Senior Landscape Architect

Sherwood Design Engineers • Nashville, TN

49d • Onsite

About The Position

Sherwood Design Engineers is a civil and environmental engineering firm dedicated to investing in and embracing people, communities, and the environment. Our team has a proven track record of delivering innovative projects such as net-zero energy and carbon systems, net-positive water systems, resilient coastlines, natural resource protection, green streets, and living roofs for a diverse range of clients globally. We specialize in sustainable infrastructure, advanced water management strategies, green building design, and systems-based solutions for infrastructure and landscapes, with a core focus on conserving and managing the consumption of all site resources, including carbon, energy, water, and waste. Our firm has been recognized for its work on over thirty award-winning projects, with our contributions published both locally and internationally. Founded in 2003, our notable projects include Hudson Yards in New York, the San Francisco Better Streets Plan, the Greater New Orleans Urban Water Plan, the revitalization of Brooklyn Bridge Park, and the Baietan Urban Area Plan in Guangzhou, China. Our overarching mission is to engineer an environmentally and socially regenerative planet.

Requirements

• Bachelor's or Master's degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited university.
• Registered Professional Landscape Architect (PLA) license required, or current state registration with ability to obtain Tennessee reciprocity within 1 year.
• 10+ years of progressive landscape architecture experience, including substantial responsibility for complex, multidisciplinary projects and project teams.
• Demonstrated design leadership on large-scale campus, public realm, mixed-use, waterfront, land development, or civil/environmental infrastructure projects.
• Proven ability to lead projects across the full design lifecycle, from master planning and concept design through DD, CD, CA, bidding, construction administration, and field observation.
• Strong technical understanding of site planning, grading and drainage, hardscape, planting, materials, detailing, specifications, constructability, and cost implications.
• Experience managing scope, fees, schedules, staffing, QA/QC, consultant coordination, and client expectations across multiple concurrent workstreams.
• Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, and 3D modeling workflows such as Rhino and/or Revit; working knowledge of Civil 3D, GIS, and project management tools is highly desirable.
• Outstanding written, verbal, facilitation, and executive presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex technical and design issues into clear decisions and compelling narratives.
• Ability to travel periodically to project sites, client meetings, and workshops as required.

Nice To Haves

• Strong master planning and urban design experience, with a demonstrated sensitivity to public space, human experience, circulation, and the relationship between landscape and the broader urban fabric.
• Experience with ecological infrastructure, water-sensitive landscapes, stormwater systems, hydrology, habitat, or regenerative site design.
• Experience leading large corporate or technology campuses and coordinating with complex architectural, engineering, specialty design, and construction teams.
• Experience with computational design, BIM, data analysis, parametric workflows, AI-enabled design tools, or other emerging technologies that improve design and project delivery.
• Business development experience, including client relationship building, RFQ/RFP responses, interviews, scopes of work, fee proposals, and pursuit strategy.
• Experience mentoring multidisciplinary teams and developing staff through a combination of clear expectations, trust, feedback, and opportunities aligned with individual strengths and career goals.
• Experience working across offices, cultures, or international consultant teams on complex, high-profile projects.

Responsibilities

• Lead the project team through Design Development and Construction Documents, translating design intent into coordinated, technically rigorous, and buildable drawing and specification packages.
• Direct and review hardscape, planting, grading, drainage, site furnishings, materials, landscape details, specifications, and interdisciplinary interfaces, with a strong understanding of constructability, cost, sequencing, and long-term performance.
• Lead landscape architecture services during construction, including RFIs, submittals and shop drawings, design clarifications, field observations, contractor coordination, punch walks, and resolution of unforeseen site conditions.
• Protect the quality and intent of the design while responding pragmatically to field conditions, contractor questions, schedule pressures, cost constraints, substitutions, and value-engineering decisions.
• Proactively identify and resolve conflicts between landscape, civil, architecture, structural, MEP, water feature, ecology, irrigation, lighting, and other specialty systems before they affect construction.
• Lead rigorous reviews at major milestones and take ownership of critical technical or coordination issues, ensuring decisions are made quickly and open items are carried through to resolution.
• Translate major milestones into clear priorities, responsibilities, decision paths, and action items so multiple design and technical workstreams can move efficiently in parallel.
• Anticipate what the team, client, consultants, and contractors will need next; actively manage dependencies and keep complex deliverables moving toward completion.
• Manage project budgets, staffing, fee burn, consultant scope, resource allocation, and scope changes while protecting design quality, schedule, and project profitability.
• Identify design, technical, contractual, and coordination risks early; bring the right people together; and make or facilitate timely decisions before issues affect project delivery.
• Maintain a strong site-wide landscape vision while making sure high-level design ideas can successfully translate into detailed, constructible solutions.
• Work closely with Sherwood's civil engineers and environmental scientists, as well as architecture and specialty consultants, to integrate ecology, hydrology, green infrastructure, water systems, grading, circulation, and constructability into a coherent landscape experience.
• Move comfortably between master-plan scale and individual details, understanding when a decision requires broader design thinking and when a technically practical solution is most important.
• Serve as a senior point of contact who builds confidence, understands client priorities, and maintains strong relationships through complex project decisions and delivery challenges.
• Lead presentations, workshops, and executive conversations that translate complex design and technical issues into clear decisions and compelling narratives.
• Know when to advocate firmly for design quality, scope, schedule, or team needs and when to adapt, helping clients, consultants, and contractors reach decisions while maintaining productive relationships.
• Establish clear priorities across the team, assign work thoughtfully, and help staff understand what needs to happen now, what can wait, and what requires senior attention.
• Understand team members' strengths, interests, and career goals; provide meaningful feedback and create opportunities for growth while maintaining accountability for quality and deadlines.
• Empower staff to own their work while being willing to step directly into critical design, technical, or coordination issues when senior experience is needed to keep the project moving.
• Build a low-ego, high-trust team environment where people communicate openly, support one another, and perform at a high level without relying on unsustainable workloads.
• Strengthen client and partner relationships, identify new opportunities, and contribute to RFQ/RFP responses, interviews, scopes, fees, and pursuit strategy.
• Help grow Sherwood's landscape architecture and urban design capabilities, standards, workflows, technical knowledge, and market presence.
• Encourage thoughtful use of computational design, BIM, data, AI, IoT, and other emerging tools to improve design exploration, technical coordination, communication, and construction delivery.

Benefits

• Flexible working - with every other Friday off
• Competitive Health plans, including PPO and HMO options, Dental and Vision plans
• Learning and Development stipend to use as you see fit
• Generous PTO and 8 paid holidays
• Automatic 401k enrollment and 401K match
• Fun team events, lunches and happy hours to get to know colleagues outside of work
• A tangible opportunity to truly help the environment!

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior