Lead Landscape Designer

ServeScape; Chamblee (GA); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

ServeScape is seeking a Lead Landscape Designer to own the design phase from concept to installation, ensuring practical, budget-aligned outcomes. You will manage design workloads, assign contracted designers, and maintain standards across all projects while delivering installation-ready plans.

The ideal candidate has 5+ years of landscape design experience, proficiency in AutoCAD/Vectorworks/SketchUp, and a degree in Landscape Architecture or related field.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of professional experience in landscape design, preferably within the residential landscape design-build or landscape construction industry.
• Proven experience developing landscape and planting plans, including plant selection, layout, hardscape elements, and construction-ready design documents.
• Strong horticultural knowledge, including plant identification, growing requirements, soil conditions, regional climate considerations, and appropriate plant selection for the Southeastern United States.
• Proficiency in landscape design software, such as AutoCAD, Vectorworks, SketchUp, or comparable professional design platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to translate customer goals, budgets, site conditions, and preferences into attractive, practical, and executable landscape designs.
• Experience conducting site assessments, taking measurements, evaluating existing conditions, and identifying design opportunities and constraints.
• Experience managing multiple design projects simultaneously, including prioritizing assignments, meeting deadlines, and maintaining quality standards.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to review design deliverables for accuracy, completeness, constructability, and consistency.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with sales teams, project managers, landscape contractors, and installation crews.
• Familiarity with project management software, CRM systems, and digital collaboration tools.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently while maintaining accountability for design quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally for customer consultations and site visits.
• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Horticulture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Professional landscape architecture licensure preferred, or relevant industry certifications.

Responsibilities

• Lead and execute landscape design projects.
• Translate customer goals, site conditions, budgets, and preferences into practical landscape designs.
• Develop planting plans, landscape plans, material selections, and other required design deliverables.
• Ensure designs reflect ServeScape's standards for horticultural appropriateness, aesthetics, constructability, and customer value.
• Maintain appropriate communication with customers throughout the design process.
• Assign projects to the appropriate contracted designer as needed, based on geography, capacity, expertise, and project complexity.
• Manage designer workloads and project timelines.
• Review designs for completeness and quality before they are considered Design Complete.
• Maintain consistency across designers and ServeScape design services.
• Ensure completed designs contain sufficient information for installation estimating and execution.
• Identify installation opportunities during the design process.
• Conduct a structured handoff of installation-ready projects to the Project Manager.
• Work with the Project Manager to resolve design questions, substitutions, scope questions, or field conditions.
• Participate in project revisions or change orders when design modifications are required.
• Own the customer relationship during the active design phase.
• Clearly communicate design timelines, deliverables, revisions, and next steps.
• Present designs and recommendations in a way customers can easily understand.
• Position installation as the natural next step for customers seeking ServeScape to execute their completed design.

Skills

Landscape design

AutoCAD

Vectorworks

SketchUp

Site assessment

Project management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or related field

Tools

AutoCAD

Vectorworks

SketchUp

Job description

The Lead Landscape Designer is responsible for the execution, quality, and management of ServeScape's landscape design services. This role owns the design phase of the customer journey, from assignment through completed design, and ensures each design is practical, aligned with the customer's goals and budget, and capable of transitioning efficiently into installation.

The Lead Designer manages the design workload, assigning contracted designers as needed, and establishes the standards and processes necessary to deliver a consistent ServeScape design experience.

Key Responsibilities

Design Execution

• Lead and execute landscape design projects.
• Translate customer goals, site conditions, budgets, and preferences into practical landscape designs.
• Develop planting plans, landscape plans, material selections, and other required design deliverables.
• Ensure designs reflect ServeScape's standards for horticultural appropriateness, aesthetics, constructability, and customer value.
• Maintain appropriate communication with customers throughout the design process.

Design Management

• Assign projects to the appropriate contracted designer as needed, based on geography, capacity, expertise, and project complexity.
• Manage designer workloads and project timelines.
• Establish clear expectations and deadlines for design deliverables.
• Review designs for completeness and quality before they are considered Design Complete.
• Maintain consistency across designers and ServeScape design services.
• Ensure completed designs contain sufficient information for installation estimating and execution.
• Identify installation opportunities during the design process.
• Conduct a structured handoff of installation-ready projects to the Project Manager.
• Work with the Project Manager to resolve design questions, substitutions, scope questions, or field conditions.
• Participate in project revisions or change orders when design modifications are required.

Customer Experience

• Own the customer relationship during the active design phase.
• Clearly communicate design timelines, deliverables, revisions, and next steps.
• Present designs and recommendations in a way customers can easily understand.
• Position installation as the natural next step for customers seeking ServeScape to execute their completed design.

Key Measures of Success

• Design turnaround time
• Designer capacity and workload management
• Design revenue
• Quality/completeness of installation handoffs

Requirements

• 5+ years of professional experience in landscape design, preferably within the residential landscape design-build or landscape construction industry.
• Proven experience developing landscape and planting plans, including plant selection, layout, hardscape elements, and construction-ready design documents.
• Strong horticultural knowledge, including plant identification, growing requirements, soil conditions, regional climate considerations, and appropriate plant selection for the Southeastern United States.
• Proficiency in landscape design software, such as AutoCAD, Vectorworks, SketchUp, or comparable professional design platforms.
• Demonstrated ability to translate customer goals, budgets, site conditions, and preferences into attractive, practical, and executable landscape designs.
• Experience conducting site assessments, taking measurements, evaluating existing conditions, and identifying design opportunities and constraints.
• Experience managing multiple design projects simultaneously, including prioritizing assignments, meeting deadlines, and maintaining quality standards.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to review design deliverables for accuracy, completeness, constructability, and consistency.
• Ability to collaborate effectively with sales teams, project managers, landscape contractors, and installation crews.
• Familiarity with project management software, CRM systems, and digital collaboration tools.
• Self-motivated, detail-oriented, and capable of working independently while maintaining accountability for design quality, efficiency, and customer satisfaction.
• Valid driver's license and ability to travel locally for customer consultations and site visits.
• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Horticulture, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.
• Professional landscape architecture licensure preferred, or relevant industry certifications.