Senior Landscape Architect

Senior Landscape Architect + Practice Lead Licensed PLA | Madison, WI Office Full-Time In-Office | Landscape Architecture | Design + Project Management + Leadership

JSD Professional Services is seeking a Senior Landscape Architect + Practice Lead to help lead and grow the Verona Landscape Architecture practice. This is a leadership role for a design-driven, business-minded landscape architect who can shape compelling places, guide high-performing teams, grow client relationships, and help position JSD for continued regional growth.

At JSD, landscape architecture is part art, part science, part teamwork, and part "let us figure out how to make this happen." Our landscape architects work hand-in-hand with planners, civil engineers, surveyors, construction professionals, and clients to move projects from early visioning through construction. We are growing, we are having fun doing it, and we are looking for someone who is excited to lead projects, mentor teammates, build client relationships, and help shape the next chapter of JSD's Landscape Architecture practice.

JSD is a multi-disciplinary planning, civil engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, structural engineering, and development services firm with a practical, creative, roll-up-your-sleeves approach. We believe great work comes from strong relationships, smart collaboration, and people who care about the communities they serve. Our culture is staff-centric, growing, flexible, and fun.

This role goes beyond technical project delivery. The successful candidate will serve as a trusted design leader, mentor, client partner, operational steward, and future-facing practice builder. Working closely with the Director of Landscape Architecture, this individual will influence the strategic direction, financial performance, market visibility, staffing, and long-term success of the Landscape Architecture discipline.

This position is intended as a key succession and growth role, with a leadership trajectory toward expanded responsibility, including potential advancement into future senior leadership roles such as Director of Landscape Architecture.

As a Senior Landscape Architect, you will lead and support a wide range of landscape architecture, site planning, land planning, and public/private development projects across Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. You will be a project leader, technical resource, client partner, mentor, and design advocate.

• Lead the Verona Landscape Architecture practice with a focus on design excellence, team development, operational performance, and market growth.
• Provide day-to-day leadership, mentorship, and direction for landscape architecture staff, helping emerging professionals strengthen design judgment, technical skills, client presence, and project leadership.
• Partner with the Director of Landscape Architecture to evaluate practice performance, identify growth opportunities, improve processes, and advance JSD’s mission, vision, and values.
• Contribute insight on market trends, emerging technologies, client needs, and competitive positioning to keep the practice relevant, profitable, and forward-looking.
• Support annual planning, staffing strategy, recruiting recommendations, professional development priorities, and succession planning for the discipline.
• Serve as a positive cultural leader who builds trust, reinforces accountability, supports company policies, and promotes strong morale across the team.

• Lead landscape architecture, site planning, master planning, parks, streetscapes, campuses, mixed-use, civic, open space, sustainable landscape, and community-focused projects from concept through construction.
• Set the design vision for projects while balancing aesthetics, ecology, budget, constructability, permitting, client goals, and long-term community impact.
• Oversee development of concept plans, master plans, site plans, planting plans, construction documents, specifications, cost estimates, graphic exhibits, and public presentation materials.
• Provide senior-level QA/QC review for design solutions, technical details, production plans, specifications, and deliverables.
• Guide construction administration and construction-phase problem solving, including RFI review, field coordination, contractor communication, and owner/client support.
• Maintain strong technical credibility in upper Midwest landscapes, native planting design, stormwater integration, green infrastructure, grading, site function, and landscape construction methods.

• Serve as a visible leader in the regional market by strengthening existing client relationships and helping identify, pursue, and win new opportunities.
• Support and lead business development efforts, including proposal strategy, scope development, fee negotiation, interviews, client presentations, and market positioning.
• Collaborate with…