About this role
Designer - Landscape
Position Description: The designer’s responsibilities encompass the entire process of defining requirements, visualizing, and creating print or digital deliverables, including layouts, branding and illustrations. Their work should focus on solving clients’ challenges, communicating the right message, and meeting the needs of end users. Designers have a creative flair and a strong ability to translate requirements into print or digital deliverables, with an understanding of the latest trends, and the ability to work collaboratively with their creative peers and broader marketing team members.
About the University: Founded in 1923, Texas Tech University began with a mission to serve the needs of West Texas, but its impact has always reached far beyond. Today, Texas Tech, located in Lubbock (pop. 300,000+), is home to a vibrant community of more than 42,000 students.Texas Tech's 1,800-acre campus showcases Spanish Renaissance architecture and is home to one of the country's largest public art collections. Its 13 colleges include a prestigious School of Law and a distinguished School of Veterinary Medicine. These programs equip students with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in their respective fields. Built on the values of West Texas — hard work, grit and authenticity — the university graduates students who are deeply engaged in service to their communities and well-positioned to succeed in the world. Texas Tech is committed to achieving research and scholarly accomplishments that compare favorably to the member institutions of the Association of American Universities (AAU). For more than 100 years, Texas Tech has been a premier destination for those seeking a world-class education and a unique, personalized experience as a member of the Red Raider family.
About the Department and/or College: The Landscape Designer serves as the primary landscape planning and design professional for Texas Tech University Grounds Maintenance. This position is responsible for developing landscape concepts, plans, renderings, and models that enhance the beauty, functionality, sustainability, and long-term maintainability of the university campus. The Landscape Designer collaborates closely with Grounds Maintenance, Facilities Planning & Construction, Operations Engineering, project managers, architects, engineers, contractors, and campus stakeholders to ensure all landscape improvements align with the established character and fabric of the Texas Tech campus while remaining practical and sustainable within the unique environmental conditions of the West Texas climate. This position serves as the primary Grounds Maintenance liaison for construction and renovation projects, ensuring landscape elements are appropriately designed, specified, scoped, installed, and maintainable throughout the lifecycle of the project.
Major/Essential Functions: Landscape Planning and Design
• Develop landscape master planning concepts, site designs, planting plans, hardscape layouts, irrigation concepts, and associated project documentation.
• Prepare design drawings, renderings, visualizations, and presentation materials for proposed campus landscape projects.
• Create landscape models and conceptual designs to support campus beautification initiatives and capital improvement projects.
• Evaluate existing campus landscapes and identify opportunities to improve aesthetics, functionality, sustainability, and user experience.
• Ensure landscape designs complement the architectural character, campus standards, and long-term vision of Texas Tech University.
Construction Project Support
• Serve as the primary Grounds Maintenance representative for all new construction and renovation projects affecting campus landscapes.
• Collaborate with Facilities Planning & Construction during project planning, design, bidding, and construction phases.
• Review landscape plans, specifications, plant selections, irrigation systems, and construction documents to ensure alignment with university standards and maintenance expectations.
• Participate in project meetings, design reviews, and construction coordination sessions.
• Provide recommendations regarding landscaping scope, constructability, material selection, and long-term maintenance requirements.
• Assist with landscape inspections and project closeout activities to verify compliance with approved plans and specifications.
Campus Standards and Sustainability
• Promote landscape practices that support water conservation, environmental stewardship, and sustainability goals.
• Recommend plant materials and landscape solutions appropriate for the West Texas climate, including drought-tolerant and regionally adapted species.
• Develop and maintain campus landscape design guidelines and standards as needed.
• Ensure landscape installations support long-term operational efficiency and maintenance capabilities.
Collaboration and Stakeholder Engagement
• Collaborate with Grounds Maintenance leadership, Operations Engineering, Facilities Planning & Construction, campus departments, architects, engineers, and contractors.
• Provide professional guidance and landscape expertise for campus improvement initiatives.
• Coordinate with maintenance teams to ensure new landscape designs consider ongoing maintenance requirements, available resources, and operational efficiencies.
• Support the development of project budgets, schedules, and planning documents related to landscape improvements.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: • Knowledge of landscape design principles, site planning, planting design, irrigation systems, and landscape construction practices.
• Understanding of landscape materials and plant species suitable for the West Texas climate.
• Ability to develop conceptual designs, detailed landscape plans, renderings, and project visualizations.
• Knowledge of landscape maintenance practices and lifecycle management of landscape installations.
• Ability to review construction documents and identify potential maintenance, operational, or design concerns.
• Strong project coordination and communication skills.
• Ability to effectively collaborate with multidisciplinary teams, consultants, contractors, and campus stakeholders.
• Proficiency with landscape design, drafting, and visualization software.
• Strong problem-solving, organizational, and analytical skills.
Required Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree; OR a combination of education and/or related experience to equal four years.
Preferred Qualifications: • Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from an accredited program.
• Professional experience supporting institutional, municipal, higher education, or large-scale commercial landscape projects.
• Experience collaborating on construction and renovation projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Knowledge of drought-tolerant landscaping principles and plant materials appropriate for the West Texas region.
• Demonstrated understanding of landscape maintenance practices and designing landscapes for long-term sustainability and maintainability.
• Experience with AutoCAD, Civil 3D, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite, GIS applications, or similar design software.
• Professional Landscape Architect licensure or ability to obtain licensure (preferred but not required).
Safety Information: Adherence to robust safety practices and compliance with all applicable health and safety regulations are responsibilities of all TTU employees.
Pay Statement: Compensation is commensurate upon the qualifications of the individual selected and budgetary guidelines of the hiring department, as well as the institutional pay plan.
EEO Statement: All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information or status as a protected veteran.