Contract Instructor - Master Landscape Planning

Contract Instructor – LDS530 Landscape Master Planning

Niagara Parks School of Horticulture Winter Semester 2026-27 (Jan-mid April)

$75.00 per Instructional Hour.

Course Length: 40 hours

School Contact: [email protected]

Position Overview

The Niagara Parks School of Horticulture is seeking a qualified Contract Instructor to deliver LDS530 – Landscape Master Planning, a third-year landscape design course within the School's three-year Advanced Diploma in Professional Horticulture program.

This advanced studio-based course challenges students to integrate horticultural knowledge, landscape design principles, site analysis, planting design, estimating, and professional presentation skills into comprehensive landscape master plans. The successful candidate will guide students through the complete design process, from concept development to final client presentations, while fostering creativity, technical proficiency, and professional standards. The course includes classroom instruction, design studio mentoring, critiques, and site-based learning opportunities.

Contract Details

· Course: LDS530 – Landscape Master Planning

· Program: Year 3, Advanced Diploma in Horticulture

· Term: Winter Semester 2026-27 (January – mid April)

· Location: Niagara Parks School of Horticulture, Botanical Gardens, Niagara Falls, Ontario

· Delivery Mode: In-person

· Course Hours: 40 instructional hours

· Schedule: 3 hours per week

· Class Size: Typically, 10 to 20 students

· Contract Type: Part-time Contract Instructor

Course Description

Students apply landscape design principles to develop functional, practical, creative, and aesthetically cohesive master plans for selected sites. Through lectures, case studies, studio exercises, and project work, students learn to prepare planting plans, develop landscape estimates and budgets, and communicate design proposals through professional graphic and oral presentations.

Key Responsibilities

The instructor will:

· Prepare and deliver engaging lectures, demonstrations, and studio-based learning activities.

· Maintain attendance records, grades, and course documentation in accordance with Niagara Parks School of Horticulture policies.

· Teach advanced concepts in:

o Landscape master planning

o Planting design

o Plant selection and specification

o Companion planting

o Site analysis and design development

o Landscape estimating and budgeting

o Graphic communication and presentation techniques

· Facilitate design studios and provide constructive critiques of student work.

· Guide students through the preparation of:

o Plant portfolios

o Planting plans

o Landscape estimates and quotations

o Comprehensive landscape master plans

o Professional client presentations

· Organize and supervise site visits or field-based learning activities as appropriate.

· Develop and administer assignments, projects, and evaluations.

· Assess student performance and provide timely feedback.

· Participate in curriculum review and continuous improvement initiatives as requested.

Learning Outcomes

The successful instructor will support students in achieving the ability to:

· Develop landscape plans incorporating structures and materials.

· Prepare professional landscape planting plans.

· Create comprehensive landscape master plans for a variety of site conditions.

· Develop budgets and cost estimates for landscape projects.

· Effectively present landscape development proposals using oral and graphic communication techniques.

Required Qualifications

· Diploma or degree in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Design, Horticulture, Environmental Design, Planning, or a related field.

· Minimum five years of relevant professional experience in landscape design, landscape architecture, design-build, site planning, or related practice.

· Demonstrated expertise in planting design and landscape master planning.

· Strong knowledge of plant materials suitable for Ontario landscapes.

· Excellent communication and presentation skills.

· Ability to mentor students in both creative and technical aspects of landscape design.

Preferred Qualifications

· Teaching or instructional experience in a post-secondary, continuing education, or professional training environment.

· Experience supervising design studios and critiquing student projects.

· Membership in or affiliation with professional organizations such as:

o Ontario Association of Landscape Architects (OALA)

o Canadian Society of Landscape Architects (CSLA)

o Landscape Ontario

· Experience preparing professional landscape estimates, project budgets, and client presentations.

· Proficiency with industry-standard design software and visual communication tools.

Skills and Competencies

· Design leadership and creativity

· Student engagement and mentorship

· Project-based learning facilitation

· Critical thinking and problem solving

· Professional communication

· Organization and time management

· Collaboration and teamwork

Application Requirements

Interested applicants should submit:

· Cover Letter

· Resume or Curriculum Vitae

Please send above via email to: [email protected]

About Niagara Parks School of Horticulture

Established in 1936, the Niagara Parks School of Horticulture provides an immersive educational experience combining academic study, practical apprenticeship training, and stewardship of the renowned Niagara Parks Botanical Gardens. Students benefit from experiential learning in one of Canada's most significant public horticultural landscapes.

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