For the past few weeks, Benjamin Chapeau has been working as a green space project manager in ECT’s landscaping department. The key words in his job are vegetation, landscape, biodiversity, equipment and weather ! To do this, he must coordinate the work of his teams and landscaping contractors, anticipate orders for plants and equipment, and meet deadlines. It’s a hands-on, outdoor job that supports our projects.
Internal promotion
With a technical degree in physics and a bachelor’s degree in environmental studies under his belt, Benjamin Chapeau joined ECT in 2011. He is an environmental technician. On behalf of our earthmoving clients, he manages the removal of soil from construction sites to the appropriate treatment facilities.
In June 2025, as part of the internal promotion policy, he applied for the position of green project manager. “This position allows me to manage greening projects from start to finish, combining fieldwork and coordination, and to see the concrete results of our work,” he explains.
Green space project manager ?
We intervene after the inert soil has been added, once the project’s modeling has been completed and the final fertile layer has been put in place. To do this, a fertile layer is created on top of the inert soil to support the plantings. This final layer varies depending on the type of environment to be recreated. A limestone meadow does not require the same soil as wooded hillsides. Several options are possible: replenishing the site’s topsoil, which was initially stripped away, or creating a fertile substrate, a mixture of selected soils (most often loamy) and green waste compost. The next step is to prepare the site for vegetation.
Organizing the schedule is key. Every day, we have to adjust the work schedule based on the weather, planting priorities, and the progress of the project. The goal is to ensure that the work runs smoothly and safely, in a spirit of mutual support and trust. Always on the ground, often in winter, in all weathers, my team of Delmindo, Jorge, and Alberto is very experienced. These are tough jobs where interpersonal skills are essential. And for certain tasks, such as building paths or installing certain furniture, we work with ECT’s VRD team or external contractors.
Our work begins as soon as the site is ready for planting and equipping. We are guided by the project’s development plan, which is the result of discussions between the local authority, the administration, and ECT. Developments vary greatly from one project to another. Planting, afforestation, paths, equipment, furniture: we deliver a project that is ready to be opened to the public.
And biodiversity ?
Restoring environments conducive to biodiversity is an essential phase in completing the project. This involves all the vegetation and planting work carried out by the Green Spaces team. We apply nature-friendly management practices, in consultation with the project’s ecologists and landscape architects : selecting regional and local plants, respecting planting and sowing periods.
On construction sites, Benjamin is nicknamed the “frog savior.” His team implements the project’s environmental requirements. As a preventive measure, it puts in place the planned protective measures, such as barriers to prevent amphibians from returning. During the work, it maintains and protects wetlands and develops ditches.
Here are a few examples. The ECT and Safer project in Coubert (77) in the Île-de-France region includes plans for a hedgerow to complement the rehabilitation of agricultural land. For the ECT project in Plaisir (78), numerous wildlife shelters were installed during the works. And the planting of local tree and shrub species will reinforce ecological continuity.
A word of advice?
This job requires curiosity, versatility, and adaptability. Knowledge of the field, independence, and interpersonal skills are essential. “Each project is an opportunity to learn, observe the transformation of the landscape, and participate in the creation of environments that are favorable to nature and useful to residents. I appreciate the diversity of the assignments and the privileged, daily contact with nature,” concludes Benjamin.
