Lead Designer

Ground Builders is a premier landscaping company dedicated to redefining outdoor living. We pride ourselves on our commitment to quality innovation and exceptional customer service. We have a dedicated ten-year game plan to become a regional leader in the landscaping industry by building a scalable model with streamlined processes focused on enhancing our customers experience.

We have an exciting new opportunity for a high-performing Lead Designer to drive consistent sales results while leading coaching and developing our sales and design team. The Lead Designer is responsible for meeting personal and team goals related to revenue close rate gross profit customer satisfaction and the accuracy of designs estimates and project plans. This position plays a critical role in aligning Sales Design and Production to ensure projects are sold correctly and delivered on time and on budget.

POSITION RESPONSIBILITIES

• Sales Leadership & Accountability: Lead and develop a high-performing sales and design team while driving revenue and performance goals. Set clear expectations for activity close rates margins and customer experience. Provide ongoing coaching in sales process presentation skills pricing and closing techniques and support hiring onboarding and training of new team members.

• Personal Sales & Design Production: Maintain strong personal sales performance by meeting or exceeding individual revenue close rate gross profit and customer satisfaction goals. Create thoughtful buildable landscape designs that align with client needs and budgets and confidently present designs and proposals to clients. Keep pipelines proposals and documentation accurate and up to date.

• Estimating Pricing & Accuracy: Prepare and review accurate estimates that clearly define labor materials equipment and subcontracted work. Ensure scopes quantities and pricing are complete and correct helping projects move smoothly from sale to production and reducing downstream issues.

• Team Performance & Metrics: Drive team success by tracking key performance metrics such as revenue close rate gross profit and customer satisfaction. Use data and KPIs to identify opportunities for improvement support consistent system usage and reinforce best practices across the team.

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Partner closely with Production and Project Management teams to ensure seamless project handoffs and efficient installations. Participate in design reviews and pre-production meetings adjust designs and scopes as needed and help resolve challenges between sales and production.

• Customer Experience: Deliver an exceptional customer experience by setting clear expectations communicating professionally and building trust throughout the sales process. Address design scope or pricing questions as they arise support long-term client relationships and referrals and make the overall process easy enjoyable and well-organized.

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & ABILITY

• KNOWLEDGE: Consistent work history with a minimum of 5 years of landscape design and sales experience in a role such as Landscape Lead Designer Landscape Design Sales Representative or similar role. Prior experience leading coaching or mentoring sales teams.
• SKILLS: Strong organizational communication and problem-solving skills. Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment. Familiarity with landscaping design software and project management tools. Ability to adapt to a dynamic environment and thrive under pressure through a commitment to excellence. Desire to be a key member of a growing team-oriented company. Proven record of achieving or exceeding sales targets. Strong understanding of landscape construction means methods and materials. Ability to estimate accurately and price work profitably
• ABILITY: This role is onsite and requires reporting to our office in Waterloo NE. A valid drivers license and the ability to pass a felony/misdemeanor background and driving (Motor Vehicle Record) check. Evening or weekend commitments as needed for leadership events or client needs.

Why Ground Builders

At Ground Builders we believe great projects start with great people. This role offers the chance to lead from the front build strong teams and deliver high-quality landscapes within a culture that values craftsmanship and accountability. As a growing company we are looking for ambitious individuals ready to elevate industry standards. We provide a dedicated environment for mentorship and skill-building offering clear pathways for advancement as our team continues to scale.

In this role a company vehicle and company cell phone will be provided. We are a growing and ambitious company that works to care for our employees with an ambitious benefits program: $50k employer-paid life insurance retirement plan with a match up to 3% health insurance paid holidays 2 weeks (80 hours) paid time off (after 6 months) and a paid week off between Christmas and New Years. If you are seeking a chance to grow in a new environment apply today to learn more!