Urban Designer/Landscape Architect – Associate

Minimum Experience Required: 2-5 years


Your Role

We are seeking the right individual who’s passionate about driving continuous improvement – within our company, their own career development, and the communities and clients we serve. The ideal candidate must bring a well-balanced blend of attributes, including a creative, collaborative spirit, design talent, core skill competencies, drive, enthusiasm, and dedication to help further enhance our company brand. We seek your ideas and entrepreneurial spirit to contribute to a variety of challenging projects. As part of a diverse group of talented individuals from various design disciplines, your role will require:


Design Abilities– Conceptualize, design, produce, and deliver concepts and outcomes that help implement a diverse range of unique projects from start to finish. Your role is pivotal in balancing project flow, production, and communication on multiple project fronts. Verbal, written, graphic, and detailed design skills will be required to effectively communicate and illustrate ideas and solutions both internally and externally.

Team Collaboration – We’re all in this together. You will work hand-in-hand with Lakota’s Senior design and planning staff and company leadership to craft a successful process, ensuring on-time execution of deliverables and seamless and successful project outcomes. In this role, you will be supporting and collaborating with your colleagues and bringing creativity and critical thinking to urban design, planning, and landscape architecture projects.

Time Management – In collaboration with Senior staff and leadership you will be given the opportunity to support on-going, new, and existing client and consultant relationships to ensure project expectations and deliverables align with the overall vision. In this role, you will be assisting the leadership team with sound project financial management, tracking project timelines, developing cost estimates, and producing a wide range of graphics, drawings, and reports.

Quality Assurance – Lakota upholds the highest standard in the quality of our work, our data, and our deliverables. Your role will be to work in tandem with other team members to meet these standards through collaborative and meticulous reviews of plan production, report narrative content, and financial/cost budgeting.
Team Spirit – We value diversity and are seeking someone who not only loves their work and profession but also brings new ideas to a fun and energetic group of individuals. Be a part of our team, contribute to our supportive company work environment, and enjoy the rewards of being part of our thriving firm.


Your Skills

Design Experience and Expertise – Demonstrated progressive design experience and understanding in site design, landscape architecture, urban design, design development, and detailed site and landscape planting design. Proficiency in both hand-drawn and computer-generated graphics is essential.

Time Management – Demonstrated skills and abilities in successful time management within a team setting for site and landscape design projects from conceptualization through full implementation.

Technical Proficiency – Demonstrated strong technical skills including proficiency in computer software programs such as, but not limited to, AutoCAD, Sketchup, Lumion, GIS, and Adobe Creative Suite. Experience with technical writing such as project specifications, permits, reports, and proposals is essential.

Communications and Organization – Our firm requires exceptional written, verbal, graphic, and organizational skills. While we understand that not everyone may possess perfect communication abilities from the start, we highly value this skill set. We are committed to working with our staff to develop and enhance these skills, ensuring each team member can achieve their best.


Education & Experience

We are seeking a candidate with 2-5 years of experience in landscape architecture, urban design, site design, and/or land planning.
A bachelor’s degree in landscape architecture or urban design from an accredited university is a prerequisite for this position.
Preference will be given to candidates who are either currently seeking or desiring to pursue professional landscape architectural licensure.


Join Our Team

At Lakota, we provide more than a job – it’s an opportunity to forge a career with a mission-driven team deeply passionate about shaping environments and enriching communities. We provide a beautiful and enjoyable work environment, coupled with a competitive compensation and benefits package, all reflecting our strong commitment to the well-being and growth of our team members.


Let’s chat! We would love to have you be part of our Lakota family.

Please send your resume, pdf portfolio, and a simple cover letter expressing your interest in joining The Lakota Group to: jobs.lakota@gmail.com



Attn: Kevin Clark, PLA, AICP

Principal/Director of Design

The Lakota Group

1 East Wacker Dr. Suite 2700

Chicago, IL 60601

www.thelakotagroup..com