Landscape Architect; Capital Projects

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Housing, Neighbourhood & Building Services

This is a really exciting opportunity for an experienced Landscape Architect to join our Design Team and support the Capital Projects Service in delivering the Council’s construction, public realm, regeneration and environmental improvement programmes!

The successful candidate will independently lead and contribute to landscape-led and multidisciplinary projects from feasibility and design through procurement, construction, completion and operation. The role requires strong design ability, sound professional judgement, excellent communication and the capacity to manage multiple projects and competing demands.

Sitting within the Housing, Neighbourhoods and Building Services directorate, you will report to the Landscape Architect Team Leader and support the Principal Architect in delivering the Council’s capital projects and professional design services.

The Design Team is multidisciplinary and includes architects and landscape architects. The team works closely with building surveyors, quantity surveyors, engineers, construction inspectors, project managers and internal and external consultants to deliver project outcomes.

The team provides services across the Council and to external organisations. Clients and stakeholders may include Housing, Education, Planning, Highways, Parks, Regeneration, Culture, Leisure, Public Health and Property services, together with schools, academy trusts, NHS bodies, charities and neighbouring authorities. Projects may include schools, housing estates, parks, streets and public realm, civic and operational property, regeneration sites, heritage settings and externally commissioned work.

You will balance design quality and environmental outcomes with statutory, financial, operational, political and community requirements.

Please see the full job profile attached at the bottom of this page for all details of what the role will involve!

The ideal candidate is someone who:

• Holds an undergraduate honours degree or postgraduate degree, or equivalent, in landscape architecture or a closely related discipline that provides the professional knowledge required for the role.
• Chartered Membership of the Landscape Institute is preferred but is not essential. Applicants who are not chartered must demonstrate extensive relevant professional experience and competence equivalent to undertaking the full duties of the role independently, with willingness to pursue chartership.
• Have at least three years of relevant professional experience and a record of independently delivering significant or medium-scale landscape, public realm, regeneration or environmental improvement projects.
• Demonstrate strong landscape design ability and the capacity to analyse a place, identify constraints and opportunities, develop creative options and communicate a coherent design response.
• Have expert knowledge of landscape planning, hard and soft landscape design, construction detailing, specification, procurement, contract administration, construction and aftercare.
• Have practical knowledge of planning and environmental requirements, including biodiversity net gain, sustainable drainage, green infrastructure, accessibility, trees, ecology, heritage and relevant health and safety duties.
• Have experience of working within and, where required, leading multidisciplinary professional teams and coordinating the input of clients, consultants, contractors and statutory bodies.
• Have experience of preparing tender information, assessing submissions, administering construction contracts, inspecting works, managing defects and protecting the client’s contractual position.
• Demonstrate commercial awareness and experience of project budgets, professional fees, cost planning, tender evaluation, valuations, change control, forecasting, risk management and value for money.
• Have excellent written, verbal, visual and interpersonal communication skills, including the ability to prepare clear reports and presentations, chair meetings, consult communities, negotiate and resolve disagreement.
• Be able to build trusted relationships with internal and external clients, understand their requirements, manage expectations and keep stakeholders informed throughout the project lifecycle.
• Be organised, resilient and comfortable managing multiple projects, deadlines and changing priorities while…