Senior Landscape Architect

SWA; New York (NY); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

SWA, a global landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm, seeks a Senior Landscape Architect for its New York studio. This on-site role leads large-scale landscape and public realm projects from concept through construction, guiding design direction while managing scope, budgets, and teams.

The ideal candidate has 10+ years of experience, a professional degree in Landscape Architecture (licensure preferred), and strong skills in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and BIM workflows.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional landscape architecture experience.
• Professional degree in Landscape Architecture; licensure preferred.
• Experience leading landscape, public realm, or urban design projects.
• Ability to manage scope, schedules, budgets, and deliverables.
• Strong design judgment and technical knowledge.

Responsibilities

• Lead large-scale landscape and public realm projects from concept to construction.
• Guide design direction while managing project scope, schedules, budgets, teams, and deliverables.
• Lead multidisciplinary subconsultant teams and manage client relationships.
• Serve as primary client contact; lead meetings and presentations.
• Coordinate work across disciplines; resolve design and delivery issues.
• Mentor studio staff and contribute to proposals and business development.

Skills

Leadership experience

Client management

Mentoring

Budget management

Education

Professional degree in Landscape Architecture

Tools

AutoCAD

Adobe Creative Suite

3D modeling tools

Revit

Job description

SWA is a global landscape architecture, planning, and urban design firm with eight studios across the United States and China. Founded in 1957, SWA was among the first fully employee-owned design firms in the country. For over six decades, the firm has created culturally significant landscapes across the globe through design excellence, environmental responsibility, and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Role Description

SWA is seeking a Senior Landscape Architect for a full-time, on-site role in its New York studio. This person will lead large-scale landscape and public realm projects from concept through construction, guiding design direction while managing project scope, schedules, budgets, teams, and deliverables.

The Senior Landscape Architect will lead large multidisciplinary subconsultant teams and manage client relationships throughout each project. They will serve as a primary client contact, lead meetings and design presentations, coordinate work across disciplines, resolve design and delivery issues, and maintain the quality of project submissions. The role also includes mentoring studio staff and contributing to proposals and business development.

Qualifications

• Typically 10+ years of professional landscape architecture experience, including a strong record of leading large-scale projects, managing multidisciplinary subconsultant teams, and presenting directly to clients.
• Professional degree in Landscape Architecture or a related field; professional licensure or eligibility for licensure preferred.
• Experience leading landscape, public realm, mixed-use, or urban design projects through multiple design phases.
• Ability to manage project scope, schedules, budgets, and complex deliverables.
• Strong design judgment and technical knowledge, including site planning, grading, planting, materials, and construction documentation.
• Proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and relevant 3D modeling tools.
• Experience with BIM workflows or Revit is a plus.
• Ability to work on-site in New York and collaborate closely with the studio team.