Landscape Manager

FirstService Residential; Lake Barrington (IL); On-site; USD 81,000 - 99,000; Full time

Job summary

FirstService Residential is seeking a seasoned Landscape Manager to lead stewardship of Lake Barrington Shores, a premier Illinois community. You will oversee landscape, lake/pond management, and natural resources, directing contractors and coordinating with the Board, Finance leadership, and residents to maintain exceptional community standards.

The role emphasizes budget planning, reporting, and policy administration, with a strong focus on resident-facing leadership and transparent

Qualifications

• Five or more years of landscape, horticultural, environmental, or grounds management experience.
• Experience managing budgets, projects, and contractor performance.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Comfort with budgets, spreadsheets, reports and meeting preparation.
• HOA, condominium, campus, park, estate or resort-style community management preferred.
• Supervisory experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead landscape, lake, pond, and natural-resource coordination across the community.
• Manage contractor performance, work quality, and accountability.
• Oversee annual and long-range budget planning for landscape and lake/ponds operations.
• Prepare monthly reporting for the board and commissions.
• Coordinate and track work orders, inspections, estimates, invoices, and project status.
• Advise on landscape variance requests and policy enforcement.
• Serve as a primary contact for landscape-related resident concerns.
• Drive day-to-day oversight of site projects and contractor relations.
• Support planning and budgeting for landscape and water features.

Skills

Landscape management

Budget management

Contractor performance

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Budget & reports

Supervisory experience

HOA/community management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Horticultural or Landscape Management

NALP CLT credential

Job description

Description

Job Overview: Lead the Stewardship of One of Illinois' Most Beautiful Communities as the Landscape Manager for Lake Barrington Shores.

Lake Barrington Shores is an award-winning private community recognized for its commitment to environmental stewardship, natural beauty, and exceptional quality of life. Home to over 1,300 residences, a 96-acre lake, ponds, a forest preserve, and natural areas, the community offers a landscape unlike any other in the region.

We are seeking an experienced, organized, resident-aware professional to lead landscape, lake/pond, and natural-resource coordination across the community. This is not a routine property-maintenance position. It is a highly visible management role that blends contractor oversight, site quality control, budget planning, resident communication, policy administration, and board/commission support.

Your Responsibilities

The job duties listed are typical examples of the work performed by positions in this job classification. Not all duties assigned to every position are included, nor is it expected that all positions will be assigned every duty.

• Landscape, lake, and pond stewardship
• Tree management and natural-area oversight
• Contractor performance management
• Annual and long-range budget management
• Landscape related resident communication, landscape variance administration
• Project planning and execution support
• This position DOES NOT manage snow and ice operations.
• This role reports to the Executive Director and works closely with the Landscape Commission, Lake and Ponds Commission, Finance leadership, Board of Directors, contractors and residents.
• Lead day-to-day oversight of landscape, lake, pond, tree, drainage, enhancement, and related site projects
• Manage contractor performance, work quality, and accountability
• Support annual and long-range planning and budgeting for landscape and lake/ponds operations
• Prepare monthly reporting for board and commissions
• Coordinate and track work orders, inspections, estimates, invoices, and project status
• Advise on landscape variance requests
• Maintain and help enforce applicable landscape policies, standards, and procedures
• Serve as a professional, calm, informed point of contact for landscape-related resident concerns
• Growing Season: on-site inspections, contractor meetings and quality checks, work order and variance management, resident and condo-rep communication, enhancement project planning and oversite, board/commission preparation
• Winter Season: annual planning, contractor review and planning, project / RFP development, policy administration
• This is a resident-facing leadership role. Standard availability is expected during normal business hours, with limited evening or weekend availability for scheduled meetings or time-sensitive issues. Candidates should be comfortable with recurring board/commission interaction, written reporting, and professional communication in a visible community environment.
• Drive the shared community vehicle on the property

Supervisory Responsibility

• On-site staff where applicable.

Skills & Qualifications

• Five or more years of landscape, horticultural, environmental, or grounds management experience.
• Experience managing budgets, projects, and contractor performance.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Strong organizational skills
• Comfort with budgets, spreadsheets, reports and meeting preparation
• Bachelor’s degree in Horticultural or Landscape Management preferred
• NALP Certified Landscape Technician (CLT) or similar professional credential preferred
• Supervisory experience preferred
• HOA, condominium, campus, park, estate or resort-style community management preferred

Physical Requirements/Working Environment

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Position involves sitting, standing, stooping, kneeling, pushing, shoving, lifting, carrying and moving objects that can weigh up to 25 lbs or more following appropriate safety procedures. This movement can occur throughout the day.
• Must also be able to climb several flights of stairs if necessary.
• Must be able to drive - Some local travel by personal vehicle is required
• Must be able to sit and stand for extended periods of time.
• Must be able to communicate both on the phone and in person with our clients in order to resolve issues and manage the business.
• Must have finger dexterity for typing/using a keyboard.
• Must be mobile enough to move around both the office in order to make copies, send mail and faxes and to walk around the property. This could include lengthy walks on uneven areas.
• Talking and hearing occur continuously in the process of communicating with guests, supervisors, and other associates.
• Capable of working extended hours, to include evenings, weekends and holidays as necessary.
• This position may alternate between working indoors in a controlled climate and with proper lighting, to an outdoors setting with variable climate and lighting
• Must be able to interact with all types of individuals, be mentally alert, detail oriented, and with good reasoning skills.
• Must be able to work on more than one assignment at a time with frequent interruptions, changes and delays. Must be able to remain focused and work effectively, efficiently, and cheerfully under such circumstances. For safety reasons, employee must remain alert to working conditions and aware of safety, health, and environmental concerns.
• Must be able to work effectively and cheerfully in an environment which may be stressful due to adversarial situations resulting from the proper performance of duties

The work environment characteristics are normal office conditions for the role. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Hours over and above normal office hours will occur, including evenings, holidays, and some weekends. Schedule is subject to change based on business needs.

Compensation

$90,000/annually

Disclaimer

The above information on this description has been designed to indicate the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities, and qualifications required of employees assigned to this job. This is not an all-inclusive job description; therefore, management has the right to assign or reassign schedules, duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.

Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) Usage:

We may utilize an Automated Employment Decision Tool (AEDT) in connection with the assessment or evaluation of candidates. The AEDT is designed to assist in objectively evaluating candidate qualifications based on specific job-related characteristics.

Job Qualifications and Characteristics Assessed:

The AEDT evaluates candidates based on job qualifications and characteristics pertinent to the role, including skills, experience, and competencies relevant to the position requirements. These qualifications are determined by the unique needs of each role within our company.

Alternative Selection Process or Reasonable Accommodations:

Candidates who require an alternative selection process or a “reasonable accommodation,” as defined under applicable disability laws, may make a request through our designated contact channel [e-mail].

Requesting Information About the AEDT - NYC Local Law 144:

Candidates who reside in New York City and are subject to NYC Local Law 144 may request information about the AEDT, including details on the type of data collected, the sources of such data, and our data retention policies. To submit a request, please contact us at [e-mail]; we will respond in accordance with Local Law 144, within 30 days.