Job Title: Native Plant Landscape Designer
Company: Seven Bends Nursery
Location: Hybrid (with in-person meetings at the nursery and client’s properties in Northern Shenandoah Valley/ Piedmont)
Position: Part-Time (with potential for full-time)
Compensation: Hourly rate, commensurate with qualifications and experience
About Us:
Seven Bends Nursery LLC is a PhD-lead native plant nursery focusing on sustainable horticulture and ecosystem based landscaping. Our boutique nursery produces high quality plant material that benefits our livelihood, peace of mind, and health of our landscapes.
Our mission is to increase the availability of native plant material and spread information on the importance of native plants in supporting the function of ecosystems and the services they provide (clean water, recreation, productive soils, etc.).
Position Overview:
Join our team at Seven Bends Nursery as a Native Plant Landscape Designer, where your creativity and passion for nature will shape landscapes that are both stunning and ecologically meaningful! In this exciting role, you'll collaborate with clients to bring their outdoor visions to life, all while promoting ecological gardening through the use of native plants. This position offers the perfect blend of remote work and in-person interactions, with opportunities to meet clients at their properties and engage with the nursery team in Berryville, VA.
During this position, you will be working directly under Dr. Iara Lacher, who has a passion for and degrees in Botany, Environmental Science, and Ecology. Before becoming the owner and operator of Seven Bends Nursery, Dr. Lacher held a variety of research positions, including her time at the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute in Front Royal, VA, where she worked to connect science and policy in support of sustainability goals. Dr. Lacher looks forward to working with our future landscape designer and empowering them to apply their creativity and ecological knowledge to develop landscapes that are both beautiful and environmentally resilient.
This position is open to applicants within a wide range of experience, and offers the opportunity to join a growing small business with big goals. This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who’s passionate about native plants and eager to make a positive impact on the environment through design!
Position to start February 2026. Open until filled.
Key Responsibilities:
- Conduct site visits with clients to assess environmental conditions and gather design requirements.
- Provide expert guidance on native plant selection based on specific site conditions (soil type, moisture levels, sun exposure, etc.).
- Create and present landscape designs using native plants that promote wildlife attraction, soil health, and water conservation.
- Work directly with clients to refine designs and ensure they meet aesthetic and functional goals.
- Deliver design drafts and revisions in a timely manner.
- Collaborate with the Seven Bends team to stay up-to-date on plant availability, trends, and conservation practices.
Required Qualifications:
- Experience in drafting landscape designs to scale
- Ability to digitize work at appropriate resolutions for print and web
- Strong knowledge of Virginia native plants and their ecological benefits.
- A design intuition focused on creating environmentally sustainable and aesthetically pleasing landscapes.
- Ability to work independently and manage projects with minimal supervision.
- Computer proficient, e.g. Excel, Adobe, Word, Powerpoint, Cloud-based file sharing softwares
- Must have a vehicle, valid driver’s license, and insurance for client site visits.
Preferred Skills:
- Experience design software (AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar).
- Experience with digital drawing software, including procreate.
- Familiarity with using plants to manage soil and water resource concerns.
- Strong communication skills to explain design concepts to clients and collaborate effectively with the team.
Apply Here: https://tinyurl.com/7B-Landscape-Designer
