Why This Role Is Different
Most design-build roles ask you to make beautiful spaces. This one asks you to make beautiful spaces that also do something.
Greenwise has been leading organic and sustainable lawn care and landscaping across Chicagoland and Milwaukee since 2007. Battery-powered equipment. Native plantings. Water-conscious design. No synthetic shortcuts. Our clients choose us because they want a landscape that is as responsible as it is remarkable, and they expect the designer sitting across from them to share that conviction.
In a market where Kemora, Mariani, and Christy Webber are all competing for the same experienced design talent, Greenwise's differentiator is clear: sustainable design is not a niche service or a talking point bolted on at the end. It is the entire foundation of how we work. If you have been doing excellent work at a company that treats organic and native approaches as an upsell, this is a different kind of opportunity.
The base salary of $80,000 to $100,000 is strong for the Chicago market, well above the regional average for this role. The commission structure tied to design sales means total compensation reflects what you close.
We Want to See Your Portfolio
Before anything else: send us your portfolio alongside your resume. Show us projects that reflect sustainable thinking, not just beautiful outcomes. Tell us what you are proud of and why it mattered beyond the aesthetics. Projects featuring native plantings, rain gardens, bioswales, pollinator habitat, or organic-compatible hardscape are especially relevant.
About the Role
The Senior Landscape Designer owns the full arc of a project, from the first client conversation through design, estimating, and seamless handoff to construction. You will build relationships with Evanston's and the North Shore's discerning residential clientele, translate their goals into ecologically responsible design solutions, and mentor the junior designers who look to you for direction.
This is a senior, client-facing, revenue-generating role with real earning upside.
What You Will Own
• Lead the complete design process for residential clients: site analysis, concept development, detailed design plans, estimating, and proposal presentation
• Serve as the primary client relationship holder from first consultation through project completion, managing expectations at every stage
• Produce high-quality, buildable design documentation using AutoCAD; proficiency in SketchUp, Lumion, Vectorworks, or similar 3D visualization tools is a meaningful advantage with this client base
• Develop planting plans that prioritize native species, organic compatibility, pollinator habitat, water efficiency, and ecological function alongside aesthetic impact
• Design hardscape elements including patios, walkways, permeable paving, drainage and bioswale solutions, and outdoor living features with a cohesive, sustainable sensibility
• Manage the design-to-build transition in close coordination with project managers and field crews to ensure design intent is executed precisely
• Mentor junior designers through project reviews, design feedback, and day-to-day guidance that raises the overall quality of the studio's output
• Stay current on native plant ecology, sustainable materials, regional plant communities, and emerging horticultural practices relevant to northeastern Illinois and the Milwaukee market
• Contribute to business development through strong client relationships, referrals, and a growing personal book of design work
What We Are Looking For
Required:
• Minimum 5 years of residential landscape design-build experience with a portfolio of completed projects you are proud to show
• Strong command of hardscape design, organic-compatible planting design, drainage solutions, and project estimating
• Proficiency in AutoCAD
• Genuine commitment to organic, native, and sustainable design approaches, not just familiarity with the terminology
• Strong client-facing communication skills; ability to translate complex design decisions into terms a North Shore homeowner connects with
• Experience managing multiple active projects with accuracy and reliable follow-through
• Valid Illinois driver's license and ability to conduct site visits across the Chicagoland service area
Preferred:
• Degree in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Horticulture, Environmental Science, or a related field (equivalent professional experience considered)
• Proficiency in SketchUp, Lumion, Vectorworks, or similar 3D rendering and visualization tools
• Knowledge of regional native plant communities, Illinois-specific ecological design, and Chicago Wilderness or Illinois Native Plant Society guidelines
• Familiarity with LEED, SITES, or sustainable site certification frameworks
• Experience with rain garden design, bioswale integration, permeable paving systems, or stormwater management
• APLD membership or similar professional affiliation
• Ability to quickly learn and work within internal estimating software
Physical Requirements
• Walk job sites including uneven terrain across all Illinois seasons
• Conduct site measurements and field assessments
• Lift up to 25 pounds occasionally
• Office-based design work with regular field presence
Compensation and Benefits
Base salary: $80,000 - $100,000 based on experience, plus commission on design sales. Total compensation scales with your book of business.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) with employer match
• Paid time off and holidays
• Life insurance
• Short and long-term disability
• Legal insurance
• Flexible spending account
What Sets Greenwise Apart
You will design for clients who already believe in what you believe in. North Shore and Chicagoland homeowners who come to Greenwise are already asking for native plants, organic treatments, and water-smart solutions. You are not educating skeptics. You are executing for advocates.
The work is genuinely varied. Rain gardens, pollinator corridors, hardscape-integrated organic planting beds, rooftop and urban spaces, full residential transformations. No two projects are the same property or the same problem.
Greenwise has operated in this market since 2007 with a client base built on repeat business and referrals. You are not starting from scratch. You are stepping into a pipeline.
Employment Requirements
• Must be authorized to work in the United States
• Greenwise participates in E-Verify
• Position is based in Evanston, IL with site visits across the Chicagoland and Milwaukee service areas
Greenwise is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected status.