JSD Professional Services is seeking a Senior Landscape Architect + Practice Lead to establish and grow the Landscape Architecture presence in our Waukesha, Wisconsin office, serving the greater Milwaukee region.
This is a high-impact, market-building leadership role for a design-driven, business-minded landscape architect who is motivated to shape not only great places—but also a growing regional practice. You will lead client engagement, drive business development, and position JSD’s Landscape Architecture services within an already strong civil engineering and survey market presence.
Unlike a traditional leadership role, this position begins without a local landscape architecture team. Instead, you will leverage the support of JSD’s established Landscape Architecture practices in Madison and Chicago to deliver work while building a Milwaukee-area presence and team over time.
Working closely with the Director of Landscape Architecture and firm leadership, you will influence strategy, expand market visibility, strengthen client relationships, and help shape the long-term trajectory of JSD’s Landscape Architecture discipline.
This role is designed as a practice-building leadership opportunity with a clear path toward expanded leadership, including potential advancement into future Director-level roles.
At JSD, landscape architecture is part art, part science, part teamwork, and part "let us figure out how to make this happen." Our landscape architects work hand-in-hand with planners, civil engineers, surveyors, construction professionals, and clients to move projects from early visioning through construction. We are growing, we are having fun doing it, and we are looking for someone who is excited to lead projects, mentor teammates, build client relationships, and help shape the next chapter of JSD's Landscape Architecture practice.
JSD is a multi-disciplinary planning, civil engineering, surveying, landscape architecture, structural engineering, and development services firm with a practical, creative, roll-up-your-sleeves approach. We believe great work comes from strong relationships, smart collaboration, and people who care about the communities they serve. Our culture is staff-centric, growing, flexible, and fun.
Why This Role is Unique
- Build Something from the Ground Up
- Establish JSD’s Landscape Architecture presence in the Milwaukee market with the backing of a strong multidisciplinary firm.
- Leverage an Existing Client Base
- Tap into established relationships through JSD’s civil engineering and survey teams to expand Landscape Architecture services.
- Supported
Work alongside and receive production/design support from established Survey, Civil and Landscape Architecture teams in Verona and Chicago. Play a key role in defining hiring strategy and building a local team as the market grows. Influence regional strategy, market positioning, and long-term growth of the discipline. What You Will Do
- Grow Your Own Team
- Shape the Future of the Practice
As a Senior Landscape Architect, you will lead and support a wide range of landscape architecture, site planning, land planning, and public/private development projects across Wisconsin and the upper Midwest. You will be a project leader, technical resource, client partner, mentor, and design advocate.
Key Responsibilities
Leadership & Practice Strategy
· Lead the development and growth of JSD’s Landscape Architecture presence in the Waukesha/Milwaukee region, with a focus on market expansion, client engagement, and long-term practice sustainability.
· Partner with the Director of Landscape Architecture to define regional strategy, identify growth opportunities, and align with firm-wide goals.
· Collaborate with other Practice Leads and discipline leaders to strengthen cross-office coordination, improve processes, and support firm initiatives.
· Provide insight on market trends, emerging opportunities, and competitive positioning to help guide strategic decision-making.
· Serve as a cultural leader who represents JSD’s values and fosters collaboration across offices and disciplines.
Design Leadership & Technical Oversight
· Lead landscape architecture, site planning, master planning, and community-focused projects from concept through construction.
· Establish design vision and maintain high standards for quality, creativity, and constructability.
· Collaborate with Verona and Chicago teams to deliver projects efficiently while maintaining consistency in design quality and technical execution.
· Oversee development of plans, specifications, and technical documents, and provide QA/QC review of deliverables.
· Guide construction administration efforts, including field coordination, RFI review, and problem solving.
· Maintain strong technical credibility in landscape architecture, including planting design, grading, stormwater integration, and sustainable site design.
Business Development & Client Growth
· Act as the primary Landscape Architecture representative in the Milwaukee market, building relationships with clients, municipalities, developers, and industry partners.
· Leverage existing civil engineering and survey relationships to expand service offerings and identify new opportunities.
· Lead and support business development efforts, including proposals, interviews, scope development, fee negotiation, and client presentations.
· Build and maintain a strong project pipeline that supports revenue growth and long-term practice viability.
· Represent JSD in public meetings, industry events, community engagements, and client-facing settings.
Team Building & Future Staffing
· Work with firm leadership to define hiring needs, timing, and structure for building a local Landscape Architecture team in Waukesha.
· Mentor shared staff resources and contribute to the development of emerging professionals across offices.
· Participate in recruiting efforts, candidate evaluation, and long-term staffing strategy.
· Help establish a strong team culture, workflow structure, and expectations as the local practice grows.
Financial & Operational Accountability
· Collaborate with the Director to understand and support the financial performance of the Landscape Architecture practice, including revenue, profitability, utilization, and backlog.
· Contribute to project scoping, budgeting, and staffing strategies to ensure profitable delivery.
· Provide insight on market conditions, project performance, and growth opportunities.
· Support disciplined contract management, including securing agreements, amendments, and change orders.
What You Will Bring
We are looking for a licensed landscape architect who combines design talent, technical strength, leadership, and a positive team mindset.
· Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture or a related field.
· Current Landscape Architect licensure required; Wisconsin PLA strongly preferred.
· Typically 10+ years of progressive landscape architecture experience, including design leadership, project management, client engagement, and team mentorship.
· Demonstrated ability to lead complex public and private-sector projects from visioning and design through construction documentation and implementation.
· Strong project management skills, including scope, schedule, budget, deliverables, staffing, risk management, and client communication.
· Experience preparing and reviewing construction documents, planting plans, technical details, master plans, concept plans, presentation graphics, specifications, and cost estimates.
· Proficiency with AutoCAD Civil 3D; experience with Adobe Creative Suite, SketchUp, GIS/ArcGIS, and other visualization or planning tools preferred.
· Strong understanding of landscape construction, bidding, cost estimating, constructability, construction administration, and QA/QC.
· Proven ability to mentor staff, lead multidisciplinary teams, build client confidence, and contribute to business development.
· Comfort with financial reporting, project profitability, budget awareness, and practice-level decision-making.
· Excellent written, verbal, visual, and interpersonal communication skills.
Preferred Attributes
· A market builder who is energized by the opportunity to establish and grow a new regional presence.
· A design leader who balances creativity with practicality and delivers high-quality, buildable solutions.
· A relationship-driven professional who can build trust with clients and internal teams.
· A strategic thinker who understands how to grow a practice through both design excellence and business development.
· A collaborative leader who thrives in a multidisciplinary, multi-office environment.
· A future senior leader who wants to play a key role in shaping the next phase of JSD’s Landscape Architecture practice.
Apply:
Only applicants who are able to commute daily or relocate to the Milwaukee, WI area within 60 days of a hire will be considered for this position. JSD is unable to sponsor Visa's or HB1 applicants at this time.
Ready to help create places where communities can thrive?
Please submit your resume and portfolio/work samples through JSD's Human Resources Dept. at [email protected] or [email protected] and include "Senior Landscape Architect – Milwaukee, WI" in your submission.
A cover letter is welcome if you would like to tell us what kind of places you love to design and why JSD feels like the right next step.
JSD provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and strongly encourages minorities, women, veterans, and individuals with disabilities to apply.
Pay: $100,000.00 - $999,999.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Flexible schedule
- Flexible spending account
- Health insurance
- Health savings account
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Professional development assistance
- Referral program
- Retirement plan
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
