Senior Landscape Design Manager – HS2

Location: Birmingham or London (Hybrid – 3 days office/site)
Salary: £70,000 – £77,500 (up to £83,672 London 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