Project Manager

We are a 20-person firm providing a full range of landscape architectural services for residential, commercial and institutional clients in Maryland, Washington DC, Virginia and other surrounding states. Kevin Campion founded the firm in 2010, after a career spanning 12 years in the Mid- Atlantic region and the United Kingdom. Robert Hruby joined the firm as Kevin’s partner in 2011 after a 16-year career working on projects spanning the United States. CHLA hone their talents on specialties including city gardens, estate gardens, institutional campuses, urban spaces, and conservation planning.

Great design comes from team involvement. This Project Manager will be integral to the design process as a strong leader, designer, and manager. Because of our holistic office approach, the new employees will jump into all phases of the design process.

CHLA is looking for a great Project Manager to join their team and help the studio bring well-crafted gardens, conservation planning, and urban design to its clients. We are seeking an organized, driven, and detail-oriented Project Manager to lead cross-functional projects from inception to completion. In this role, you will be responsible for defining project scope, building timeline estimates, allocating resources, and keeping cross-departmental teams aligned to deliver projects on time and within budget. The ideal candidate thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels at communication, and proactively identifies risks before they impact deliverables.

• Project Execution & Planning: Define project scope, goals, deliverables, and timelines in direct collaboration with Senior Associates and Principals.
• Project Scheduling & Resource Management: Develop detailed project plans, track milestone deliverables, manage project schedules, and allocate resources effectively.
• Full Lifecycle Team Alignment: Facilitate regular standups, planning sessions, and status reviews to keep cross-functional teams aligned across all project phases—from master planning, schematic design (SD), and design development (DD) through construction documentation (CD) and construction administration (CA).
• Lead Design Execution: Act as lead designer on projects, taking ownership of design development and execution once the initial project tone and direction are established by Principals.
• Team Mobilization & Staffing: Assemble, mobilize, and coordinate project teams consisting of internal staff and external sub-consultant partners to execute project scopes.
• Client & Collaborator Communication: Maintain regular, clear communication with key clients and collaborators regarding project progress, scope changes, schedule updates, and risk mitigation.
• Mentorship & Team Leadership: Lead, train, and coach junior staff members to foster professional growth and design excellence across the team.
• Financial & Administrative Support: Assist with the project billing process and monitor project financial health.
• Firm Leadership & Operations: Support Principals in firm-wide management initiatives outside of project delivery, including marketing, business development, hiring, staff training, and office facility operations.

• Education: Bachelor’s or Master’s Degree in Landscape Architecture (BLA or MLA) from an accredited institution.
• Experience: 4 to 6 years of professional experience in a landscape architecture studio environment.

• End-to-End Visual Delivery: Proven track record of conveying design ideas fluidly across the entire project lifecycle—translating initial hand-drawn concepts into polished, high-resolution digital deliverables and graphics.
• CAD & Drafting Software: Proficiency with AutoCAD or Vectorworks (Vectorworks preferred).
• 3D Modeling & Visualization: Proficiency with SketchUp.
• Graphic & Office Suites: Proficiency with Adobe Creative Cloud (Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign) and Microsoft Office.

• Direct experience leading project management workflows, managing project timelines, and coordinating sub-consultants.
• Deep knowledge of construction documentation (CD) preparation, detailing, and technical specifications.
• Hands-on experience navigating local municipal permitting, zoning codes, and regulatory approval processes.

• Ability to work comfortably and collaboratively in an open, fast-paced studio office environment.