Landscape Designer - Funeral Center Grounds

Buchanan Group•Indianapolis, IN

32d•Onsite

About The Position

We’re looking for a Landscape Designer – Funeral Center Grounds to design, enhance, and maintain beautiful, welcoming landscapes across our funeral centers and properties. This role combines landscape design, horticulture, arboriculture, and grounds management to ensure our properties are safe, well-maintained, and reflective of the dignity and care we provide to families. The Landscape Designer – Funeral Center Grounds is responsible for the design, enhancement, and ongoing care of the landscape environments across Buchanan Group and Flanner Buchanan funeral centers and related properties. This position combines landscape design, horticulture, arboriculture, and grounds management to ensure properties are beautiful, safe, welcoming, and reflective of the dignity and care expected in a funeral service environment. The ideal candidate has strong knowledge of plants, trees, landscape design, and property maintenance, with the ability to develop practical and sustainable landscape plans, manage improvement projects, and coordinate internal teams and outside vendors.

Requirements

Strong knowledge of landscape design, horticulture, plant identification, and grounds maintenance
Working knowledge of arboriculture, including tree health, pruning, disease identification, and tree risk awareness
Ability to select appropriate plants and trees based on climate, soil, sunlight, drainage, mature size, and maintenance needs
Ability to create or interpret landscape plans, planting plans, sketches, and site layouts
Knowledge of irrigation, fertilization, soil preparation, mulching, weed control, and pest management
Strong project management, organization, and problem-solving skills
Ability to manage multiple properties, projects, vendors, and priorities
Strong attention to detail and commitment to high standards of property appearance
Ability to communicate effectively with leadership, grounds employees, contractors, and vendors
Ability to work independently and exercise sound judgment
Valid driver's license and ability to travel between company properties
Ability to work outdoors and perform the physical requirements associated with landscape and grounds work
Must have reliable transportation

Nice To Haves

Certification, Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture, Horticulture, Arboriculture, Landscape Design, Plant Science, Turf Management, or a related field preferred
Minimum of 3–5 years of professional experience in landscape design, horticulture, arboriculture, commercial grounds management, or a related field
Equivalent combination of education, training, and experience may be considered
Demonstrated experience designing, maintaining, or managing commercial landscapes
Experience coordinating landscape projects and outside contractors
Arboriculture experience strongly preferred
ISA Arborist certification or willingness to obtain certification preferred
Pesticide applicator certification or willingness to obtain applicable certification preferred
Experience with landscape design, CAD, GIS, or similar software preferred

Responsibilities

Design and maintain landscape plans for funeral centers and other company properties, including trees, shrubs, flowers, turf, planting beds, and other landscape features
Evaluate existing landscapes and recommend improvements, renovations, seasonal plantings, and long-term beautification projects
Select appropriate plant and tree species based on site conditions, aesthetics, maintenance requirements, and long-term growth
Monitor the health and condition of trees, shrubs, turf, flowers, and other plant material; identify disease, pests, damage, and other issues and recommend corrective action
Apply sound arboricultural practices, including tree health assessment, pruning recommendations, hazard identification, and tree replacement planning
Oversee routine grounds standards, including mowing, pruning, mulching, fertilization, irrigation, weed control, seasonal cleanup, and general landscape appearance
Develop project scopes, material lists and timelines, propose and adhere to approved budgets for landscape improvements
Coordinate and oversee landscape, irrigation, tree-care, and other specialty contractors to ensure quality, safety, and completion of projects
Maintain landscape and tree-care records and assist with long-term property improvement planning and budgeting
Ensure grounds are maintained in a manner that provides a peaceful, welcoming, and dignified environment for families and guests
Coordinate landscape work around funeral services, visitations, and other events to minimize disruption
Travel between company properties as needed to inspect conditions, manage projects, and support grounds teams