Senior Landscape Manager - HS2

Senior Landscape Design Manager – HS2 Location: Birmingham or London (Hybrid – 3 days office/site) Salary: £70,000 – £83,672 Euston + 12% Pension + Package 🌿 One of the Most Unique Landscape Roles in Europe This is not a typical landscape Architect/ Design role. This is an opportunity to join High Speed Two Ltd and take a client-side leadership position on the largest landscape and ecology programme of its kind in Europe, forming part of HS2. We’re delivering: * 3,500 hectares of landscape and habitat creation * 8 million trees and 400km of hedgerows * A long-term environmental legacy tied to a nationally significant infrastructure programme This is a rare chance to shape a project that will define the UK’s landscape for generations. 🚀 Why This Role Stands Out * Client-side ownership, you influence outcomes, not just advise * Strategic leadership role - act as the “strong voice in the room” * Massive scale & complexity — across multiple contracts and disciplines * Full lifecycle exposure: design, construction, handover, and long-term asset management * 30-year asset legacy backed by DfT commitment * 10+ years remaining on the programme → long-term career security This is the kind of role that broadens your career beyond pure design into delivery, strategy, and asset management, indeed full estate management. 🌍 The Role Reporting to the Head of Landscape, you will join a small, high-level team as one of the senior leaders responsible for landscape design assurance and delivery across HS2. This is a strategic oversight role, not hands-on design. You will act as the client’s subject matter expert, ensuring landscape commitments are delivered to the highest standards across detailed design, construction, and long-term maintenance. With civils and green asset packages already in detailed design and construction, your focus will be on assurance, verification, and performance across delivery. 🎯 Key Responsibilities * Act as the Landscape Design Subject Matter Expert, setting direction and assuring quality across multiple contracts * Provide technical leadership and design verification, ensuring compliant and value-driven solutions * Influence and challenge Tier 1 contractors and design teams to drive performance * Work across a complex, multi-disciplinary environment including civils, environment, planning, and delivery teams * Oversee on-site verification of landscape works and ensure delivery aligns with design intent * Support handover and transition into long-term asset management and maintenance * Ensure landscape mitigation commitments are fully realised across the programme ✅ What They’re Looking For * Degree in Landscape Architecture (or equivalent), ideally Chartered (CMLI) * Proven experience as a landscape/public realm SME on major infrastructure or large-scale projects * Strong track record overseeing landscape delivery (not just design) * Experience working across design, construction, and handover phases * Strong understanding of design assurance, programme, cost, and risk * Ability to influence, challenge, and hold contractors to account * Experience in complex environments such as rail, highways, regeneration, or large public realm schemes 🔄 Why Move from Consultancy? This role is particularly suited to those currently in consultancy who want more ownership: * Move from advisory → decision-making authority * Gain exposure across full lifecycle delivery (EIA → design → construction → maintenance) * Broaden your technical experience – will not be * Work on multiple phases simultaneously — experience that typically takes 10–15 years to build * No timesheets, no fee pressure — focus on quality and outcomes * Greater influence over real-world delivery and long-term impact