Principal Landscape Architect

Next City; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Next City in Charlotte, NC, seeks a Landscape Architecture Principal to lead and grow the local practice, guiding project delivery and client relations across private and public sector work.

You will mentor staff, drive business development, and oversee operations to ensure design excellence and long-term strategic success for the firm.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or related field.
• Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) licensure required.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing client relationships, and delivering successful projects.
• Strong background in private land development, mixed-use, commercial, residential, or public realm projects.
• Proven business development experience with ability to grow client relationships and win new work.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building abilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic growth and development of the landscape architecture practice within the Charlotte region.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying new business opportunities and expanding existing accounts.
• Develop and mentor a talented team of landscape architects and designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Oversee the financial health of the practice, including staffing, revenue, utilization, profitability, and project performance.
• Guide design quality across projects, ensuring creative, innovative, and technically sound solutions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful planning, design, and land development projects.
• Support proposals, presentations, and project pursuits, helping secure new work and strengthen market presence.
• Represent the practice within the industry through professional organizations, networking, and community engagement.
• Provide leadership on complex projects while maintaining a focus on practice growth, team development, and long-term strategy.

Skills

Leadership

Business development

Client relationship management

Communication

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Education

Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

Microsoft Office

Job description

Landscape Architecture Principal

Charlotte, North Carolina

Salary: DOE

A well-established, multidisciplinary design and engineering firm is seeking an experienced Landscape Architecture Practice Lead to drive the continued growth of its Charlotte-based practice. This is an excellent opportunity for a strategic leader looking to shape a team, expand a client portfolio, and influence the direction of a growing landscape architecture practice.

Working alongside multidisciplinary teams, you will lead business development efforts, mentor staff, oversee project delivery, and help position the practice for long-term success across a variety of private and public sector projects.

The Opportunity

This leadership position is focused on growing and strengthening the landscape architecture practice within the Charlotte market. The successful candidate will be responsible for developing client relationships, guiding design excellence, mentoring a high-performing team, and contributing to the firm's overall strategic growth.

You'll play a key role in expanding market presence, identifying new business opportunities, and collaborating with professionals across planning, engineering, and design disciplines to deliver integrated project solutions.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic growth and development of the landscape architecture practice within the Charlotte region.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships while identifying new business opportunities and expanding existing accounts.
• Develop and mentor a talented team of landscape architects and designers, fostering a collaborative and high-performing culture.
• Oversee the financial health of the practice, including staffing, revenue, utilization, profitability, and project performance.
• Guide design quality across projects, ensuring creative, innovative, and technically sound solutions.
• Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams to deliver successful planning, design, and land development projects.
• Support proposals, presentations, and project pursuits, helping secure new work and strengthen market presence.
• Represent the practice within the industry through professional organizations, networking, and community engagement.
• Provide leadership on complex projects while maintaining a focus on practice growth, team development, and long-term strategy.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or a related field.
• Registered Landscape Architect (RLA) licensure required.
• Demonstrated experience leading teams, managing client relationships, and delivering successful projects.
• Strong background in private land development, mixed-use, commercial, residential, or public realm projects.
• Proven business development experience with the ability to grow client relationships and win new work.
• Strong financial and operational management skills.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and relationship-building abilities.
• Proficiency in industry-standard software, including AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office.