Senior Landscape Architect

Leverage your hard-earned design, technical, and management expertise into your next great opportunity to lead the SWA/Balsley team on impactful sustainable projects of all types throughout the NYC metro area, U.S., Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

SWA/Balsley is actively seeking a highly skilled Senior Landscape Architect with 10+ years of experience working on New York City parks projects and open space initiatives of other City agencies. SWA/Balsley has evolved from Thomas Balsley Associates into a collaborative studio whose philosophy places a high value on design contribution at all phases of a project's development. SWA/Balsley's portfolio focuses on the resilient and sustainable urban public realm, urban parks, waterfronts, and landscape infrastructure, as well as high profile and diverse hi-rise, mixed-use, residential, commercial and institutional projects.

In collaboration with ASLA National Design Medalist Tom Balsley and other studio leaders, you can seize this unique opportunity to spread your wings and contribute your unique leadership to our new growing studio. Collaborate with and travel to other studios of SWA, the largest Landscape Architecture firm in the U.S., while developing a robust portfolio of design excellence in NYC, the U.S., and abroad.

About the position:

• Domestic and international travel.
• Shared leadership role with managing the studio and its growth.
• Representing the firm at client and agency meetings and industry conferences.
• Mentoring and developing the skills of Landscape Architecture staff and interns.
• Contributing to the marketing/business development efforts and recruitment.
• Attendance at firm-wide technical and field group committee gatherings.
• Participation in project/design kick-offs and crits throughout the project's duration.
• Provide studio leadership and mentoring in technical documentation and construction and provide project management, client management, and coordination of your own projects.

Current Projects

• Innovation QNS in Astoria, New York
• Fordham Landing in the Bronx, New York
• Riverside Park South in New York, New York
• Bridge Park in Bronx, New York
• Idlewild Park in Jamaica, New York
• Montbellier Park in Springfield Gardens, New York
• Bayfront Redevelopment in Jersey City, New Jersey
• Courthouse Park in Jersey City, New Jersey
• Schuylkill Yards in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• Uptown ATX in Austin, Texas
• Nelson Mandela Park in Rotterdam, Netherlands
• Bank of China in Shanghai, China
• Jeddah Central District Public Realm in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
• Wadi Safar in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

We are looking for someone who:

• Has extensive client and project management, and technical experience as prime with large complex private and public projects.
• Extensive experience designing and managing NYC parks, planning, and design projects.
• Is a team player who collaborates as part of a diverse studio team from design through execution.
• Possesses strong entrepreneurial problem solving, critical thinking, and analysis skills.
• Has strong verbal, written, and graphic communication skills.
• Displays leadership qualities, drive, and self-initiative.
• Able to represent the firm at conferences and events and to travel both nationally and abroad.
• Has directed, mentored, and trained junior staff and entry level designers.
• Liaise with SWA Group's firmwide PR, social media, and marketing.

About SWA/Balsley and SWA Group:

SWA/Balsley is a predecessor to Thomas Balsley Associates whose work has earned national and international reputation for award-winning public parks, plazas, and waterfronts designed to the highest standards of social, cultural, and environmental resiliency and is led by the National ASLA Design Medalist Tom Balsley. Notable projects include Riverside Park South, Peggy Rockefeller Plaza, Hunter's Point South and Gantry Plaza Parks, Burj Khalifa Dubai, Nelson Mandela Park, Curtis Hixon Park, Perk Park, New Harbor City Parks, and Jeddah Central District, and over 60 NYC POPs. Our affiliate, SWA Group, is the largest Landscape Architecture firm in the U.S. with studios in Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, San Francisco, Sausalito, Shanghai, and an affiliate office in New York, SWA/Balsley.

SWA works to develop complete designers throughout their careers versed in concept design through construction, eventually specializing according to their strengths and talents. As a 60 year old employee-owned company, SWA has some of the best employee benefits in the industry. Profit sharing, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) contributions, and bonuses are additional compensation to competitive salaries. This adds to full medical coverage, dental insurance, emergency medical and travel assistance, pre-tax commuter checks, paid time off (vacation, sick, holiday), 401K matching contribution to your retirement plan, supplemental paid parental leave, reimbursement of testing for licensure, and H1B sponsorship in the U.S. where applicable.

Why SWA/Balsley?

• Lead and help drive growth for a new firm with an established national design reputation for thought leadership and a bright future.
• Opportunities to lead diverse project types of the highest design caliber including national and international public parks as well as on-going and new NYC metropolitan commissions.
• Extraordinary personal title and leadership growth potential within SWA/Balsley and the affiliate SWA Group.
• Become part of SWA's design first legend as well as SWA's XL Lab and its Field Groups.
• Opportunities to cross-fertilize (remotely and in-person) with SWA's eight other studios and their leaders across the U.S. and abroad.
• SWA is an Employee Ownership firm with an unparalleled benefits package including fully funded bonuses, profit sharing, employee stock ownership, full 401k match, generous health insurance.
• Work in the vibrant and easily accessed NoMad neighborhood of NYC.

Minimum Requirements:

• Accredited Degree in Landscape Architecture or Architecture.
• 10+ years of professional experience.
• Excellent written, verbal, and graphic communication skills.
• Experience in project and client management, design and technical documentation, construction support services, studio and team management, and rainmaking.
• Fluency in AutoCAD, Microsoft Office, and Adobe Creative Suite.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Licensed in the State of New York or ability to obtain license within 1 year.
• Experience working with NYC public agencies, particularly Parks, EDC, and DDC.
• Experience leading a variety of public and private projects at a range of scales.
• Knowledge of Revit, Rhino, SketchUp, and other 3D computer applications.
• Strong knowledge of construction documentation and plant materials.
• Experience in business development and marketing.
• Prior prime consultant leadership experience with large teams.

Apply:

• Portfolio (PDF, 20MB max.)
• Resume/CV (word or PDF)
• Contact information for 2-3 references
• Cover letter

We will carefully consider your application during our initial screening and will contact you if you are selected for an interview.