Role Overview:

The SGA Design Studio ( www.s-ga.com) is seeking an entry-level Landscape Designer with up to one year of professional experience in landscape architecture. This role is central to shaping thoughtful, high‑quality design work from early concept through construction. It blends creative problem‑solving and strong communication skills to support a collaborative studio environment and delivers exceptional project outcomes. SGA fosters a learning-focused studio culture that encourages innovation, curiosity, and leadership across all aspects of our practice. Successful applicants demonstrate strong leadership potential, technical rigor, and a genuine enthusiasm for contributing to a multidisciplinary design team.

Company Overview:

Stromberg/Garrigan & Associates, Inc., (SGA) is a multi-disciplinary collaborative design studio focused on the revitalization of established communities and the creative development of new places. Our firm is a national leader in urban and community revitalization specializing in urban and brownfields redevelopment planning with projects located across the U.S. SGA’s projects are diverse, ranging from major urban centers, including the Cities of Philadelphia, Norfolk, Detroit, Pittsburgh and New York, to smaller cities and towns located throughout the East Coast, Midwest, and Mountain regions. 

Employment location(s):

• Norfolk, VA (Hampton Roads Region)

Envisioning your experience at SGA:

• Communicate design ideas with clarity and impact through strong writing, compelling presentations, and confident verbal storytelling.
• Shape projects from concept to construction, contributing to master planning, analytical studies, detailed drawings, and specification development.
• Collaborate with the SGA studio to produce beautifully crafted presentations, conceptual and schematic designs, design‑development packages, construction details, permitting sets, and visually rich technical documents.
• Support the creation of immersive client presentations, public workshops, and design charrettes that spark imagination and invite participation.
• Manage individual design tasks with precision while staying deeply connected to the collaborative rhythm of the studio — in person, VOIP, and video call communication platforms.
• Work fluidly within a creative team environment, integrating feedback and direction to elevate design intent and strengthen project outcomes.
• Provide responsive, thoughtful support to project managers and clients, ensuring design excellence, efficiency, and high‑quality delivery at every stage.
• Demonstrate strong hand‑drawing, drafting, and rendering abilities, supported by a portfolio that showcases artistic range, process thinking, and a refined understanding of scale, form, and spatial depth.
• Bring technical design strength in developing presentation graphics, 3D/BIM models, renderings, construction documents, specifications, and cost estimates.
• Apply plant knowledge, planting design skills, and site grading expertise to craft landscapes that balance beauty, performance, and ecological intention.
• Work confidently across a robust digital design toolkit — AutoCAD (Land F/X preferred), Civil 3D/3D Map, Rhino, SketchUp Pro, Lumion, D5, Adobe Creative Cloud, Bluebeam, and Microsoft 365 — with strong proficiency in AutoCAD and most listed platforms.

Candidate Requirements:

• Accredited bachelor’s degree (minimum) in Landscape Architecture.
• Accredited master’s degree (preferred) in Landscape Architecture.
• It is desirable, but not necessary, for candidates to hold dual degrees in Communication, environmental sciences, Horticulture, Architecture or Urban Design.
• It is preferred candidates, but not required, to have one of the following:
• One (1) to three (3) internships, totaling 3 to 9 months of relevant work experience, or
• One year of professional, post‑graduation employment at an AEC industry design firm.
• Ability to communicate and collaborate with government clients, developers, non-profit clients, and community groups.
• Capability to function independently as well as demonstrate initiative during SGA design team collaboration in multiple offices.
• Proficiency in time management skills and the ability to meet deadlines.
• Exceptionally strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Open, clear, and honest communicator.
• Proactive, initiating, and positive, can-do attitude.

Physical Requirements:

• Sitting for extended length of time
• Fluency in public speaking in the English Language
• Fieldwork/ability to travel with a valid driver’s license
• Listening
• Typing and handwriting
• Hand drawing
• Occasional lifting of boxes up to 50lbs

Compensation + Benefits:

The base salary range for the Entry Level Landscape Designer role is $55,000 – $62,000 and may be adjusted within that range based on experience. SGA offers a competitive benefits package and is part of a Professional Employer Organization (PEO) with Insperity offering an extensive suite of benefits which include but is not limited to the following:

• 15 days of PTO annually and 8 paid holidays.
• Medical, dental, and vision coverage (multiple plan options with HSA/FSA eligibility).
• 100% Employer paid short-term and long-term disability, life, and accidental death coverage.
• Tuition Reimbursement Program.
• Employee Assistance (EAP) and Wellness Programs.
• Simple IRA retirement program with Employer Match.
• Professional Licensing examination fees reimbursements.
• Additional benefits are outlined in the employee handbook.

Our standard work schedule is Monday through Friday, from 9am to 6pm, with one (1) hour for lunch. We understand that life has many demands and are open to discussing schedule flexibility, including hybrid work as needed.

Ready to Join?

Please contact SGA at careers@s-ga.com. Tell us a little bit about yourself and why you would be a good fit for SGA Studio. Please include the following:

• Letter of interest and resume.
• Portfolio, samples of work, writing samples, research papers and/or reports.
• Tell us about a landscape or a piece of art that inspires you.
• What was a great personal or professional “win” you had recently?

Please indicate the position (Entry Level Landscape Designer) and the office location (NFK) you are applying for in the subject line of your email. Phone inquiries are not accepted.

Stromberg Garrigan & Associates, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, marital status, age, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, pregnancy, genetic information, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected under federal, state, or local law.