Introduction

The goal of the City of Charlotte's General Services Department is to guide agencies through innovative and efficient deployment of resources to meet their missions and fulfill the needs of the City in a rapidly evolving and complex environment. The Department will design and deliver expanded, shared services across departments and for the City of Charlotte to improve performance... and save taxpayer money. General Services consists of capital project management, fleet services, procurement, environmental services, property management, and other support services.

Overview

The City of Charlotte is the largest municipality in North Carolina and the 17th largest city in the United States, with a total population of more than 872,498 citizens. A major commerce center, Charlotte hosts several of the nation’s largest banks and technology companies.
Also known as the Queen City, Charlotte is home to the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Hornets and the NASCAR Hall of Fame. We work hard to ensure that the community will be a winning city for everyone – a truly remarkable place to live, work, learn and play. Join us in helping to keep our City thriving, ensuring upward mobility and advancement in the workplace.

Function

Professional

Summary

The Landscape Architect is based in Landscape Management Division of General Services. This professional position is responsible for the interaction and communication between the City's proposed Capital Investment Plan (CIP) projects and Landscape Management.

This position will work closely with the City’s project management and design teams, external consultants, Charlotte Department of Transportation, Charlotte Area Transit, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Planning, and public/private construction staff. This is technical and detail-oriented work requiring implementation of landscape design and construction practices used in City vertical and horizontal infrastructure projects.

Major Duties and Responsibilities

Represents the City's interests on all project issues and adherence to City policies
Confers with City staff, external consultants, citizens, and all other interested parties to establish priorities and intent of a landscape project.
Review engineer's and consultant's project plans for tree and landscape impacts, as well as sign-off on all project plans
Maintain and reinforce positive relationships with green industry leaders
Create landscape construction plan sets using AutoCAD (Civil 3D) and other related software. The plan sets would reflect desired intent of CIP projects, sight distance, existing tree canopy cover, utility locations, pedestrian/vehicular traffic flow, City ordinances, and other City policies
Coordinate design processes with project teams, Landscape Management, other City divisions and departments and outside agencies.
Design landscapes that are creative and sustainable using appropriate plant material for Charlotte/Mecklenburg area
Provide visual graphics for public presentations to project teams, citizens, and others as needed.
Use plant material that has been located regionally within the green industry market
Create designs, cost estimates, and standards that reflect industry knowledge and research
Analyze and provide resolution for tree and landscape issues and impacts during construction
Project Management of landscapes through design, bid/contracting and construction phases
Manage and maintain project-specific documentation, budgets, and schedules
Promotes education, value, protection, and respect for the City’s Tree Canopy
Supervise two landscape design positions or more & related work
Occasional evening and weekend hours are required
Perform other duties as assigned

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

Experience in landscape construction and maintenance projects
Strong skills in creating landscape construction plan sets
Extensive knowledge of horticulture, arboriculture, and turf management appropriate for planting in Charlotte/Mecklenburg, North Carolina
Extensive knowledge in landscape design, installation, and maintenance
Knowledge in irrigation design, installation, and maintenance
Extensive knowledge in tree planting design, installation, and maintenance
Requires knowledge of tools, equipment and materials used in the landscape industry
Proficiency in reading and interpreting construction plans and specifications
Understanding of infrastructure construction practices, means and methods
Requires public speaking skills with the ability to make quality presentations
Requires excellent organizational skills with the ability to prioritize goals and meet deadlines on multiple projects
Understanding of land development and regulatory ordinances required to complete design
Excellent communication skills both verbal and written
Supervisory skills and ability to work collaboratively
Ability to interact courteously and effectively with public
Ability to complete assignments with minimal supervision and maximum personal accountability
Proficiency in AutoCAD Civil 3D, Adobe Creative Suite, and Microsoft Office software (Excel, Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint)
Valid driver's license, good driving record
Ability to obtain and maintain City driving permit

Preferred Qualification

Bachelor’s Degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited university
Ability to obtain Landscape Architecture Licensure within 5 years of hire
Certified Arborist certification (International Society of Arboriculture) within one year of hire
Project management experience
NC Landscape Contractor License
Tree Risk Assessment Qualification
NC Pesticide Applicators License

Minimum Qualifications

An Associate Degree with major course work in Horticulture, Landscape Architecture, or related field and three years of related experience or Bachelor’s Degree and one year of experience.

Salary

$66,099 - $82,624 Commensurate with Experience

Conditions of Employment

The City’s Background Check Policy requires background checks to be conducted on final internal or external candidate(s) applying for any position with the City of Charlotte. The type of information that will be collected as part of a background check includes, but is not limited to: reference checks, social security verification, education verification, criminal conviction record check, and, if applicable, a credit history check, sex offender registry and motor vehicle records check.
Background checks must be in compliance with all federal and state statutes, such as the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). The checks must be consistent with the guidelines set forth by these laws requiring organizations to obtain a candidate’s written authorization before obtaining a criminal background report, motor vehicle records check or credit report; and to properly store and dispose of information derived from such reports.
Final candidates must pass a pre-employment drug-screening test and physical examination. During the selection process, candidates may be asked to take a skills test, and/or participate in other assessments.
The City of Charlotte is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

How To Apply

Apply online.
Federal law requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities. Please tell us if you
Anyone seeking an accommodation to apply for a job may call (704) 336-2285 for assistance or you may email questions to [email protected].

Benefits

The City of Charlotte provides a comprehensive benefits package to all employees.
Click here to learn more about the City of Charlotte’s benefits.
The City of Charlotte is a drug and alcohol-free workplace.

In Conclusion

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Charlotte NC USA

Salary Criteria