Landscape Designer Job at Christy Webber Landscapes in Chicago

Job Summary: Oversee the design, estimating, contracting, and implementation of a variety of residential and commercial landscape projects. Possess strong design and time management skills to produce high-quality projects that meets clients' needs, utilizes best practices, captures desired profitability margin, and adheres to the established timeline.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities in this department include the following (other duties may be assigned):

Design, Sales, and Customer Service

·         Prepares preliminary design, working drawings, specifications, and cost estimates Provide unique, high-quality designs that meet or exceed the client’s needs.

·         Generate fair, thorough, and accurate design proposals.

·         Communicate the design and installation processes to clients to help ensure realistic expectations, help them make better decisions, and recognize the importance of the design expertise.

·         Introduce clients to other CWL services and recommend services/products that help ensure the vision of the design and that the client’s evolving needs are met.

·         Introduce maintenance and enhancements staff to clients as appropriate.

·         Follow up with clients before, during, and after installation takes place.

Project Management

·         Communicate design intent to the project manager before beginning projects, explaining special details or nuances of the installation to maximize the crew’s productivity.

·         Revise plans and estimates according to project changes and communicate alterations to clients.

·         Inspect projects as they progress to determine regulation and specification compliance and make recommendations to existing specifications and plans.

Estimating and Billing

• Produce realistic estimates, create, and oversee adherence to budgets to bring jobs in at desired profit rates.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Highly developed organizational skills and demonstrated ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects and priorities simultaneously. Knowledge of the principles and practices of landscape architecture/design. Knowledge of methods of analysis and computation required for landscape design. Ability to make informed, ethics-based decisions.

Proficient computer skills (AutoCAD, MS Office Suite, Sketchup, , or other database experience).

Knowledge of costs and uses of construction materials in landscape design.

Knowledge of inspection techniques and procedures. Knowledge of plant material and horticultural practices. Ability to make accurate drawings to scale from sketches, design drawings, and verbal instructions and an ability to prepare complete plans, specifications, schedules, and cost estimates. Ability to make space utilization studies and analyses.

Ability to organize and coordinate the work of others to set priorities and assign work to other professionals to maximize efficiency.

Education and/or Experience:

A bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Landscape Design, Landscape Architecture, or a related field plus 8+ years of experience working as a professional landscape designer or participation in a formal apprenticeship program is fully qualifying for this position.

Prior project management experience is highly desirable. Must have a valid IL driver's license within 30 days of hire and meet insurance company guidelines for driving. Other licenses and /or certifications may be required per contract specifications.