Landscape Architecture / Planning Group Manager

Job Description

Job Description

Established 35 years ago in Charlotte, NC, ESP Associates, Inc., has a commanding presence in and around the Carolinas. We are seeking a creative and established Land Planner/Landscape Architecture Group Manager for our well-established Lake Norman (Cornelius) studio. This individual will be at the helm of overall staffing, supervision, management, and growth of the studio.

• Are you an established Land Planner / Landscape Architect professional looking to make a difference in the community around you as well as across the region?
• Do you have an entrepreneurial spirit and enjoy empowering early-career professionals?
• Do you want to build a team that specializes in creative design and planning ?

As a leader contributing to employee development and management of departmental activity, this individual will ultimately be responsible for:

• Managing clients and undertaking business development activities,
• Preparation of proposals/ contracts, and
• Representing ESP and client(s) in public settings.

Responsibilities:

• Leadership and direction of Landscape Architecture and Planning team in the Raleigh (Morrisville) office.
• Partnering with Clients to advance master plans / small area/corridor plans, develop site plans, managing the rezoning & entitlement processes, and implement improvements.
• Management of design development, preparation and/or administration of the contract documents, cost estimates, agency correspondence, client relations, staff supervision and mentoring. Exciting projects include large-scale master planned developments, urban infill sites, residential, commercial sites, greenways/park and recreation, and various mixed-use projects, along with various amenities and other recreational project components.
• Building the team and overall growth of department.
• Presentations to Public officials and Planning boards, along with public engagement.
• Partnering with clients to advance master plans/ small area/corridor plans, develop site plans, manage the entitlement processes, and implement improvements.
• Business development and marketing of clients including networking, active participation in professional development forums, presenting work to professional organizations, writing proposals, and maintaining budgets and backlog reporting for projected work.
• Project contract preparation, invoicing, and financial reporting.

Qualifications:

• A degree in Landscape Architecture or Planning from an accredited program preferred.
• Professional registration as a Landscape Architect or Certified Planner.
• 8 or more years of professional Land Planning / Landscape Architecture experience with a diverse and dynamic portfolio.
• A strong background in the land development design industry, Site and Master Planning along with oversight of landscape architectural construction documents (CD) and construction administration (CA) including related technical layouts, grading plans, planting plans, details and hardscape design.
• An understanding of and experience with the entitlement and permitting processes for the City of Raleigh, Wake County and surrounding communities.
• Knowledge of AutoCAD/Civil 3D, Adobe Creative Suites (Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Sketchup), Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Power Point).
• Excellent financial management skills.
• Demonstrated experience working in a fast-paced, multidisciplinary environment with the ability to adjust to project priorities and requests of multiple clients.
• Experience working with local codes, ordinances and public agency standards related to land development design and related entitlement processes.
• Strong business development skills along with knowledge of the local land development market.
• Strong collaborator and presenter in front of boards and Councils for multiple project types.
• Ability to liaise with public and private sector clients, maintain client relationships, manage projects and mentor staff.
• Excellent interpersonal, leadership and communication skills that will allow you to effectively and professionally interact with clients, government officials and the public.
• Experience with developing and following a formalized QA/QC program.
• Candidate must be able to pass a drug screen, background check, and have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the company’s driving (MVR) policy.

Corporate Information:

ESP is a multi-discipline design and consulting firm providing our clients with civil engineering, surveying, planning/landscape architecture, geosciences, environmental, subsurface utility engineering, and construction engineering inspection.

Through years of dedicated service to our clients, ESP has received a designation of 195 on the 2025 ENR Top 500 Design Firm rankings. For the firm's primary territory, the ENR Texas & Southeast Top Design Firms, ESP received a 2025 ranking of 52.

ESP offers an excellent employee benefits package including:

• Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses
• 401(k) (Traditional & Roth plans) with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% (eligibility after 60 days)
• PTO (Paid Time Off) & 10 Paid Holidays
• Tiered Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Options (eligibility after 30 days)
• Behavioral Medicine through Teladoc
• Short-Term Disability Insurance
• Long-Term Disability Insurance
• Life Insurance
• Pet Insurance
• Education Reimbursement Opportunities
• Flexible and Dependent Benefits Plan
• Referral Bonuses