Landscape Engineer Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Work Setting: Hybrid work arrangement with flexibility; San Francisco Bay Area preferred, Irvine also acceptable

Travel: Limited and project-dependent, including occasional client meetings, pursuits, conferences, and project-related travel

Compensation: $144,000 to $177,000 + yearly bonus

Benefits: Comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401(k) with company match, PTO, paid holidays, sick/safe time, and additional performance-based bonus opportunities

Position Summary

A nationally recognized environmental consulting and design firm is seeking a Regional Practice Leader – Landscape Architecture to help build and lead its California landscape architecture practice.

This is a newly created leadership role designed for a senior landscape architect who is excited about growing a regional practice, developing client relationships, winning work, and helping shape the future of a multidisciplinary design and environmental consulting platform.

The position combines practice leadership, business development, and project execution with a strong focus on restoration, resilience, shoreline and waterfront projects, public access, parks and recreation, habitat restoration, and climate adaptation initiatives throughout California.

This is an ideal opportunity for an entrepreneurial leader who wants to build something meaningful rather than inherit an already established local practice.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the growth and development of the California landscape architecture practice

• Build relationships with public agencies, municipalities, ports, special districts, nonprofits, and strategic teaming partners

• Identify, pursue, and help win landscape architecture and multidisciplinary consulting projects

• Lead or support proposals, interviews, pursuit strategy, fee development, and client engagement activities

• Serve as Principal-in-Charge, Project Director, Project Manager, or Senior Design Lead on complex projects

• Guide multidisciplinary teams through planning, design, permitting, documentation, and implementation phases

• Provide senior leadership for projects involving resilience, restoration, habitat enhancement, public access, recreation, and shoreline environments

• Mentor future landscape architecture staff and help build the California team over time

• Collaborate closely with planners, engineers, scientists, permitting specialists, and construction professionals

• Support practice strategy, staffing plans, market development, and long-term business growth

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Landscape Architecture

• Licensed Landscape Architect, preferably licensed in California

• Approximately 15+ years of progressive landscape architecture experience

• Strong California project experience

• Proven business development and client relationship management experience

• Experience leading proposals, interviews, pursuits, and project capture efforts

• Background in public-sector, environmental, restoration, resilience, or multidisciplinary consulting projects

• Experience serving in senior leadership roles such as Principal, Practice Leader, Project Director, Market Leader, or similar positions

• Strong understanding of California permitting, environmental regulations, and public agency processes

• Ability to lead multidisciplinary teams and manage complex stakeholder relationships

Preferred Background

• Shoreline, waterfront, coastal, riverine, wetland, or habitat restoration projects

• Public access, parks, recreation, and climate adaptation initiatives

• Public-sector clients, municipalities, ports, state agencies, and special districts

• Environmental consulting, planning, engineering, or multidisciplinary design firms

• Experience integrating ecological restoration with community and recreational uses

• Familiarity with AutoCAD, ArcGIS, Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, Lumion, and related design technologies

Ideal Candidate Profile

The ideal candidate is a senior California landscape architect who enjoys both building client relationships and leading meaningful project work.

They should be comfortable operating as a seller-doer, leading multidisciplinary teams, and helping establish a stronger California presence while working alongside an established team of engineers, scientists, planners, restoration specialists, and environmental professionals.

The right person is entrepreneurial, collaborative, client-focused, and excited about helping shape the future direction of a growing practice.

Why This Opportunity

• Opportunity to build and lead a California landscape architecture practice

• High-visibility leadership role with significant autonomy and influence

• Strong multidisciplinary platform with engineers, scientists, planners, and restoration experts

• Meaningful project work focused on resilience, restoration, habitat enhancement, and public access

• Existing landscape architecture resources available to support project delivery

• Opportunity to shape hiring, staffing, market strategy, and business development efforts

• Strong reputation within environmental consulting, restoration, and infrastructure markets

• Long-term leadership opportunity with significant growth potential