Landscaping Jobs With a Boutique Design, Build, and Maintain Studio in Chicago, IL

Nathan Wright Landscape Design (NWLD) is a Chicago based design and build studio with a commitment to naturalistic perennial garden design. Our work spans residential and commercial properties always with a priority placed on exceptional plant and hardscape material choices. We believe in the power of planning and work to provide expert execution and sustainable solutions. Our process follows a Design, Build, and Maintain sequence. Our team is comprised of industry experts, inspired learners, and emerging artists.

At NWLD we are organized by core values that influence our process and our practice. Through years of development we have found these values to be essential in creating inspired places for outdoor living:

• Design & Beauty
• Relationships & Responsibility
• Creativity & Innovation
• Learning & Mentorship
• Collaboration & Teamwork

The Senior Horticulturist is an expert in horticulture with a broad understanding of plants including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, lawn, and bulbs. The Senior Horticulturist will be supported by the Field Manager in growing the horticultural knowledge of the NWLD team—together providing and promoting informed plant practices in all areas of the organization. The Senior Horticulturist works collaboratively with planting design, maintenance, and container leaders to review and improve plant selection and garden care techniques. This immersive role supports Nathan Wright Landscape Design by visiting and assessing project sites, suggesting and overseeing plant care, sourcing plants, coordinating deliveries, and training team members using hands-on experiences.

• Team Participation
  • Work collaboratively across the organization with support team and leadership
  • Seek out opportunities for learning and growth among NWLD team experts and industry thought leaders
  • Develop appreciation and understanding of the NWLD organizational culture, vision, and standards of excellence
  • Identify opportunities to improve the execution of our culture, vision, standards of excellence, workflow, and profitability
  • Provide and receive regular feedback
• Systems Design & Implementation
  • Document related standard operating procedures
  • Lead best practices in systems adoption
  • Look for additional solutions that operationalize, automate, and scale the business
  • Collaborate with team members to maintain and grow existing systems
• Client Care
  • Ensure we provide an excellent client experience
  • Anticipate the needs, desires, and feedback of clients
  • Identify and refer additional client opportunities to cultivate an ongoing relationship of care through seasonal containers, decor, stewardship, and maintenance
• Design
  • Remain current on emerging planting design trends, plant cultivars, and encourage the improvement of NWLD planting design standards
  • Develop NWLD signature planting style and palette with Design Team to accommodate the urban environment
  • Guide and advise Urban Design & Build Team members with planting design and installation
• Installation
  • Actively coordinate installations—including planting layouts, documentation, sourcing materials, and site progress
  • Layout and install planting designs
• Stewardship & Garden Care
  • Oversee care, keeping, and prepping of plant material
  • Visit previously installed gardens with designer and original design to determine intentions, develop ongoing care needs, and consider necessary edits
  • Collaborate with Maintenance Crew Leaders to develop standards of care with attention to detail
  • Demonstrate leadership in field work and demonstrate advanced gardening techniques

The Senior Horticulturist has 10+ years of experience as an expert gardener, horticulturist, and/or arborist:

• Advanced understanding of plants including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, lawn, and bulbs.
• Practical gardening interest - pruning, watering, maintenance
• Project management skills - logistics and coordination of projects
• Organized, clear, effective, and timely communicator
• Ability to work with others in an ever-changing and physically engaging environment
• Creative thinking, decision making, and practical problem solving skills
• Flexibility and willingness to help out as needed
• Self-motivated, client service oriented individual
• At ease with collaborative cloud-based technology (Google Drive, Slack, Asana, Aspire)
• Must have a car or truck.

We have opportunities for full-time year-round, full-time seasonal, and part-time positions. Our full-time positions work 5 days per week. During the height of our seasons, schedules may shift to a 6 day work week. Benefits may include medical, paid time off, and holidays.

Nathan Wright Landscape Design (NWLD) is a Chicago based design and build studio with a commitment to naturalistic perennial garden design. Our work spans residential and commercial properties always with a priority placed on exceptional plant and hardscape material choices. We believe in the power of planning and work to provide expert execution and sustainable solutions. Our process follows a Design, Build, and Maintain sequence. Our team is comprised of industry experts, inspired learners, and emerging artists.

At NWLD we are organized by core values that influence our process and our practice. Through years of development we have found these values to be essential in creating inspired places for outdoor living:

• Design & Beauty
• Relationships & Responsibility
• Creativity & Innovation
• Learning & Mentorship
• Collaboration & Teamwork

The Crew Member is responsible for supporting the Maintain team. This role includes garden care, container installation, design enhancements, holiday decor, care of materials, tools, and company assets, and facility maintenance. The Crew Member is an immersive role designed to support the growing needs of Nathan Wright Landscape Design.

• Team Participation
• Work collaboratively with Crew Members and Leaders
• Seek out opportunity for learning and growth among NWLD team experts
• Understand the NWLD culture, vision, and standards of excellence
• Identify opportunities to improve the culture, vision, and standards of excellence
• Provide and receive regular feedback
• Systems
  • Understand processes to support order and efficiency
  • Look for additional solutions that support the organization
  • Collaborate with team members to improve processes
  • Care for facilities, equipment, tools, and trucks
• Maintenance
  • Collaborate with Crew Leaders on estimated scope and sequence of work
  • Prepare and organize materials and tools at beginning and end of each day
  • Transport soil, mulch, plants, and supplies from NWLD or nursery to client properties
  • Manage yard waste disposal for each job
  • Demonstrate leadership in field work
  • Value beauty, order, and excellence - be willing to leave a space better than you found it

The Crew Member has experience in landscaping, gardening, plant care, and physical labor. Their skills may include:

• Understanding of plants including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and bulbs.
• Practical gardening interest - pruning, watering, maintenance
• Mechanical or technical skills - irrigation, hardscape repairs, equipment maintenance
• Organized, clear, effective, and timely communicator
• Ability to work with others in an ever-changing and physically engaging environment
• Creative thinking, decision making, and practical problem solving skills
• Flexibility and willingness to help out as needed
• Self-motivated and collaborative

We have opportunities for full-time year-round, full-time seasonal, and part-time positions. Our full-time positions work 5 days per week. During the height of our seasons, schedules may shift to a 6 day work week. Benefits may include medical, paid time off, and holidays.

Nathan Wright Landscape Design (NWLD) is a Chicago based design and build studio with a commitment to naturalistic perennial garden design. Our work spans residential and commercial properties always with a priority placed on exceptional plant and hardscape material choices. We believe in the power of planning and work to provide expert execution and sustainable solutions. Our process follows a Design, Build, and Maintain sequence. Our team is comprised of industry experts, inspired learners, and emerging artists.

At NWLD we are organized by core values that influence our process and our practice. Through years of development we have found these values to be essential in creating inspired places for outdoor living:  

• Design & Beauty
• Relationships & Responsibility
• Creativity & Innovation 
• Learning & Mentorship
• Collaboration & Teamwork

The Crew Leader is responsible for leading one to two crews. This leadership role includes garden care, container installation, design enhancements, holiday decor, care of materials, tools, company assets, and facility maintenance. The Crew Leader is an immersive role designed to uphold our design standards and support the growing needs of Nathan Wright Landscape Design.

• Team Leadership
• Work collaboratively with Maintenance Crew Members and organizational Leaders
• Seek out opportunity for learning and growth among NWLD team experts
• Understand the NWLD culture, vision, and standards of excellence
• Identify opportunities to improve the culture, vision, and standards of excellence
• Cultivate a conscious and inspiring culture among direct team members
• Commitment to the growth and development of all team members
• Invest time, energy, and care into crew members; support long standing relationships between Crew Members and NWLD
• Seek opportunities to collaborate with Design & Build
• Give and receive regular feedback; be coachable
• Systems
  • Document role related standard operating procedures
  • Lead best practices in systems adoption
  • Look for solutions that operationalize, automate, and scale the business
  • Collaborate with team members to maintain and grow existing systems
  • Seek opportunities to reduce spend and improve quality while remaining consistent with organizational values
  • Remain current on all client specifications using existing technology platforms to ensure current client records for all team members
• Care for facilities, equipment, tools, and trucks while ensuring team members hold the same commitment of care
• Maintenance
  • Collaborate with Operations Leader and fellow Crew Leaders on estimated scope, sequence of work, and takeaways
  • Develop protocols for Crew Members to create order and efficiency
  • Prepare and organize materials and tools at beginning and end of each day
  • Work with Crews to coordinate and transport project materials
  • Manage yard waste disposal for each job 
  • Identify solutions for repairs and replacements of hardscape and plantscape
  • Demonstrate leadership in field work
  • Value beauty, order, and excellence - be willing to leave a space better than you found it
  • Serve as a brand ambassador in the field

• Installation
  • Review planting designs and implement an existing design and installation plan
  • Coordinate with Designer and Project Manager to bring a client vision to form
  • Uphold high standards of execution and seek opportunities for improvement with project team
  • Identify opportunities to improve an existing plan once in the field—review those improvements with Designer and Project Manager
  • Execute quality assurance and develop that among team members—go above and beyond

The Maintenance Crew Leader has experience in team leadership, landscaping, gardening, plant care, and physical labor. Their skills must include:

• High levels of accountability
• Producing results through others—leadership
• Organizing oneself around results and outcomes, not excuses or reasons
• Establish a positive culture of leadership among team members
• Understanding of plants including annuals, perennials, shrubs, trees, and bulbs.
• Practical gardening interest - pruning, watering, maintenance
• Organized, clear, effective, and timely communicator
• Construction experience preferred
• Bilingual English/Spanish
• Experienced truck driver
• Ability to work with others in an ever-changing and physically engaging environment
• Creative thinking, decision making, and practical problem solving skills
• Flexibility and willingness to help out as needed
• Self-motivated and collaborative

We have opportunities for full-time year-round, full-time seasonal, and part-time positions. Our full-time positions work 5 days per week. During the height of our seasons, schedules may shift to a 6 day work week. Benefits may include medical, paid time off, and holidays.