Landscape Architecture & Planning Division Manager

ESP Associates has an immediate opportunity for a Landscape Architecture & Planning Division Manager to support and grow our Community Infrastructure Business Unit in North Carolina.

As a leader, you will contribute to setting the pace for ESP’s growth in the Charlotte or Raleigh, NC market and beyond!  You will lead decisions regarding strategy, market penetration, team growth/development, and continuous improvement.  

We are excited to see how your leadership skills, experience, interests, and established local/regional connections will expand ESP’s Charlotte and/or Raleigh presence in new and exciting directions!

Reporting to the Community Infrastructure Planning & Landscape Architecture Director, the successful candidate will have an outgoing, can-do attitude to grow and develop staff while working closely with Clients, planners/landscape architects, engineers, and sub-consultants to ensure their needs are met. This will include leading business planning, marketing, meeting financial performance goals, and fulfillment of the firm’s strategy, as well as supporting the Community Infrastructure Business Unit from an overall perspective. 

Responsibilities: 

• Business development- Develops and maintains relationships with current and prospective clients. Maintains a high public profile with our targeted client base, including participating as an active member in professional activities, societies and organizations.  


• Build, Grow & Lead dedicated planning & landscape architecture teams in multiple office locations, including mentoring of staff and strategic growth of the division.


• Manage and oversee all aspects of private and public/municipal projects and operations, ensuring adherence to project specifications, safety standards, and quality control measures.


• Assists in preparing and approving proposals and qualifications statements and may assist with the management of plan production on projects.   Projects may include but are not limited to public sector, higher education, parks & recreation, commercial, residential, multi-family developments, industrial, K-12 schools, mixed-use type projects, and rezoning/entitlement projects. 


• Assist Group Managers with workforce planning, monthly billing, and final review of completed reports and maps.


• Manage the multiple office locations to achieve expected profitability and growth.

Qualifications: 

• Professional Landscape Architect (PLA) in North Carolina (or ability to obtain within 3 months of hire).


• Experience performing business development, marketing, and maintaining relationships with public and private sector clients.


• 10 years of progressive experience and leadership in private land development and/or municipal/public projects.


• Excellent interpersonal, leadership, and communication skills to effectively and professionally interact with team members, clients, governmental review authorities, government officials, and the public.


• Demonstrated expertise adjusting to priorities and demands from multiple clients and projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven, multi-disciplinary environment.


• Firm understanding of risk management and loss prevention.


• Superior organizational and planning skills with keen attention to detail.


• Extensive knowledge of planning & landscape architectural principles, practice standards, procedures and project management.


• Candidate must be able to pass a drug screen, background check, and have a satisfactory driving record in accordance with the company’s driving (MVR) policy.  

Corporate Information:

ESP is a multi-discipline engineering design and consulting firm providing our clients with civil engineering, surveying, planning/landscape architecture, geosciences, environmental, subsurface utility engineering, and construction engineering inspection.

Through years of dedicated service to our clients, ESP has received a designation of 195 on the 2025 ENR Top 500 Design Firm rankings. For the firm's primary territory, the ENR Texas & Southeast Top Design Firms, ESP received a 2025 ranking of 52.

ESP offers an excellent employee benefits package including:   

• Competitive compensation with yearly performance reviews and discretionary annual bonuses


• 401(k) (Traditional & Roth plans) with a guaranteed employer match of 100% up to the first 3% and 50% on the next 2% (eligibility after 60 days) 


• PTO (Paid Time Off) & 10 Paid Holidays


• VTO (Volunteer Time Off) of 4 hours each year (prorated during first year based on hire date)


• Tiered Health, Vision & Dental Insurance Options (eligibility after 30 days) 


• Behavioral Medicine through Teladoc


• Short-Term Disability Insurance


• Long-Term Disability Insurance


• Life Insurance


• Pet Insurance


• Education Reimbursement Opportunities


• Flexible and Dependent Benefits Plan


• Referral Bonuses