Associate Director of Landscape Design

Lanpro is a market leading multi-disciplinary consultancy who specialise in Environment led Planning and Design. 

We work on projects at all scales within town, semi-rural and rural contexts, across a variety of sectors that includes residential, historic sites and estates, renewable energy, infrastructure and mixed-use commercial developments. 

About Lanpro

Lanpro is a fast growing, unique and rewarding environment. Through its agile team and comprehensive service, it has allowed growth nationwide. Our Group now has access to offices in Norwich, London, Cambridge, Manchester, Edinburgh, York, Bath, Glasgow, Milton Keynes, Birmingham, Cardiff, Exeter and Chelmsford.

Our multidisciplinary service spans across multiple disciplines. Our Group offerings now include Planning, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Ecology, Geographical Information Systems (GIS), Landscape Architecture, Architecture & Design, Arboriculture, Visualisation, Historic Environment, Acoustics, Air Quality, Civil Engineering, Geo-environmental, MEP Building Services, Structures, Sustainability, Transport & Highways, Utilities, Water & Flood Risk.

We thrive on creating a culture and environment which provides a great variety of projects, recognition of success, continuous professional development and collaboration across an array of different professions. To find out more about our culture, please click  here . 

We are proud that together, our teams are supporting delivery of some of the largest solar and battery storage schemes in the United Kingdom and Europe. We have a strong pipeline of opportunities across the energy, residential and infrastructure sectors. 

We offer an environment that is diverse, entrepreneurial and encourages innovation and your professional development. 

As an Equal Opportunity Employer, we believe in each person’s potential, and we’ll help you reach yours. 

As an Associate Director, you will take a leadership role in the delivery of Landscape Architecture projects, coordinating multidisciplinary teams and overseeing the successful delivery of projects across all stages of development.

You will be an ambassador for Lanpro, developing and strengthening client relationships, identifying opportunities for future work, and supporting the growth of the Landscape Architecture team. You will assist the Senior Team with the day-to-day management of the team and contribute to the development of technical excellence, project performance and commercial success across the discipline.

The role combines project leadership, technical expertise, team management and business development, whilst maintaining a hands-on involvement in the delivery of landscape planning and design projects.

If successful, you will:

Leadership and Team Development

• Demonstrates effective leadership and the ability to influence and persuade across a range of stakeholders both internally and externally.
• Supports the Senior Team in the day-to-day management of the Landscape Architecture team.
• Ensures all team members are effectively developed and is committed to personal CPD in pursuit of continuous learning and self-improvement.
• Inputs into team objectives and delegates effectively across projects and workloads.
• Demonstrates effective management of staff and direct reports, not solely on a project basis.
• Takes responsibility for line management, coaching, mentoring, training, wellbeing and performance management of more junior employees.
• Supports colleagues progressing towards Chartered Membership of the Landscape Institute (CMLI).
• Participates in appraisals and performance reviews for direct reports.
• Supports and encourages collaboration, innovation and knowledge sharing across disciplines and regions.
• Promotes excellence in Landscape Architecture across all project work.
• Provides design leadership and creative direction, encouraging a high standard of design quality across the team.
• Performs a challenging range and variety of complex technical and professional activities in pursuit of project excellence.
• Takes a leading role on landscape design and delivery of landscape projects across a range of sectors with an understanding of Landscape Planning requirements where relevant.
• Manages the delivery of specialised components of projects and oversees project teams to ensure quality, programme and budget requirements are achieved.
• Project manages a mix of large and complex landscape design projects.
• Supports the delivery of major infrastructure, DCO, NSIP, renewable energy and strategic development projects.
• Provides technical guidance and quality assurance for landscape design outputs.
• Reviews and approves technical reports, drawings, visualisations and supporting documentation prepared by colleagues.
• Undertakes site visits, landscape assessments, stakeholder meetings and public consultation events as required.
• Provides strategic advice to clients on landscape, visual and environmental matters throughout the planning and design process.
• Liaises and negotiates with Local Planning Authorities, statutory consultees, clients and stakeholders.
• Works collaboratively with planners, ecologists, arboriculturists, heritage specialists and other disciplines to develop integrated project solutions.
• Provides strategic project management input including programme management, financial control and resource planning.
• Ensures compliance and adherence to all applicable SHEQ procedures for self and others.
• Makes decisions at a tactical level with some strategic input into the Landscape Architecture business plan.
• Supports the Senior Team in monitoring project performance, utilisation and financial outcomes.
• Takes responsibility for project budgets, forecasting, invoicing and commercial performance.
• Negotiates project scopes, fees and variations with clients and subcontractors where appropriate.
• Supports operational planning and resource allocation to ensure effective utilisation of team members.
• Has a strong professional profile and reputation both internally and externally and utilises this to leverage business opportunities.
• Supports the continued growth and development of the Landscape Architecture team nationally.

Client Management and Business Development

• Champions the Lanpro client-centric agenda internally and externally.
• Establishes, develops and strengthens relationships with existing and prospective clients.
• Ensures client expectations are managed appropriately and that client needs are identified and met or exceeded.
• Provides technical input into bids, fee proposals and tenders and uses technical knowledge to identify and realise new opportunities.
• Develops business opportunities with new and existing clients with minimal support and demonstrates sound judgement in identifying strategic and profitable work.
• Contributes to business development activities, networking events and industry engagement to raise the profile of Lanpro.
• Works collaboratively with colleagues across disciplines to secure and deliver multi-disciplinary projects.
• Supports the preparation of fee proposals, tender submissions and framework opportunities.
• Contributes to achieving team financial and utilisation targets through effective project delivery and work generation.
• Leads client presentations, design workshops and stakeholder engagement activities, clearly communicating design concepts, options and recommendations.

Technical and Project Leadership

• Performs a challenging range and variety of complex technical and professional activities in pursuit of project excellence.
• Takes a leading role on landscape design and delivery of landscape projects across a range of sectors with an understanding of Landscape Planning requirements where relevant.
• Manages the delivery of specialised components of projects and oversees project teams to ensure quality, programme and budget requirements are achieved.
• Project manages a mix of large and complex landscape design projects.
• Supports the delivery of major infrastructure, DCO, NSIP, renewable energy and strategic development projects.
• Provides technical guidance and quality assurance for landscape design outputs.
• Reviews and approves technical reports, drawings, visualisations and supporting documentation prepared by colleagues.
• Undertakes site visits, landscape assessments, stakeholder meetings and public consultation events as required.
• Provides strategic advice to clients on landscape, visual and environmental matters throughout the planning and design process.
• Liaises and negotiates with Local Planning Authorities, statutory consultees, clients and stakeholders.
• Works collaboratively with planners, ecologists, arboriculturists, heritage specialists and other disciplines to develop integrated project solutions.
• Provides strategic project management input including programme management, financial control and resource planning.
• Ensures compliance and adherence to all applicable SHEQ procedures for self and others.

Commercial and Operational Responsibilities

• Makes decisions at a tactical level with some strategic input into the Landscape Architecture business plan.
• Supports the Senior Team in monitoring project performance, utilisation and financial outcomes.
• Takes responsibility for project budgets, forecasting, invoicing and commercial performance.
• Negotiates project scopes, fees and variations with clients and subcontractors where appropriate.
• Supports operational planning and resource allocation to ensure effective utilisation of team members.
• Has a strong professional profile and reputation both internally and externally and utilises this to leverage business opportunities.
• Supports the continued growth and development of the Landscape Architecture team nationally.

Essential Requirements  

Qualifications & Experience

• Landscape Institute accredited Post Graduate Diploma (PGDip) or Master's degree in Landscape Architecture.
• Chartered Member of the Landscape Institute (CMLI).
• Significant post-chartership experience within a consultancy environment.
• Extensive experience in Landscape Architecture with a demonstrable specialism in landscape design, with a strong portfolio demonstrating high-quality design outcomes.
• Experience leading and delivering complex Landscape Architecture and design projects.
• Experience managing multidisciplinary project teams.
• Experience preparing and reviewing fee proposals and tender submissions.
• Experience of project financial management including budgets, forecasting and invoicing.
• Experience managing client relationships and developing new business opportunities.
• Experience of mentoring, managing or developing junior team members.
• Experience working within multidisciplinary consultancy teams.
• Experience of major infrastructure, renewable energy, strategic development or DCO/NSIP projects desirable.

Essential Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Demonstrate technical ability, knowledge, and competence to produce plans and technical drawings using CAD software.
• Excellent communication skills and influencing abilities.
• Strong client management skills and the ability to present at senior levels across a range of stakeholders.
• Strong commercial awareness and negotiation skills.
• Excellent project management skills coupled with timeliness and accuracy.
• Strong report writing, technical review and quality assurance skills.
• Excellent understanding of UK planning and environmental consenting processes.
• Strong technical knowledge of landscape planning, landscape design and visual assessment methodologies.
• Ability to provide pragmatic and commercially focused advice to clients.
• Strong organisational, leadership and people management skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, AutoCAD and Adobe Creative Suite.
• Experience of landscape software packages including Keyscape and visualisation tools.
• Knowledge of GIS software such as ArcGIS or QGIS.
• Full UK driving licence.

Desirable Requirements 

• Experience acting as expert witness or supporting appeal, inquiry or examination proceedings.
• Experience leading DCO and NSIP projects.
• Previous experience in a multidisciplinary consultancy environment.
• Experience of project and resource management software.

As a valued employee of  Lanpro, you can expect to feel looked after. We offer the following great benefits as standard: 

Day One  

• Enhanced Annual Leave entitlement 
• Death in service cover 
• Centrally based City offices 
• Hybrid working environment (flexible work) 
• Protected CPD (Department, individual and companywide) 
• Professional Body membership contribution 
• Enhanced Company pension 
• Career progression framework and development, including two defined promotion windows annually. 
• E Learning portal access 
• Non contractual growth bonus scheme 

After Probation and Beyond  

• Loyalty Leave (Continuous Service Accrued Annual Leave up to 5 days) 
• Vitality Health Care - Private Medical Insurance 
  • Discounted Gym membership 
  • Discounts and perks - Amazon prime, Free Odeon Cinema tickets, Apple benefits and Café Nero
  • Employee Assistance Program - including Financial and Mental Health support from external expertise. 
• BUPA Cash Plan 
  • Employee Assistance Program - including Financial and Mental Health support from external expertise. 
• Cycle to work scheme