Associate - Landscape Architecture

About the Company

AECOM is a leading global infrastructure consulting firm dedicated to creating positive impacts worldwide by improving transport, utilities, city skylines, and environmental access. Their diverse team of over 50,000 professionals spans planners, designers, engineers, scientists, and digital innovators to deliver sustainable projects that shape the future.

Role Overview

The Associate position in Landscape Architecture combines senior design leadership with project management, team mentoring, technical oversight, and client interaction. This role is integral to driving innovation, ensuring quality, and supporting business development within the landscape architecture studio.

Key Responsibilities

• Mentor and manage technical staff, including timekeeping oversight, performance reviews, and professional development support.
• Support team leaders by delegating tasks and guiding junior staff through technical project work.
• Manage budgets at task level within projects.
• Lead multiple landscape architecture projects, establishing clear roles and responsibilities.
• Engage with clients to manage contractual and project requirements.
• Organize design reviews and creative sessions for active projects and competitions.
• Identify recruitment needs, conduct interviews, and facilitate hiring processes.
• Present market research findings and develop thought leadership presentations for the studio.
• Ensure design compliance with industry standards, landscape authorities, and regulatory requirements.
• Lead site opportunity and constraint analysis, generating design proposals for stakeholder consideration.
• Promote innovative landscape visions aligned with studio ethos, project briefs, and site potentials.
• Oversee deliverables meeting client and regulatory expectations.
• Understand the intersections of architecture, urban planning, and landscape disciplines in projects.
• Develop new typologies tailored to project sites and conditions.
• Clearly communicate landscape design ideas through reports and presentations, mentoring others on effective writing.
• Balance design creativity with budget management.
• Interpret client objectives to guide design direction.
• Encourage innovation in landscape practices and digital tool adoption.
• Lead research and development initiatives to improve design ideation and presentation within the team.
• Manage bids and proposals for landscape architecture work, including technical methodologies and commercial aspects.
• Structure project teams with defined roles to optimize project delivery.
• Ensure quality control through rigorous deliverable reviews and adherence to procedures.
• Implement safety standards in design processes and report relevant incidents.
• Participate in steering committees promoting knowledge sharing, digital integration, and diversity.
• Maintain internal libraries and update capability statements.
• Champion innovation in landscape graphics for enhanced project documentation.
• Lead workshops internally and externally to achieve productive outcomes.
• Possibly manage small to medium-sized projects, applying Earned Value Management to monitor progress and budget.
• Build and nurture client relationships through professional communication and technical leadership at meetings.
• Support business development initiatives including proposal preparation and client liaison.
• Coordinate multidisciplinary design efforts to ensure integrated project delivery.

Qualifications

• Minimum of 10 years professional experience in landscape architecture with proven project design and delivery expertise.
• Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Progress toward professional registration or membership in urban design or architectural bodies (e.g., RIBA) is advantageous.
• Preferred submission of a design portfolio demonstrating landscape architecture work alongside application.

Additional Information

New hires must attend an in-person onboarding at an AECOM office location as a condition of employment to ensure recruitment security. AECOM offers extensive benefits such as medical, dental, vision, retirement plans, paid leave, and other well-being programs tailored to employee needs. The company fosters a respectful, collaborative workplace culture with resources to support career growth and leadership development.