University Landscape Architect

Position Focus :

Reporting to the University Architect, this role requires a dynamic professional with proven leadership skills, a passion for design excellence, and a commitment to advancing the University's mission. With a focus on customer service to the faculty, staff, students, administration and the local community, the Office of the University Architect aims to ensure the most appropriate solutions to the challenges and opportunities of a range of physical environments, enabling Yale’s commitment to improving the world today and for future generations.

The University Landscape Architect is a key leadership role within the Office of the University Architect, responsible for managing and providing expertise in Landscape Architecture and land use planning, leading and directing high quality designs for diverse campuses and sites.

The University Landscape Architect will be responsible for landscape design stewardship and contribute to campus framework planning, design goals, and achievement of energy initiatives and sustainability commitments. The University Landscape Architect develops strategies for landscape connectivity, and manages Yale’s cultural landscape heritage while balancing new development. This position partners with Facilities and Campus Stewardship and the Office of Sustainability to achieve stewardship and sustainability goals, including water and stormwater management, green space utilization, resiliency, the implementation of the tree management plan, among other efforts.

This position works collaboratively with an interdisciplinary team of planners, project managers, engineers, and grounds management, to provide leadership on a wide variety of campus landscape architectural projects. The University Landscape Architect works with design consultants to develop a landscape that meets the needs of the campus while being maintainable by the landscape maintenance crew

Essential Duties

1. Leads the oversight of landscape planning and design, refining project parameters and priorities, and identifying scope and budget.

2. Collaborates with planners, project managers and grounds management to develop planning and design concepts. Produces creative and convincing presentations.

3. Directs the design of landscape and hardscape components and planted areas and participates in the review and construction management, including irrigation, site furnishings, etc. for public space, pedestrian areas, campus grounds, gardens, athletic fields, parking, and other projects.

4. Works closely with the Office of Sustainability on supporting staff in understanding and enforcing sustainable design requirements, budgeting for sustainability priorities, integrating these requirements into procedures, and ensuring thorough documentation and KPI monitoring for effective project outcomes.

5. Determines compliance to landscape planning practices, and maintains University standards and departmental policies and procedures.

6. Advances landscape planning and guides the resolution of technical and programmatic issues.

7. Administers the selection of consultants and execution of contracts for landscape projects. Supervises and reviews the progress and quality of the work performed by contracted consultants.

8. Participates in budget development and establishes priorities for the allocation of landscape design resources.

9. Ensures landscape projects at all phases are aligned with University standards, completed in a timely manner, within budget, and in conformity with applicable codes, regulations and zoning ordinances and with a high standard of design excellence.

10. Mentors and coordinates activities with Capital Programs staff and the Office of the University Architect team.

11. May perform other duties as assigned.

Required Education and Experience

Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture, or related field and ten (10) years of experience or an equivalent combination of education and experience.

Required Skill / Ability 1 :

Proven ability to oversee landscape planning solutions and lead / participate in the resolution of planning and technical issues on landscape projects. Ability to synthesize technical programmatic needs and develop alternative planning solutions to use as tools for establishing design.

Required Skill / Ability 2 :

Proven knowledge of landscape architecture design and construction technology, theory, practices, and principles. Demonstrated proficiencies in grading, horticulture and planting design. Experience with institutional landscapes, accessibility issues and solutions, large-scale capital construction programs and project management responsibility.

Required Skill / Ability 3 :

Knowledge of project budgeting, development and execution. Knowledge of financial practices including capital budget planning, strategic planning and life-cycle cost analysis. Knowledge of building codes, zoning ordinances and related regulations.

Required Skill / Ability 4 :

Well-developed organizational, analytical, oral and written communication and managerial skills. Able to process multiple projects, set priorities, and work independently to meet objectives. Ability to establish priorities and follow through on projects through completion. Ability to use CAD, Bluebeam, Microsoft Office Suite, REVIT and GIS software.

Required Skill / Ability 5 :

Excellent verbal & written communication skills. Ability to function successfully and collaboratively with members of the campus communities to understand and discuss specific needs. Ability to work within a project team structure and manage the progress and quality of the work performed by consultants

Preferred Education, Experience and Skills :

Master’s degree in landscape architecture, or related field. Registered landscape architect with significant experience implementing landscape architecture services at an urban research university or comparably complex, multi-facility setting.

Required Licenses or Certifications

Licensed Landscape Architect

Drug Screen

Health Screening

Background Check Requirements

All candidates for employment will be subject to pre-employment background screening for this position, which may include motor vehicle, DOT certification, drug testing and credit checks based on the position description and job requirements. All offers are contingent upon the successful completion of the background check. For additional information on the background check requirements and process visit "Learn about background checks" under the Applicant Support Resources section of Careers on the It's Your Yale website.

Health Care Worker

This role is a healthcare worker position. Healthcare workers (HCW) are defined as university employees working a healthcare setting who have the potential for direct or indirect exposure to patients, human research subjects or infectious materials including body substance, contaminated medical supplies, devices and equipment, surfaces, or air. HCW have specific health requirements that must be met prior to starting work, including MMR vaccine or immunity, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine or immunity, TB screening, COVID vaccine according to University policy, hepatitis B vaccine or immunity, and annual flu vaccination.

Posting Disclaimer

The intent of this job description is to provide a representative summary of the essential functions that will be required of the position and should not be construed as a declaration of specific duties and responsibilities of the particular position. Employees will be assigned specific job-related duties through their hiring departments.