Landscape Architecture - Business Development Director
Mannik Smith Group
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Benefits offered by this job
Job summary
Alta, based in Oakland, CA, seeks a Landscape Architecture/Urban Design Business Development Director to drive regional growth and establish Alta's presence with city and regional government clients. You will lead client relationships, identify opportunities, and position Alta as a leader in sustainable design and active transportation.
The role focuses on strategic market growth across Northern California, the Pacific Northwest, and West Coast projects, with collaboration across disciplines and
Qualifications
- 15+ years of experience as a Landscape Architect or Urban Designer in a consulting environment or public entity.
- Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or Urban Design.
- Professional Landscape Architect (PLA).
- Experience with corridors such as greenways, trails, streets, or canals.
- Understanding of design process and cross-disciplinary collaboration.
- Business acumen and experience in business development and managing large contracts.
- Ability to lead staff and manage internal expectations.
- Strong initiative to enhance Alta's marketplace position.
- Ability to manage multiple projects within budget and schedule constraints.
Responsibilities
- Lead business development across Northern California and the Pacific Northwest; cultivate client relationships with public agencies; develop proposals and presentations.
- Position Alta as a leader in sustainable landscape architecture, urban design, and active transportation in the region.
- Contribute to revenue growth targets for the Landscape Architecture business line in the region.
- Build relationships with decision-makers at public agencies; participate in events and professional communities.
- Provide leadership to Oakland and Portland design teams; collaborate with planning, engineering, data disciplines as needed.
- Mentor design staff and support internal professional development and training.
- Implement best practices to improve project delivery efficiency and quality of deliverables.
- Balance workloads for Oakland and Portland design teams; prepare project schedules, budgets, and scope of services.
- Ensure quality control over team deliverables.
Skills
Education
Job description
Department: Landscape Architecture
Employment Type: Full Time
Location: Oakland, CA
Compensation: $140,000 - $180,000 / year
Alta is looking for a Landscape Architecture/Urban Design Business Development Director to join our growing Oakland office design team. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who believes in the power of design and placemaking to create vibrant, active communities, and engaging public spaces.
In this role, you will drive business development and strategic growth throughout the Bay Area, Northern California, and the Pacific Northwest, establishing Alta's presence and reputation with local city and regional government clients. You will be responsible for leading client relationship building, identifying new opportunities, and positioning Alta as a leader in sustainable landscape design and active transportation. This role requires a strategic thinker who can expand our market share while maintaining the high-quality, collaborative approach that defines our work.
You will also work on the design of projects with a focus on sustainability and active communities around the West and across the country. Design professionals who enjoy working closely with other disciplines will appreciate our Oakland team's multi-disciplinary approach that encourages collaboration with our planners, engineers, graphics designers, outreach specialists, and data analysts. If you are looking to join an innovative organization and do work that connects people to places while advancing social justice, safety, and environmental resilience.
About Alta
Alta is a mission‑driven company working to mitigate climate change and advance safety and social justice by shaping sustainable, people‑centered communities. We bring together expertise across planning, design, engineering, education and encouragement programs, and community engagement to help communities thrive. Our work is grounded in the belief that how places are designed and experienced has a profound impact on equity, health, and opportunity—and that people should always be at the heart of those decisions.
Founded in 1996, Alta was at the forefront of the active transportation movement and has spent nearly 30 years partnering with communities to imagine a more connected, resilient, and inclusive future. Today, with more than 225 staff across the United States and beyond, we are a global leader in creating environments that support everyday life, strengthen human connection, and respond to the challenges of a changing world. Alta offers the opportunity to collaborate across disciplines, contribute to meaningful work at every scale, and be part of a team committed to making lasting, positive change for people and the places they call home.
Day-to-day responsibilities for this role would include:
- Leading business development efforts throughout Northern California and the Pacific Northwest including identifying opportunities, cultivating client relationships with local city and regional government agencies, and developing winning proposals and presentations.
- Driving strategic market growth and positioning Alta as a leader in sustainable landscape architecture, urban design, and active transportation within the region.
- Contributing to revenue growth targets for the Landscape Architecture business line in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest.
- Building and maintaining relationships with key decision-makers at public agencies, participating in industry events, and representing Alta in the professional community.
- Providing leadership and technical expertise to the Oakland and Portland Landscape Architecture design teams. In addition, collaborate with other disciplines (planning, engineering, data) as needed.
- Mentoring design staff and contributing to internal professional development and training to design team.
- Implementing best practices and process improvements to enhance project delivery efficiency and effectiveness.
- Workload balancing for the Oakland and Portland Design teams.
- Preparing schedules, budgets, and scope of services for projects.
- Providing quality control over team deliverables.
Required
This position requires a combination of skills, experience and education including, but not limited to
- 15+ years of experience as a Landscape Architect or Urban Designer in a consulting environment or public entity
- Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or Urban Design
- Professional Landscape Architect (PLA)
- Experience in, or knowledge of corridors, such as greenways, trails, streets, or canals.
- Demonstrated understanding of the design process and working collaboratively with other design disciplines and a detailed understanding of project management principles, methods and techniques.
- Business acumen and demonstrated experience in business development and managing large contracts.
- Ability to guide staff members and manage internal team expectations.
- Exhibits strong initiative and ability to capitalize on opportunities to enhance Alta's position in the marketplace.
- Ability to manage competing priorities, multiple simultaneous projects involving cross-functional project teams within budgetary and schedule constraints.
- Excellent professional ethics, leadership skills, accountability, and decision-making capabilities.
- Good presentation skills.
- Proficiency in an enterprise-wide resource planning and project management tool.
- Ability and willingness to travel.
There are a number of additional skills, experience, and education that would be beneficial to this position including, but not limited to:
- Experience managing large projects for both private and public clients.
- Experience working in urban, rural, suburban, land use contexts.
- Experience using Deltek Vision.
- Active participation in industry-relevant professional associations and committees, such as ASLA or ULI.
Flexible Schedule
Alta offers a flexible, hybrid work schedule where most employees work from home three days per week. In-office days support our collaborative culture, one of our core values.
Compensation
The base salary range for this role is $140,000-$180,000. This range reflects the company’s good faith estimate of the compensation for this position at the time of posting. Final compensation will be determined based on factors such as experience, skills, qualifications, internal equity, and geographic location.
Benefits
Alta offers comprehensive benefits to all full-time employees:
- Medical: PPO or HSA medical plans, Alta pays 75% of the cost
- Dental/Vision: PPO, Alta pays 90% of the cost
- Life Insurance: Alta pays 100% of the premium for life and AD&D, equal to your base compensation
- 401(k): Alta provides a match up to 3%
- PTO: 21 days accrued annually to start
- Holidays: 11 total company paid holidays
- Paid Parental Leave/Short-Term Disability
- Additional Benefits: Wellness reimbursement up to $800 annually, Alta Gets Around benefit of up to $900 annually, 5-year travel award, and professional development opportunities
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