Estimating & Design Lead - US Commercial Landscaping

This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, who manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for an Estimating & Design Lead - US Commercial Landscaping based in New Zealand.

This is a remote opportunity for an experienced landscaping professional who can turn property plans, specifications, and site information into accurate commercial estimates. You will combine hands-on landscape expertise with estimating and design judgment to help transform opportunities into compelling, commercially sound proposals. The role focuses on commercial landscaping and maintenance rather than prospecting or cold calling. You will work closely with sales, estimating, and field teams to ensure every proposal reflects the property's actual requirements. Speed and accuracy are essential, with most requested proposals expected to be delivered within 72 hours. Strong performers can also benefit from a performance-based compensation structure tied directly to qualified opportunities and collected project revenue.

Accountabilities:

• Review site plans, specifications, property photos, and other project information to accurately determine landscaping and maintenance requirements.
• Develop detailed cost estimates covering plant materials, hardscape, labor, equipment, timelines, and other relevant project costs.
• Convert quote requests into clear, accurate, and defensible proposals, with a target turnaround of approximately 72 hours for most requests.
• Track estimating activity from initial request through proposal delivery and follow-up using the CRM.
• Apply practical landscape and design expertise to proposals, including plant selection, layout considerations, maintenance requirements, and overall property needs.
• Identify incomplete, unrealistic, or potentially problematic scopes before proposals are presented to clients.
• Support proactive estimating efforts by identifying strong-fit commercial properties and developing preliminary quotes before formal requests are received.
• Prepare sales teams for site visits through property research, historical scope reviews, photographs, notes, and other relevant information.
• Collaborate closely with onsite sales representatives, estimators, property managers, and field leadership to ensure proposals accurately reflect operational requirements.
• Maintain clear ownership and communication throughout the quote-to-proposal process, ensuring requests do not remain unassigned or delayed.
• Contribute landscape expertise that helps strengthen proposals, improve estimating accuracy, and support successful contract acquisition.

Requirements:

• 3+ years of hands-on professional experience in landscaping, grounds maintenance, horticulture, landscape architecture, or a closely related green-space discipline.
• Strong ability to interpret site plans, specifications, property details, photographs, and other project documentation and translate them into practical scope and cost requirements.
• Solid understanding of commercial landscaping and maintenance operations, including materials, plant selection, labor, equipment, timelines, and service requirements.
• Professional-level written and spoken English with the ability to communicate effectively with US-based stakeholders.
• Comfortable working core US business hours and coordinating with sales, estimating, property management, and field teams during those hours.
• Comfortable working in a performance-driven environment where compensation includes a results-based component.
• Strong analytical and organizational skills, with excellent attention to detail and the ability to manage multiple estimating requests efficiently.
• Practical design judgment and the ability to recognize what a property needs from both an aesthetic and operational perspective.
• Experience with commercial landscaping or maintenance contracts is strongly preferred.
• Education or professional experience in architecture, landscape architecture, or design is a strong advantage.
• Experience using estimating software, CRM platforms, AutoCAD, SketchUp, or similar design and business tools is beneficial.
• Ability to provide specific, numbers-based examples of previous work, results, and estimating experience.
• A hands-on understanding of landscaping and green-space operations is essential; purely theoretical design experience without practical landscape exposure is not sufficient.

Benefits:

• Base compensation of $1,250 USD per month.
• Performance-based compensation designed to provide $2,000+ USD per month in additional earnings for strong performers.
• Bonus for each qualified quote opportunity that progresses to a real proposal.
• 1% commission on collected revenue for projects where you played a meaningful role in estimating.
• Commission is calculated on collected revenue rather than simply signed contracts.
• Fully remote position based in India.
• Opportunity to work with commercial landscaping projects across the US.
• Direct collaboration with sales, estimating, property management, and field leadership teams.
• Meaningful ownership over estimating and proposal quality rather than cold calling or prospecting.
• Opportunity to leverage professional landscaping expertise in a commercially focused role.
• Performance-based earning potential directly connected to measurable business outcomes.