Planting Design Specialist - Chicago

Planting Design Specialist - Chicago

Join to apply for the Planting Design Specialist - Chicago role at Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects

We’re looking for an experienced, multifaceted individual who is passionate about horticulture and planting design to join our team. As a planting design specialist, you will work in a collaborative studio environment alongside our team of talented landscape architects, urban designers, and horticulturists. This role will require in-depth site and context analysis, conceptualizing innovative landscape planting designs, compiling representative styling imagery for presentations, sourcing plant material, and directing plant installations.

A successful candidate will be creative, curious, inspired by innovative design and passionate about the ecological, visual and emotional impact plants can have on their surroundings. If you get excited about creating thoughtful designs where nature and architecture intersect, you could be a great fit with our team.

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in landscape architecture from an accredited university OR a degree in horticulture OR experience working for a botanic institution
• Minimum of 5 to 8 years of experience working on planting designs
• Understanding of plant performance across a wide range of plant hardiness zones to accommodate the needs of our project locations
• Knowledge of all layers of plant material in landscapes, including structure plants, mid-level plants, and ground cover

Please submit your resume, portfolio, and a cover letter outlining your relevant experience to our Director of Human Resources, Meg Graham at

• Creative and communicative hand and/or computer graphic abilities to represent planting design concepts
• Excellent organizational skills and strong attention to detail
• Energetic attitude and ability to work well within a team across multiple offices
• Expert in writing and verbal communication skills, with internal team members and clients
• Experience working at a variety of planting scales from large sites to container gardens
• Licensed landscape architect (preferred, but not required)
• Skilled at interpreting plans, providing guidance and making field decisions with respect to planting and layout
• Expertise in plant identification, including woody and herbaceous plants
• Experienced in gardening responsibilities such as maintenance walks and analysis, basic plant care, best horticultural practices, planting, and pruning
• Experience in delivering high quality design and planting design and in project delivery through construction completion
• This position will require the ability to work both inside and outside under various environmental conditions
• The employee must be able to perform light work with occasional lifting, moving plants and performing physical tasks
• This position will require regular travel, 20 – 30% time, which will fluctuate seasonally
• Reliable personal transportation is a requirement for the successful performance of this role

• Competitive salary and benefits package
• Please see a list of our benefits on our careers page
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth
• Collaborative and supportive work environment
• Access to cutting-edge tools and technologies in landscape design

• Work Environment:
  Monday through Friday 8:30‑5:30 with an hour for lunch/breaks
• Benefits:
  Health benefits, paid time off, 401(k), to/from office commute paid, parking provided, and opportunities for career growth within a dynamic and expanding company
• Salary:
  Range is $70,000‑92,000; the offer will be based on experience, skills and background in similar positions

• Lifting, carrying and moving:
  Frequent lifting, carrying and moving up to 20 lbs. or more of plant and landscape-related materials (paint, stakes, tools, lasers, samples, etc.) onsite or to/from the site and in the office. Specifically, during layouts, lifting, carrying and moving can be large parts of the workday
• Mobility:
  Frequent visits to job sites require being outdoors for extended periods from time to time in variable site conditions, and this position will require walking, hiking, kneeling and standing for extended periods of time during the day on varied terrain: dirt, rocks, concrete, grass, wet and dry surfaces, finished and unfinished landscapes and varied ground conditions
• Working conditions:
  
  Our clients’ projects are across the USA, and therefore this position requires the ability to work outdoors frequently at job sites in all weather conditions and throughout all seasons: sun, rain, ice, snow, etc., depending on location
• Protective gear:
  Requirement to wear clothing for the expected site and weather conditions, including protective clothing and hard‑toed boots/shoes (where dictated)