Landscape Designer
Work Mode: Onsite
Location: Onsite – Kohler, WI Opportunity The Landscape Designer plans and designs landscape projects across Kohler properties, from site assessment and concept development through installation. Develops planting plans, selects and sources materials, prepares budgets, and coordinates construction to ensure landscapes meet Kohler standards for quality, aesthetics, sustainability, guest experience, and long-term performance.
Specific Responsibilities Landscape Design & Planning
- Develop landscape concepts, plans, and design documentation for new and existing Kohler properties.
- Create solutions that balance aesthetics, functionality, maintainability, site conditions, and guest experience.
- Support long-range planning while maintaining Kohler Landscape standards and each property’s unique character.
Planting Design & Plant Material Selection
- Develop planting concepts and palettes appropriate to site conditions, property character, and design intent.
- Select and specify plant materials based on appearance, adaptability, maintenance, sustainability, and long-term performance.
- Coordinate with Landscape Operations to support successful installation, establishment, and ongoing maintenance.
Plant Procurement & Nursery Coordination
- Develop plant quantities and coordinate sourcing, pricing, purchasing, and delivery with nurseries and suppliers.
- Evaluate plant materials and substitutions to ensure quality, availability, specifications, and design intent.
- Manage procurement against project schedules and budgets while maintaining strong supplier relationships.
Project Budgeting & Estimating
- Develop preliminary budgets, quantity takeoffs, and detailed cost estimates throughout the design process.
- Monitor evolving project costs and evaluate alternatives to maintain design objectives and budget alignment.
- Support capital planning and landscape improvement budgeting.
Construction Documentation & Coordination
- Prepare plans and documentation that clearly communicate design intent and project requirements.
- Coordinate landscape design with architects, engineers, consultants, construction teams, and other stakeholders.
- Provide design support during construction, including field questions, substitutions, changes, and installation reviews.
Installation & Quality Review
- Review site preparation, plant materials, layout, and installation to ensure alignment with approved designs.
- Coordinate field adjustments and identify quality issues or punch-list items.
- Partner with Landscape Operations to monitor establishment and post-installation performance.
Property Enhancement & Renovation
- Evaluate existing landscapes and identify opportunities to improve appearance, functionality, sustainability, and performance.
- Develop renovation and replacement strategies for aging or underperforming landscapes.
- Create phased improvement concepts aligned with property priorities and available investment.
Sustainability & Landscape Stewardship
- Integrate sustainable and responsible landscape practices into design and plant selection.
- Promote plant diversity, appropriate species selection, soil health, water management, habitat, and ecological function.
- Incorporate landscape performance and operational feedback into future designs and stewardship strategies.
Design Standards & Documentation
- Develop and maintain Kohler Landscape design, planting, and material standards.
- Maintain organized records of plans, specifications, materials, estimates, procurement, and as-built information.
- Build a reference library of successful plant combinations, materials, details, and design solutions for future projects.
Skills/Requirements
Required
- Bachelor's or master's degree in Landscape Architecture or related program from an accredited program.
- Professional experience in landscape architecture, landscape design, horticulture, or related landscape development.
- Strong knowledge of woody and herbaceous plant material suitable for the Upper Midwest.
- Demonstrated experience developing planting plans, landscape concepts, construction documentation, and project estimates.
- Working knowledge of landscape construction methods and materials.
- Ability to develop quantity takeoffs and preliminary project budgets.
- Strong graphic, technical, organizational, and communication skills.
- Ability to work both independently and collaboratively with operations and construction teams.
- Willingness to spend significant time in the field evaluating properties, plant material, and active construction projects.
Preferred
- Professional Landscape Architect licensure or the ability to pursue licensure.
- Experience in luxury hospitality, resort, golf, estate, campus, botanical, or high-end residential landscape design.
- Strong horticultural and planting-design background.
- Experience working directly with wholesale nurseries and plant growers.
- Experience selecting and tagging specimen plant material.
- Experience with CAD and landscape-design/documentation software.
- Knowledge of sustainable landscape practices, stormwater management, irrigation, soil management, and ecological restoration.
Applicants must be authorized to work in the US without requiring sponsorship now or in the future. We believe in supporting you from the moment you join us, which is why Kohler offers day 1 benefits. This means you’ll have access to your applicable benefit programs from your first day on the job, with no waiting period. The salary range for this position is $65,500 - $98,300. The specific salary offered to a candidate may be influenced by a variety of factors including the candidate’s experience, their education, and the work location.
Why Choose Kohler?
We empower each associate to #BecomeMoreAtKohler with a competitive total rewards package to support your health and wellbeing, access to career growth and development opportunities, a diverse and inclusive workplace, and a strong culture of innovation. With more than 30,000 bold leaders across the globe, we’re driving meaningful change in our mission to help people live gracious, healthy, and sustainable lives.
About Us
It is Kohler’s policy to recruit, hire, and promote qualified applicants without regard to race, creed, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, national origin, disability or status as a protected veteran. If, as an individual with a disability, you need reasonable accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact kohlerjobs@kohler.com. Kohler Co. is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.
