Landscape Architect III

Salary : $81,382.29 - $135,637.01 Annually
Location : FAIRFAX (EJ32), VA
Job Type: FT Salary W BN
Job Number: 25-00790
Department: DPWES Stormwater Management
Opening Date: 04/05/2025
Closing Date: 4/18/2025 11:30 AM Eastern
Pay Grade: S28
Posting Type: Open to General Public

Job Announcement

Are you a collaborative landscape architect passionate about improving our watersheds, stormwater quality, and providing innovative and sustainable native plant design to our stormwater capital improvement projects?

This position supports the planning, development and implementation of new and retro-fitted stormwater improvement projects that incorporate environmental, ecological and aesthetic elements.

Specific duties are as follows:

• Supports project managers and partners in the design and implementation of successful green stormwater infrastructure projects.
• Supports project managers and partners in design and implementation of stream corridor and Chesapeake Bay resource protection areas (RPA) restoration.
• Prepares plans and visual aids to communicate the analysis of existing land development, proposed improvements, and/or suggested project alternatives to educate and promote the objectives of the projects.
• Partners with county agencies, local jurisdictions, development community, residents and other stakeholders to collaborate on design and implementation of stormwater improvement projects.
• Provides project management of watershed restoration and stormwater improvement projects including contract management, overseeing design engineers, and coordinating construction phase activities.
• Provides on-site inspections for all aspects of plant management and installation including soil prep, plant selection and non-native invasive plant control.
• Reviews and makes recommendations on new and innovative practices and standards.
• Communicates sensitive matters with residents and stakeholders orally, visually and in writing. Provides quality control for all assigned work.
• Duties are performed under the direction of the Watershed Projects Implementation Branch Chief.

DPWES is a diverse, nationally-accredited and award-winning public works agency with approximately 1,000 employees providing solid waste, capital facility development, wastewater, stormwater, urban forestry, and land acquisition management services for the most populous county in Virginia. Join our team to help us protect the environment and serve the people of Fairfax County by creating and preserving a sustainable community that is an ideal place to live, work, and play for everyone.

Fairfax County Government is committed to our employees, and offers comprehensive benefits, including a defined-benefit retirement plan; medical, life and disability insurance; paid leave; tuition reimbursement; and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. Through our LiveWell Program and the County Benefits Division, we endeavor to cultivate a culture of wellbeing that empowers, educates and engages employees and retirees to make life-long choices that promote a holistic approach to their physical, mental, emotional, social, spiritual and financial wellness. Please review our awesome benefits:The Stormwater Planning Division is a nationally recognized team that plans and implements a comprehensive stormwater assessment and management program to improve water quality and the health, safety, and welfare of its 1.2 million residents. The Division is committed to protecting the Chesapeake Bay, equitably reducing flood risk and improving stormwater management and the water quality of the County's approximately 400 square miles of local watersheds through cost effective implementation of sustainable and resilient projects.

Note: This position is considered Emergency Services Personnel which requires the incumbent to be available twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to respond to snow, flooding, and other designated emergencies on an as needed basis.
Employment Standards
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
Any combination of education, experience, and training equivalent to the following:(Click on the aforementioned link to learn how Fairfax County interprets equivalencies for "Any combination, experience, and training equivalent to")
Graduation from an accredited four-year college or university in landscape architecture (four or five year course) or a related field; plus three years of progressively responsible experience in landscape architecture and/or park planning.

CERTIFICATES AND LICENSES REQUIRED:
A valid motor vehicle driver's license.

NECESSARY SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
The appointee to this position will be required to complete a criminal background check and driving record check to the satisfaction of the employer.

The appointee to this position will be required to be available twenty-four hours a day/seven days a week (24/7) to respond to snow, flooding, and other designated emergencies on an as needed basis.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Knowledge and experience designing and implementing landscape features associated with green stormwater infrastructure, stream corridor restoration and related ecological restoration projects.
• Experience with plant materials specification, design, inspection, installation and monitoring, with a focus on locally native species.
• Knowledge of and experience with landscape architectural and engineering drawing and illustration practices including visualization software.
• Experience managing engineering or architectural design and construction contracts.
• Experience managing and working collaboratively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated communication skills and ability to partner with stakeholders.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Ability and willingness to work in adverse weather conditions responding to emergency events (e.g. snow removal, flood and hurricane response, etc.). Ability to walk in rugged, uneven and steep terrain in streams and stream valleys unassisted to perform field work. Physically and mentally able to use all applicable personal protective equipment in an outdoor environment; including hardhat, eye protection, hearing protection, safety footwear and personal fall arrest harness. All duties performed with or without reasonable accommodations.

SELECTION PROCEDURE:
Panel interview and may include exercise.

The population of Fairfax County is very diverse where 38.7% of residents speak a language other than English at home () and we encourage candidates bilingual in English and a foreign language to apply to this opportunity.

Fairfax County Government prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, age, marital status, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetics, political affiliation, or military status in the recruitment, selection, and hiring of its workforce.
Reasonable accommodations are available to persons with disabilities during application and/or interview processes per the Americans with Disabilities Act. TTY 703-222-7314. EEO/AA/TTY.

#LI-JT1
Merit Positions

Fairfax County is proud to offer employees an attractive and comprehensive benefits program, including the following:

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Group Term Life Insurance
• Long Term Disability
• LiveWell Program
• Flexible Spending Programs
• Paid Leave (annual, sick, parental, volunteer activity, and more!)
• Paid Holidays
• Contributory Retirement Plan
• Deferred Compensation
• Employee Assistance Program
• Employees' Child Care Center
• Commuter Benefit Program
• Continuous Learning Opportunities

NOTE: Fairfax County Government is a qualifying employer under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. For more information about the PSLF program:

For additional details please visit the
Non-Merit Positions

Non-Merit Benefit Eligible: scheduled to work a minimum 1,040 hours and no more than a maximum of 1,560 hours in a calendar year.

• Medical/Vision/Dental Insurance Coverage
• Flexible Spending Program
• Deferred Compensation

Temporary: scheduled to work a maximum of 900 hours in a calendar year.

• No benefits

01

What is the highest level of education that you have completed?

• Less than 12th grade
• High school diploma or GED
• Some college
• Associate's degree
• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree
• Doctorate degree

02

If you answered "Some college" for the highest level of education completed, please indicate the number of quarter or semester hours you have completed towards a degree.

• Less than 45 quarter hours
• 45 to less than 90 quarter hours
• 90 to less than 135 quarter hours
• 135 to less than 180 quarter hours
• 180 or more quarter hours
• Less than 30 semester hours
• 30 to less than 60 semester hours
• 60 to less than 90 semester hours
• 90 to less than 120 semester hours
• 120 or more semester hours
• Not applicable

03

Please indicate the major(s) or minor(s) for your completed degree(s). Check all that apply.

• Landscape architecture
• Horticulture
• Restoration ecology
• Other (related field)
• Other (non-related field)
• Not applicable

04

If you answered "Other (related field)" or "Other (non-related field)" for the previous question, please list all of your majors and minors. If this question does not pertain to you, or you do not have a degree, enter "Not applicable".
05

How many years of full-time equivalent progressively responsible experience in landscape architecture and/or park planning do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven years or more

06

Do you currently possess a valid driver's license?

• Yes
• No

07

How many years of progressively responsible professional experience do you have in landscape architecture, horticulture, restoration ecological and/or related field?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

08

How many years of professional experience do you have in the review, design and/or construction of landscape features related to ecological restoration projects like stream corridor or wetland restoration?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

09

How many years of experience do you have developing or reviewing plant materials specifications, installation inspections or monitoring?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

10

How many years of professional experience do you have in the design and/or management of landscape features associated with stormwater management practices including green stormwater infrastructure?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

11

How many years of full-time equivalent experience managing engineering or architectural design and construction contracts do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

12

How many years of full-time equivalent experience managing and working collaboratively in a team environment do you possess?

• None
• Less than one year
• One to less than two years
• Two to less than three years
• Three to less than four years
• Four to less than five years
• Five to less than six years
• Six to less than seven years
• Seven to less than eight years
• Eight to less than nine years
• Nine to less than ten years
• Ten years or more

Required Question