VAASLA Employment Opportunities

Design Researcher, The Natural Infrastructure Lab - The School of Architecture

Fri, 14 Aug 2026 19:25:36 GMT

The School of Architecture at the University of Virginia is seeking qualified candidates for the position of Design Researcher at the Natural Infrastructure Lab (NIL). NIL sits at the intersection of art, science, and engineering, conducting design research using landscape architectural methods to advance the design, planning, and management of innovative, culturally significant infrastructure. This position will work closely with Lab Manager Ruby Zielinski and Associate Professor Brian Davis, PLA, FAAR, to research new forms of natural infrastructure for coastal bays and estuaries along the East Coast of the United States.

The Design Researcher will work across the full portfolio of NIL’s projects, with an emphasis on Tidelands, which aims to study existing natural forms and human practices of coastal protection and develop new forms of design that increase human and ecosystem health over time. Tidelands is a collaborative effort between the University of Auburn and the University of Pennsylvania, funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers Engineering With Nature program.

This position will explore possibilities through fieldwork, large-scale physical and digital modeling, reviewing existing literature and projects, and mapping, drawing, and writing typically required in large-scale landscape architecture projects. Not all skills are required at the start, but applicants must be motivated, curious, organized, and work well with others. The job will involve travel for fieldwork and collaborative workshops, as well as physical work in the lab and desktop analysis.

The Natural Infrastructure Lab is co-directed by Brian Davis and Michael Luegering in the Department of Landscape Architecture at UVA. The Department has a long tradition of design excellence with an emphasis on theory and cultural landscapes, work on post-industrial lands, and with vulnerable communities. This ethos is evident in the Lab’s work on natural infrastructure for coastlines. The Design Researcher would join a thriving research community at the Department, including PhD candidates and faculty working across a wide range of topics.

You can find more information on this listing here.

Senior Principal Planner - Henrico, VA

Wed, 15 Apr 2026 19:27:32 GMT

County of Henrico Virginia

Job Category: Senior Principal Planner

Position No: 1001-0028

Salary Range: $95,470.83 - $175,623.07

The County of Henrico Department of Planning is seeking a highly motivated planning professional with strong experience in long-range planning and project management to lead the Comprehensive Planning Division, which includes a team of 13 staff members. In this role, you will provide advanced professional guidance on complex planning, legal, and development topics; interpret and apply County procedures and policies; and advise on zoning and subdivision regulations. The position requires excellent written and verbal communication skills, the ability to present before public bodies such as the Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors, and the capacity to build strong working relationships with staff, public officials, and community stakeholders. This position involves frequent interaction with department heads, elected and appointed officials, citizens, attorneys, engineers, and other partners. The successful candidate must be able to perform at a high level under pressure, exercise sound judgment, and make well-reasoned planning recommendations.

For detailed qualifications and to apply, visit the Henrico County Job Opportunity site at www.henrico.gov/services/jobs

Application deadline: May 15, 2026.

Landscape Designer (Washington, D.C.)

Wed, 01 Apr 2026 20:08:56 GMT

Landscape architectural firm, MKSK, seeking qualified landscape designer to work with senior landscape architects to develop design, site plans, specifications and costs for land development. Prepare graphic representations and models of plans using computer aided design and drafting (CADD) software. Knowledge of AutoCAD, Adobe Creative Suite, Rhino and Grasshopper.

Fwd. resumes to: hiring@mkskstudios.com or by mail to: MKSK, Inc., Attn: Thomas Porto, 462 S. Ludlow Street, Columbus, OH 43215.