Landscape Designer

We are an employee owned co-operative, with 8 owners and 16+ staff. Our work focuses on the design, install, and maintenance of ecologically progressive landscapes in the Hudson Valley.  We are continuing to align our leadership structure with cooperative values, center land-based justice initiatives in our work,  and grow our capacity to work as an efficient team.  

Designers are the artists of EDC, designing gardens, hardscapes & full site plans. Designers maintain relationships with clients, fulfilling dreams and planting ecologically viable gardens.  On a typical day Designers can expect to have a client meeting, approve invoices, return client emails & calls, finalize a proposal and update job orders in various stages of progress.   The Designer will also spend a significant amount of time on the jobsite during installations, working directly with the excavation team and site manager to execute their vision. The Designer will take the initiative to create their own daily schedule and maintain their own task list,  participating in shared calendars.

You are fed by the collaborative, creative process -- it’s a fun challenge to integrate your design aesthetic and the client's vision with the needs of the land. Your personal organization and ability to manage several projects at once will make transitioning from site to site, and from the field to the office, a breeze. Shared leadership and authentic communication are your jam. You are confident and content flying solo, and also excited to be co-pilot on any number of projects. Your fluency in Google Drive,  ability to find creative solutions, make decisions on the fly, and remain flexible in ever-changing conditions will make this job easy.

Our ideal candidate will be a client and nature whisperer, have a deep appreciation and adeptness for collaboration, have the proven ability to sell and create projects that inspire, and collectively strategize for a next economy business.  They will have a deep understanding of ecologically restorative design and practice that meet EDC’s quality standards.

Primary Design & Sales Responsibilities:

  • Work with prospective Clients to develop a vision for their property, gain an understanding of their budget, maintenance goals, style, etc.

  • Verbally paint a picture to help Clients understand the existing elements and qualities of their property and the potential for transformation.  Set realistic expectations regarding costs, speed of growth, and maintenance needs, as well as timeline of the design/install process.

  • Develop custom designs in alignment with the ecologically regenerative,  sustainable, and artistic approach that EDC is known for. 

  • Create a detailed, priced proposal, which may include a hand-drawn sketch or occasionally a more professional rendering (if necessary or requested).  Follow through with client’s questions and make adjustments to proposal as necessary, making sure client understands terms of contract.

  • Adjust sales focus (and type of sales) to the current capacity of the company.  Help build a balanced yearly portfolio by staying informed of seasonal work flow and communicating effectively with Operations and Design departments.

Operational Responsibilities:

  • Responsible for all communication with Clients including setting up initial Site Visit, Design, Sales, and setting expectations leading up to and through the proposal/estimate & installation.  Responsible for making introductions and handing off responsibilities to maintenance department for ongoing care after installation.

  • Translate the design into a detailed work order for the install team to execute.  

  • Communicate materials ordering and scheduling needs to Operations staff.

  • Communicate with the Crew Leader/Site Manager during the install process. 

  • Be on site as needed during install to place trees/shrubs, set boundaries of plantings and/or stonework, place plants, generally monitor progress and give stylistic instructions and feedback. 

  • Participate in Design Team and Operational Team Meetings to communicate updates, share support needs, and develop installation calendar.

  • Maintain accurate client records through EDC systems in Google Drive as well keeping your own files for signed proposals, drawings, vendor estimates etc.

  • Approve invoices by cross referencing installation records with proposals, and make appropriate adjustments.  Communicate with clients about overages if necessary.  

 

Required Knowledge and Skills:

  • Thorough knowledge of standard practices, materials, tools, and equipment utilized in the day to day practices of EDC.

  • Understanding of native and ecological design principles and implementation. 

  • Strong aesthetic and stylistic vision, with ability to communicate it through multiple methods

  • Strong leadership skills, including communication, motivation, and performance feedback. 

  • Ability to assign/delegate tasks and supervise the work of others, provide instruction and inspire confidence.

  • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with coworkers, clients and assisting contractors. 

  • Professional Training in Landscape Design or Equivalent Experience (3+ years)

Compensation:

This is a 40 hour/week non-exempt position, paid hourly (like all of our employees). Rate commensurate with experience. Seven days paid vacation, plus certain paid holidays. After one year with Earth Designs all employees are eligible to apply to become an owner, which has profit sharing benefits. 

Process to apply:

Please send an email and Portfolio to colin@yourearthdesigns.com and address the following five topics in a cover letter in the order described below (emails and cover letters that do not explicitly address the following questions will be dismissed without review).

1.  What excites you most about our company?  Be specific about at least two aspects.

2.  What role have you held in the past that you sense is most similar to the role described, or what life experiences have you had that you sense have prepared you most for this role?

3. What challenges would you anticipate, if any, in taking this role?

4. What would your ideal hours be if you were to perform this role?

5.  Describe one thing you’ve learned about our organization while researching this opportunity.