Garden Designer

Garden Designer
Full-time | Permanent | Office-based | Penn, Buckinghamshire
Salary: Dependent on Experience
Monday–Friday | 9.00am–5.30pm
The Role
CGLA is looking for an experienced Garden Designer to join our design team at our studio in Penn, Buckinghamshire.
We are looking for a strong all-round designer with around 5–8 years’ professional experience, who is comfortable taking responsibility for projects from initial client meetings through the design stages and into costing and delivery.
This is a hands-on, client-facing role. You will develop and manage your own projects, prepare and present design proposals, develop planting schemes and work closely with clients, consultants and our in-house estimating and build teams.
CGLA is a design-led practice, so strong creative and spatial design ability is fundamental. You will work within our established design review process, with support and creative input from the Design Team Lead and Head of Design, while being trusted to take responsibility for your own projects and workload.
What You’ll Be Doing
* Develop projects from initial brief and site appraisal through concept, detailed and technical design.
* Produce high-quality drawings, SketchUp models, planting designs and client presentations.
* Attend client meetings, site visits and design presentations, occasionally representing CGLA independently.
* Coordinate with architects, engineers, consultants, specialist contractors and suppliers.
* Work closely with our in-house Estimator and build team, obtaining quotations and providing the design information required to develop project costs.
* Understand the relationship between design and budget and contribute to value-engineering discussions while protecting the overall design intent.
* Provide design support as projects move into construction.
* Manage your own workload and design time across several live projects.
About You
First and foremost, you need to be a strong designer.
We aren’t looking for someone who only produces attractive visuals, nor are we looking for a purely technical designer. We want a rounded Garden Designer who understands the complete design process and can turn a good idea into a well-resolved, buildable landscape.
You should have:
* Around 5–8 years’ relevant professional experience in garden design, landscape architecture or a closely related field.
* A formal qualification in Garden Design, Landscape Architecture or a related discipline.
* Strong creative, spatial and planting design skills.
* A sound understanding of landscape construction, materials and detailing.
* Excellent SketchUp skills and a good working knowledge of AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, particularly InDesign.
* Strong organisational skills and the confidence to take responsibility for progressing your own projects.
* Commercial awareness and an understanding of how design decisions affect project cost and delivery.
* A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
Experience of the UK planning system would be beneficial but is not essential.
About CGLA
CGLA is an award-winning, design-led garden design and landscape architecture practice based in rural Buckinghamshire.
For more than 25 years, we have designed and delivered gardens and landscapes ranging from private residential gardens and prestigious new-build homes to country estates and commercial landscape projects in the UK and overseas.
What We Offer
* Office-based role at our studio at Penn Bottom Farm, Penn, Buckinghamshire.
* Working hours of 9.00am–5.30pm, Monday to Friday.
* 20 days’ annual leave plus bank holidays.
* Additional paid company closure days over the Christmas period, depending on how the calendar falls.
* Employer pension contribution.
* Regular reviews and opportunities for professional development.
* The opportunity to work on high-quality projects from initial concept through to built landscape.
How to Apply
Please send us your CV and portfolio.
Your portfolio should demonstrate a broad range of design skills, including concept and spatial design, plans, SketchUp or visualisation work, planting design and technical development, together with completed or built projects where available.
Where projects have been produced as part of a wider team, please make your own role and contribution clear.
Applications submitted without a portfolio will not be considered.
Applicants must already have the legal right to work in the UK. CGLA is unable to provide visa sponsorship for this position.
Equals One is an advertising and recruitment agency working on behalf of our client to promote this vacancy. You may be contacted directly by the employer should they wish to progress your application. Due to the number of applications we receive, we are unable to provide specific feedback if your application is unsuccessful