Description

About the Firm

Surfacedesign is a studio of landscape architects, designers and planners who love beauty, hard work, fun, creativity, and serving the public. We find poetry in landscape design even as our work sustains and restores the earth. We design parks; landscapes for museums, hotels, city streets, vineyards, corporate campuses; and private residences.

Surfacedesign focuses on cultivating a sense of connection to the built and natural world, pushing people to engage with landscape in new ways.  We emphasize the unique context and imaginative potential of each project, which has brought us accolades and awards. 

About the Position

We are looking to welcome a dynamic and visionary Senior Landscape Designer to contribute to our successful and growing practice.  This position will be in-person in our San Francisco office on the Embarcadero.

The ideal candidate exhibits skill and experience in the practice of landscape architecture and urban design.  In addition to providing conceptual design vision for projects, you will be responsible for preparing final project design drawings, and also planning and managing quality, time, and resources of small to medium single-discipline projects or large multidiscipline projects.  You will also be responsible for coordinating workload through entire project development to ensure completion of documents on schedule and budget and will work with the team to develop designs and construction details and to collaborate, communicate, and coordinate with outside consultants as needed.  

This role is ideal for someone who is familiar with standard concepts, practices, and procedures within our field.  You have experience in strictly adhering to office standards of design and documentation, and training others to adhere to office standards.  You rely on your experience and judgment to plan and accomplish goals.  You demonstrate abilities associated with project drawing documentation as well as rendering, presentation, building materials, details, and construction techniques.  You are proactive with follow-through on tasks, assignments, research, and coordination, and you use advanced problem-solving skills regarding landscape design.  You will perform a variety of tasks and work under general supervision of an Associate, Principal, and/or Partner. 

Note this position is considered a non-exempt position for purposes of federal wage-hour law, which means that you will be eligible for overtime pay.

Job Duties

• Support design forward, values-based thinking for our projects and clients for both landscape design and urban design projects.
• Work closely with Partners, Principals, and Associates in guarding the design goals for the project as they are developed, advancing those goals throughout the project’s evolution.
• Participate and develop design approaches that are innovative and show a strong conceptual basis.
• Collaborate in and facilitate information-gathering for vision, programming, and planning.
• Problem solve and attend to details for self-directed research as well as team-developed projects.
• Develop 2D drawings for landscape designs. Pick up redlines for project documentation, focusing on accuracy and confirm that the intent is in line with design goals.
• Model landscape design concepts in 3D.
• Utilize a variety of design methods including hand and digital drawing, painting, sketching, drafting, digital and physical modeling, graphics development, photography curation, and others to convey ideas. 
• Collaborate with project team including consultants to coordinate, produce, and administer deliverables and tracking assignments. Work closely with Principals, Associates, and Landscape Designers in establishing and realizing milestones within the project schedule.
• Prepare project design in preparation for and attendance at client meetings, office meetings, and studio events.
• Assist in the performance of construction observation and construction contract administration.
• Research and select materials and plantings for projects, basing selections on contract scope, project goals, budget, and climate/site parameters.
• Assist in management of Landscape Designers and Interns.
• Balance workload for more than one project and coordinate this work with others so that deadlines are met.

Requirements

Basic Qualifications

• Minimum of four years of experience as a landscape design professional.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in Landscape Architecture or aligned design field.
• Strong design and graphic sense with the ability to verbally and graphically communicate design ideas, moving between hand sketches and digital.
• Excellent 3D and 2D design skills with proficiency in AutoCAD. 
• Experience with Rhino, Enscape, Lumion, or similar visualization tools, and/or Revit experience is a plus.  
• Knowledge of California plant materials appreciated.
• Experience in construction documentation. 
• Preferred to have construction administration experience of landscape architecture project.
• An eagerness and curiosity to learn all areas of practice. 
• Knowledge of LEED and/or sustainable development practices desirable.
• Proficiency in Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, and Adobe InDesign. 
• Ability to work effectively within a collaborative team environment.
• Ability to complete tasks with accuracy and with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to consistently meet deadlines and complete tasks as previously defined.
• Ability to work with integrity, trust, and commitment—setting an example for others.
• Ability to communicate clearly and concisely with graphics as well as orally and in writing.

Position Details

• Bonus: based on performance
• Benefits:
  • PTO
  • Paid holidays
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance
  • 401(k) retirement plan with Employer Contribution after wait period
  • FSA
  • Commuter benefits
  • Life insurance and AD&D
  • Long-term disability
• Work Location: In person for the first year of employment.  After one year, Senior Landscape Designers may choose to work remotely on Fridays.
• Work Schedule: Full-time (i.e., 40+ hours per week), Monday through Friday.

How to Apply

Interested candidates should email [email protected] with “Senior Landscape Designer – [Your Name]” in the subject line.  The email should include:

• A brief letter of interest
• Your resume
• Your portfolio, which showcases your creative vision and technical skills

No phone calls, please.

Surfacedesign, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to building a more inclusive and equitable design practice.  We welcome candidates from all backgrounds, identities, and experiences.