Technical Director to solve design problems and select construction systems
• Understand and protect the design intent at all times
• Prepare studies for finish grading, layout, planting plans, and standard details
• Creator and curator of the Technical Project Bible and corresponding check set
• Secondary specifier supporting the Technical Director on outline and 3-part specifications
• Research construction systems, assemblies, and methodologies
• Build and maintain the digital and hard resource and materials library
• Support periodic pin‑up reviews and perform redline reviews of in-progress work
• Act as secondary point of client contact when PM is unavailable
• Manage and keep current RFI and Submittal logs during construction
• Maintain current personal time and expense reports

Required qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in landscape architecture
• Strong production and package delivery skills across DD and CD phases
• Solid understanding of construction systems, materials, and specifications
• Experience mentoring or guiding junior staff
• Proficiency with AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail and quality control

What's on offer

• A substantive role with real ownership of project delivery
• The culture and agility of a boutique studio with ambitious growth plans