Principal Landscape Architect

Stantec; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 120,400 - 180,500; Full time

Job summary

Stantec seeks a Principal Landscape Architect based in Boston, MA. This role emphasizes design leadership while managing complex multi-disciplinary projects and driving business development efforts.

The ideal candidate will have at least 15 years of experience in landscape architecture, showcasing expertise in sustainable design and strong communication skills. Join Stantec to empower communities through innovative designs and solutions.

Qualifications

• Licensed Landscape Architect.
• Minimum 15 years of experience preferred.
• Proficient in project management and construction documentation.

Responsibilities

• Lead design vision and strategy for projects.
• Manage budgets and project deliverables.
• Foster client relationships and drive business development.

Skills

Business development

Design leadership

Strategic communication

Sustainable design

Team collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Suite

Microsoft Office

GIS

Sketch-Up

Job description

Strong communities don’t just happen. They’re thoughtfully planned and future-ready. We bring life to urban downtowns, suburban hubs, small towns, and rural areas through master-planned communities, mixed-use developments, parks, and recreation facilities. The result: vibrant economic centers, resilient neighborhoods, and welcoming places that feel like home.

If you’re passionate about empowering communities, join us to discover a career with endless opportunities to make communities more equitable, resilient, and livable.

Design empowers people. It inspires place and community and the realization of their potential. At Stantec, our Landscape Architects create inspired places with a commitment to social, economic, and environmental sustainability. We take a systems-based design approach and believe that the best solutions of our community, hospitality, and urban design work are the products of our inquisitiveness and diverse perspectives.

Our team members have opportunities to provide services across the United States in visioning; master planning; community design; park and recreation design; commercial and corporate design; State and Federal projects; healthcare design; urban design and revitalization; environmental resiliency and green infrastructure; transportation planning and design; and landscape restoration and rehabilitation. These diverse project opportunities are regularly delivered in teams of experts from across the North America – we are better together.

Our US East Landscape Architecture and Planning team brings together over 30 talented professionals across multiple states, with Boston, MA as our hub. No matter where we’re located, we collaborate as one unified team to deliver exceptional design solutions.

Your Opportunity

Stantec is seeking a Principal Landscape Architect to serve as a business developer and co‑team leader for our Boston‑based Landscape Architecture Team. The Principal Landscape Architect will lead design vision and strategy for large, complex, multi‑disciplinary projects while driving business development and client engagement.

As a Principal Landscape Architect, you will work in a team environment on a wide range of projects and scales such as planning and design of parks and recreation facilities; bicycle, pedestrian, and multi‑use trails; sports and athletic facilities; healthcare, urban infill, corporate, and educational campuses; and master planned communities including multi‑family residential, senior housing, mixed‑use and transit‑oriented developments.

This role emphasizes design leadership, guiding concept development, ensuring design integrity through all phases, and mentoring team members, alongside responsibilities for project management, construction documentation, and administration. The successful candidate will work within Stantec’s Community Development practice and collaborate with internal Architectural, Environmental, and Engineering disciplines.

You will lead and assist with assignments across disciplines, manage budgets, provide urban and landscape architecture design experience, and interact with existing and prospective clients with exemplary communication skills and a strategic and design‑oriented perspective.

You will work within a local and virtual team setting, with weekly presence at our Boston office expected. Local travel will be required for attending client or public meetings, scoping new assignments, and participating in internal meetings.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Business development responsibilities include market research and strategy, client relationship management, proposal development, branding and marketing, identifying and cultivating strategic partnerships, monitoring business development performance indicators including win rates and revenue growth, and fostering a culture of internal collaboration.
• Lead design vision and strategy for large, complex, multi‑disciplinary projects while driving business development and client engagement.
• Proposal preparation, coordination, and review.
• Client-facing responsibilities on key assignments.
• Supporting projects and pursuits led by other disciplines within Stantec.
• Management of large, multi‑disciplinary projects.
• Oversight of projects from beginning scope, to conceptual design, through construction document phase and construction administration.
• Promoting design excellence, development of creative solutions.
• Maintaining project budgets.
• Quality control review of deliverables.
• Inter‑office and inter‑disciplinary collaboration.
• Fostering positive collaborative environment within Stantec’s Boston Community Development Team.

Your Capabilities and Credentials

• Licensed Landscape Architect.
• Experience with public and private sectors in the Northeast.
• Demonstrated responsibility, maturity, and commitment to a team‑driven environment, including an ability to communicate effectively, lead teams, develop strong internal relationships, and foster a culture of collaboration.
• Expertise in resilient and sustainable designs.
• Desire and ability to lead and contribute on multiple levels within the design process.
• Excellent creative and critical thinking skills.
• Ability to integrate sustainability in all aspects of planning and design.
• Well‑versed in local, regional, and national trends in planning, landscape architecture and urban design.
• Ability to successfully scope and deliver multi‑disciplinary projects.
• Strong communication skills with the ability to present ideas clearly and confidently.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Suite and Microsoft Office; Civil3D and LandFX experience preferred.
• High‑level understanding and working knowledge of GIS, Sketch‑Up, Rhino or similar platforms at a supervisory level of effectiveness.
• Detailed knowledge of codes, legal and design requirements in relevant jurisdictions, and how they apply to design projects.
• Demonstrated effectiveness in building and maintaining client relationships; proven ability to translate those relationships into winning new work opportunities.
• Experience conducting presentations and project interviews.
• Good driving record and valid driver’s license required.

Education and Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree from an accredited Landscape Architecture program.
• Minimum 15 years of experience preferred.

Legal and Employment Information

Pay Range: $120,400.00 – $180,500.00 annually (varies by location).

Stantec provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified employees and applicants for future and current employment and prohibits discrimination on the grounds of race, colour, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, genetic information, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression. We prohibit discrimination in decisions concerning recruitment, hiring, referral, promotion, compensation, fringe benefits, job training, terminations or any other condition of employment. Stantec is in compliance with laws and regulations and ensures equitable opportunities in all aspects of employment. If you require reasonable adjustments to be made during the recruitment process, please inform a member of our Talent Acquisition team.