Job Description
About Us
At Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds, our team is a diverse group of natural playground designers, landscape architects, construction experts, trainers, and educators. Our comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach sets us apart in creating innovative outdoor learning environments that connect children with nature. We are dedicated to fostering natural curiosity, creativity, and a sense of adventure through our playgrounds and educational initiatives.
Position Overview
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds is seeking a
Senior Landscape Architect – QA/QC Technical Lead
to serve as the firm’s internal technical authority for construction documentation, constructability, and risk mitigation across our Landscape Architecture practice.
This is a non-client-facing, high-impact leadership role focused on elevating the quality, clarity, and constructability of our contract documents across North America. The successful candidate will ensure our design intent is accurately translated into clear, coordinated, and buildable construction documents that align with natural materials, fabrication realities, installation sequencing, and regulatory requirements.
This role is critical to supporting Bienenstock’s integrated delivery model—spanning landscape architecture, manufacturing, and installation—and will directly contribute to reducing RFIs, change orders, field conflicts, and project risk as we scale.
Key Responsibilities
Firmwide QA/QC Leadership
Serve as the final technical QA/QC reviewer for construction documents prior to issuance (60%, 90%, IFT/IFC).
Lead structured internal document reviews across multiple project teams.
Establish and maintain firmwide CD quality benchmarks and review protocols.
Oversee redline coordination across disciplines (LA, subconsultant coordination with civil, structural, etc., and company fabrication, installation).
Construction Documentation Authority
Ensure alignment between:
Design intent
Specifications (CSI Division 32 related divisions, and municipal/ state/provincial standards)
Details and sections
Site grading and drainage coordination
Fabrication drawings and shop drawings
Review and refine technical details involving:
Natural materials (logs, boulders, timber systems)
Custom play components
Foundations and anchoring systems
Freeze-thaw and climate-specific detailing
ASTM / CSA compliance
ADA/AODA compliance
Forest regeneration
Stream and Wetland
Translate contractor means and methods into clear, defensible CD language.
Standards & Technical Systems Development
Develop and maintain:
Office standard details library
Specifications templates
QA/QC checklists
Risk mitigation review framework
Lead continuous improvement initiatives based on lessons learned from installation teams and field feedback.
Partner with Production and Installation teams to ensure documentation reflects real-world constructability and cost control.
Risk Mitigation & Contract Support
Identify documentation gaps that could result in:
RFIs
Change orders
Scope ambiguity
Claims exposure
Ensure contract documents clearly define scope, tolerances, materials, and installation sequencing.
Support leadership in defensible documentation strategies for public and private procurement environments.
Cross-Functional Integration
Act as liaison between:
Landscape Architecture
Production / Manufacturing
Installation teams
Accounting and Administration (as related to scope clarity)
Ensure design documents align with:
Manufacturing capabilities
Shop drawing standards
Field logistics and sequencing realities
Select Design Leadership
Maintain limited project design responsibility (approximately 15–25%) to stay engaged with evolving design standards.
Mentor intermediate and junior designers in technical detailing and documentation excellence.
Provide constructability workshops and internal training.
Qualifications
Licensed Landscape Architect (LARE licensure)
12+ years of professional experience in landscape architecture
Deep experience in construction documentation and contract administration
Demonstrated expertise in:
Technical detailing
Means and methods
Site construction sequencing
Grading and drainage coordination
Public sector documentation standards
Strong working knowledge of ASTM, CSA, and North American construction standards
Advanced proficiency in AutoCAD
Strong specification writing experience (CSI MasterFormat)
Ideal Candidate Profile
A technical authority, not a designer seeking client spotlight
Passionate about documentation precision and constructability
Comfortable serving as a final internal gatekeeper
Motivated by reducing risk and elevating firmwide standards
Systems-oriented and process-driven
Experienced in multidisciplinary coordination
Experience with natural materials, custom fabrication, or playground construction is highly desirable.
Impact of the Role
This role directly supports Bienenstock’s strategic growth by:
Reducing rework, change orders, and field risk
Increasing margin protection through documentation clarity
Elevating brand credibility through technical excellence
Standardizing quality as the firm scales toward expanded North American growth
This posting is for a new vacancy. Our hiring process does not involve the use of artificial intelligence to screen, assess, or select applicants.
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