Studio Lead

Job Description

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Job Category: Principals & Studio Leadership

Job Description \n

About Arcadia

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Arcadia Landscape Architecture is an award-winning, design and purpose-driven landscape architecture and urban design practice, with studios across Australia and New Zealand: Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Canberra, Sunshine Coast, Newcastle, Auckland and Gold Coast.

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We are dedicated to shaping a future where our landscapes tell stories of innovation, sustainability, and cultural connection.

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About the Opportunity

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Arcadia is opening a new studio in Adelaide, and we are looking for a bold, passionate leader to build it from the ground up. This isn't just a leadership role. It's the chance to plant Arcadia's flag in one of Australia's most liveable and culturally rich cities, and to shape everything that follows.

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As Studio Lead, you will define our studio's identity, its people, and its work from day one. You'll bring our 2029 growth strategy to life, turning big ambition into real projects, real profitability, and real impact for communities and Country. You'll direct world-class landscape work, mentor rising talent, and set the creative and commercial tone for a studio built to last.

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And you won't be starting alone. You'll have the full backing of an established practice with eight studios across Australia and New Zealand, plus the systems, brand, and support that come with it.

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A glimpse into your day

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• Build and shape the Adelaide studio's identity, culture, and team from day one.
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• Direct world-class landscape work and set the creative and design direction for the studio.
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• Champion recruitment, performance management, and career coaching to grow and retain top-tier talent.
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• Manage project lifecycles including budgets, productivity, and design expectations while maintaining clear client engagement.
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• Monitor industry trends and evaluate strategic opportunities to support bid development and studio expansion.
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• Lead the execution of the Studio's business plan, ensuring team accountability and the delivery of high-quality work.
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• Own the P&L, balance sheets, and forecasting in collaboration with the CFO to drive studio profitability and revenue growth.
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• Champion safety leadership, ensuring all project teams treat health and environment systems as a top priority.
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The expertise you'll bring

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• Extensive experience in landscape architecture with a proven record of leading teams and delivering complex projects.
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• A demonstrated ability to coach, mentor, and lead diverse teams toward a shared creative vision.
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• Advanced proficiency in architectural software and a strong capacity for creative conceptualisation.
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• A Bachelor of Landscape Architecture or an equivalent qualification in architecture with relevant horticulture or ecology training.
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• Current registration with a relevant governing body, such as AILA.
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• Commercial acumen across studio profitability, forecasting, and financial management to run the studio as a business.
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The Arcadia Way (how we work)

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Our team of brilliant minds come from many walks of life, each one a character with stories to tell. These diverse and different ways of thinking enable us to maintain fresh perspectives and innovate continuously. Whether it's design excellence or streamlined processes, we go to every length to make sure that clients and communities are getting the best possible results.

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Arcadia's high calibre team is what keeps clients coming back for more. That's why we provide our team with industry-leading tools and training to continually develop our skills, achieving maximum fulfilment and growth.

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Why You'll Love Working With Us

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Joining Arcadia means joining a genuinely collaborative team, one where your growth matters as much as the work itself. We invest in our people because we know that's what allows us to keep doing our best work for clients and communities, including First Nations communities and the environments we help shape.

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• Clear pathways for progression, with real investment in your development as a leader.
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• Ongoing professional development, industry training, and lifelong learning support.
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• Fully paid annual industry membership.
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• Studio events and networking opportunities to build your profile across the business.
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• Flexible and hybrid working, so you can do your best work your way.
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• Daily lunch and snacks in-studio.
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• Bi-annual events, including our team ski trip in August and end-of-year conference.
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• A genuinely supportive team culture where good ideas can come from anywhere.
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/ A business that looks after you \n

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• Employee Assistance Program and wellness support, for you and your immediate family.
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• Annual skin checks and flu vaccinations.
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• A workplace that takes your wellbeing as seriously as your work.
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Arcadia Landscape Architecture is a place where purpose and people meet. We are dedicated to building a business that is inclusive by design. Our Studios are a safe space where everyone belongs and is encouraged to excel.

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We actively seek perspectives from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and individuals of all backgrounds and abilities. We value the strength that diversity brings to our work and our culture. Please advise us of any adjustments you may need during the recruitment phase to ensure you can participate fully and comfortably.

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Ready to build something?

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If you're excited by the idea of leading a new studio and leaving your mark on one of Australia's most liveable cities, we'd love to hear from you. And if you don't tick every box, apply anyway. We care more about the leader you are than a perfect checklist.

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