Job Description
Position Type: Public Works/Landscape Architect II
Date Posted: 3/28/2024
Location: Civic Center
Date Available: TBD
Closing Date: Open until filled
Salary: $83,878.85 - $125,818.85/annually*
*Starting salary is dependent upon qualifications, but in most cases is no higher than the midpoint for range.
Work Schedule: 8:30 am - 5:00 pm
Hours per week: 37.5
Monday - Friday NATURE OF WORK : This is a professional position requiring performance of a variety of landscape architectural and related technical assignments including, but not limited to, design, preparation of construction documents, and construction supervision. Work involves a wide variety of City projects including, but not limited to: park infrastructure improvements, playground renovations, athletic court and field improvements, and pathway and trail improvements.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS (Specific assignment will include some or all of the following):
- Plans, designs, and directs construction of park infrastructure, including pavement systems, retaining walls and curbs, playgrounds, park amenities, irrigation, stormwater management, landscaping, and related park features.
- Prepares illustrative plans, sketches, and other exhibits for public presentations utilizing 3D rendering software systems.
- Supervises and inspects the execution and construction of park improvements for satisfactory workmanship and adherence to plans and specifications; assists in establishing line and grade using survey instruments, keeping notes, and making computations.
- Performs technical research and utilizes computers as aids in developing solutions to landscape architectural problems.
- Ensures compliance with project specifications and Illinois Department of Transportation standards.
- Monitors contractor performance by inspecting construction.
- Prepares opinion of cost estimates for capital improvement projects.
- Designs park improvements using engineering software.
- Investigates complaints from citizens, contractors, and the general public; responds and resolves situations in accordance with City standards and parameters.
- Assists in the planning, design and implementation of traffic calming projects.
- Assists in the planning, design, and implementation of multi-modal improvements.
- Develops and recommends landscape architectural solutions for problem locations and may assist in implementing corrective actions.
- Prepares and/or evaluates park-related studies.
- Attends community and neighborhood meetings, including evenings and weekends, to listen to concerns, present plans, resolve problems, and the like.
- Utilizes City's Geographic Information System to enter data from City infrastructure projects and to obtain data for use in landscape architectural analysis.
- May assist in planning of special events, such as footraces, parades, sporting events, etc.
- May assist in maintaining or improving City's surveying standards.
- May direct field crews in the implementation of new designs of park-related items.
- May provide direction to City consultants, including but not limited to design and construction professionals as well as material testing firms.
- Drives a vehicle to job sites in various locations around the City of Evanston.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS OF WORK : Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or substantially similar area from an accredited university, Professional Landscape Architect in the State of Illinois preferred. Three to five years of professional landscape architectural experience, preferably in a municipal or county environment or, any combination of training and experience that provides the following knowledge, abilities, and skills:
- Maintain a State of Illinois driver's license and a safe driving record.
- Working knowledge of landscape architectural theory, principles, and practices.
- Understanding of various phases of municipal project implementation.
- Knowledge of various computer software including AUTOCAD, Civil3d, Revit, ArcGIS, Adobe, design and rendering software (such as Enscape, Lumion, TwinMotion, and/or Rhino), word processing, and spreadsheet.
- Within 12 months, must obtain Certified Playground Safety Inspector (CPSI) certification.
- Within 18 months, must obtain National Incident Management System (NIMS) certification in IS-700, IS-800, ICS-100 and ICS-200.
- Knowledge of construction techniques, methods, and materials.
- Ability to coordinate with and give direction to other staff, including professional, technical and support staff; ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with staff, citizens, contractors, city officials and the general public.
- Ability to apply principles of logical or scientific thinking to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw conclusions.
- Ability to interpret an extensive variety of technical material in mathematical and diagrammatic form; deal with several abstract and concrete variables at one time.
- Ability to read scientific and technical journals, abstracts, financial reports, construction drawings and specifications, contracts, proposals, legal documents, management information reports, safety manuals and rules, personnel rules, City code and related documents.
- Ability to prepare business letters, memoranda, summaries, and reports using prescribed format and conforming to all rules of punctuation, grammar, diction and style that are understandable to the audience to whom the written document is addressed.
- Ability to speak effectively and persuasively, using appropriate diction, articulation, vocabulary, and presence appropriate to the audience to whom the spoken word is addressed.
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS OF WORK : Light work: exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Type of physical demands: stooping (bending body downward and forward by bending spine at the waist); kneeling (bending legs at knee to come to a rest on knee or knees); crouching (bending the body downward and forward by bending leg and spine); feeling (perceiving attributes of objects such as size, shape, temperature or texture by means of receptors in the skin); fingering (picking, pinching, or otherwise working with fingers primarily); reaching (extending hands(s) and arm(s) in any direction); handling (seizing, holding, grasping, turning or otherwise working with hands); talking (expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word); hearing (perceiving the nature of sounds by ear); seeing (the ability to perceive the nature of objects by eye); far vision (clarity of vision at 20 feet or more); near vision (clarity of vision at 20 inches or less); depth perception (ability to judge distance and space relationships so as to see objects where and as they actually are, including safety to oneself and others); field of vision (observing an area that can be seen up and in a given point, when required to see a large area while keeping the eyes fixed); accommodation (adjustment of lens of eye to bring an object into sharp focus, especially important when doing near-point work at varying distances from the eye); color vision (ability to identify and distinguish colors).
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: Physical Surroundings - the worker is subject to both inside and outside environmental conditions. There are no environmental hazards indicated for this classification.
NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS : Possession of a valid driver's license and a safe driving record.
SUPERVISION : Work is performed under the general direction of a Senior Project Manager. Assignments may vary from day to day depending on the season and work requirements. Assignments can be either verbal or written with the employee responsible for completing the work according to City work rules and safety regulations. Work is subject to review by a supervisor through ongoing observation, written and verbal communications, meetings, and feedback from the supervisor and from other department employees. Guidance is provided through rules and regulations, policies and procedures, Unified Work Rules, Union Contract, Personnel Rules, and OSHA. Additional guidance is provided by federal, state and City regulations, safety regulations, and equipment manuals. Work is evaluated at least annually for the safe and skilled operation of equipment, quality of tasks, adherence to work rules, and performance in accordance with classification standard.
PUBLIC CONTACT : The employee has contact with other City employees and Contractors on a regular basis. The employee may have periodic contact with the general public when in the field and will be required to answer questions and respond to concerns in a professional manner.
SELECTION METHOD TYPE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST LIFE OF ELIGIBILITY LIST Qualifications Assessment Category List
Structured Oral Interview
To apply for this position, please apply online at on or before the closing date. Chosen candidates will be subject to a qualifying pre-employment medical examination and drug/alcohol screen. The City of Evanston is committed to making all public meetings accessible to persons with disabilities. Any citizen needing mobility or communications access assistance should contact Human Resources at 847-448-8204 (voice) or 847-866-5095 (TTY). City of Evanston
Job Tags
Contract work, For contractors, Afternoon shift, Monday to Friday,