Architectural Associate Jobs in Illinois (NOW HIRING)

Your future position: Landscape Architecture Associate

Choose Your Location: Chicago, Naperville, Mokena, Crystal Lake, Bannockburn, IL

Why you should join our team! Why Baxter & Woodman?

At Baxter & Woodman, both seasoned professionals and recent graduates find more than a job; they uncover a long-lasting, fulfilling career with a distinguished leader in technology and innovation. Our work environment is extraordinary and being honored as one of the 2026 Zweig Best Firms to Work For exemplifies our appreciation and respect for our dedicated staff.

About the role, Your Impact

We are hiring a Landscape Architect to support and contribute to the growth of our Landscape Architecture business throughout Baxter and Woodmans service area. This role focuses on learning and growing your technical design skills while producing solid, high-quality work. The selected candidate will help create landscape plans at the conceptual and schematic stages, assist in developing construction documents and contribute to delivering great service to our clients.

The candidate will help to support team goals, assist with internal coordination, and help facilitate sub-consultant coordination, quality control, and project production (including construction documentation and specifications). They will also support coordination during design and construction activities.

What your day-to-day will look like

• Assist in preparing conceptual, schematic, and detailed landscape plans.
• Conduct site analysis, including measuring, photographing, and documenting existing conditions.
• Assist with quality control by reviewing drawings for accuracy and consistency.
• Assist standards development.
• Help create graphics, renderings, and presentation materials for client meetings.
• Assist in ensuring internal communication and coordination of design efforts.
• Help develop cost estimates for landscape-related improvements.
• Support project management efforts.
• Assist in making presentations to clients, public officials, and the public.
• Participate in professional organizations and support efforts to advance the landscape architecture profession.
• Contribute to meeting departmental utilization and project goals.

Education/Certification/Licenses Requirement

• Bachelor's Degree in landscape architecture, land planning, or related discipline is required.

Must-haves, what you will bring

• Must have 2+ years of landscape architecture, and/or planning, land development industry experience.
• Strong knowledge of AutoCAD, SketchUp.
• Proficiency with Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator), Adobe Acrobat Pro, and Microsoft Office products (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Teams, and One Note).
• Proven ability to produce high-quality landscape architectural work according to programmatic requirements, within the allocated project schedule and budget.
• Excellent technical writing, graphic, and verbal communication skills.
• Ability to articulate and explain technical issues to non-technical municipal staff, officials, and the public.
• Ability to administer the work of subconsultants.
• Ability to work collaboratively with in-house staff, developers, designers, and public officials.
• Ability to travel to various sites within the Chicago region as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience at a professional design or engineering firm preferred.
• Landscape Architectural registration (PLA) within the State of IL is a plus.
• Knowledge of Land F/X and Microstation are plusses.

Compensation: The pay range for this role is $60,000 to $75,000. Actual compensation packages are based on several factors that are unique to each candidate, including but not limited to skill set, depth of experience, and certifications.

You matter! Our outstanding benefits - At our organization, we prioritize the holistic well-being of our employees through a comprehensive range of benefits. This commitment is evident in our healthcare offerings, including medical, dental, and vision plans, alongside an Employee Assistance Program and dedicated benefit advisors for personalized support. Financial well-being is enhanced through our financial planning program, life and disability insurance, tax savings plans, and coverage for accidents, and cancer. Balancing work and life, we provide generous paid time off, paid holidays, parental leave, and varied schedules. Additionally, we lead the industry by offering 401k plans, supported by expert financial advisors, and an Employee Stock Ownership program, ensuring our employees are not just part of a workplace but a thriving, supportive community dedicated to their well-being, financial security, and happiness.

Baxter & Woodman is an equal opportunity - Vet/Disability employer