Senior Architect plans, schedules, organizes, coordinates, supports and executes Architectural design & drafting on all design phases of development on DSA commissioned projects. The Senior Architect will be responsible for assisting the Design Principal with the Supervision of the Architectural team, ensuring maximum levels of commitment, efficiency, effectiveness, and competence in relation to staff. He / she will evaluate, select, apply, adapt and modify Architecture techniques and procedures to achieve a high level of design output
Qualifications and Key Skills:
• Bachelor of Architecture
• Minimum 12 years with 4 years’ experience in a Senior Architect position
• Middle East experience is required
• Proficient in computer programs such as: Revit, AutoCAD, Adobe, Sketch-up, 3D Studio Max, InDesign and Lumion.
Responsibilities:
• Plan, generate and provide technical support and control of design programmes, design work plan with direct responsibility for design review, multi-disciplinary coordination, monitoring design schedules and design drawings/ documentation.
• Coordinate and support the assigned team of Architects and Technicians with tasks and duties, including the Design Work Plan for all Architectural Design tasks and deliverables, ensuring design excellence is achieved.
• Responsible for the quality and accuracy of design documentation issued by the Architectural team.
• Lead the assigned team of Architects & Technicians to ensuring project objectives are met, design instructions are implemented, and delivery is achieved within the set time and budget.
• Ensure that the assigned team is aware of and have a common understanding of their respective roles and responsibilities.
• Work closely and in conjunction with the Architectural Principal by requesting and obtain a copy of the Design brief and affection plan.
• Ensure compliance with the Company’s Architectural procedures for design and ensure adherence of the same by the Company’s Architectural team and other design consultants and sub-consultants.
• Coordinate and prioritise design deliverables with the overall project programme, all consultants, and sub-consultants (internal and external) and contractors’ requirements as appropriate.
• Review Design documents produced and ensure final QC check is carried out prior to issue of the same.
• Obtain the Design Principal’s sign off of the project drawings/design documents prior to issue.
• Responsible to ensure that QA/QC standards for the assigned projects are fully implemented and once fully established are achieved with continuous review improving the standard and quality of information produced. Work in conjunction with the Architectural Principal and appointees responsible for QA/QC management ensuring a holistic QA/QC approach, in providing services to compliment the practice as a whole.
• Maintain and coordinate the programming of all design and design related documentation to ensure timely information delivery and to co-ordinate the program with other Departments, ensuring a cohesive programming strategy for the practice as a whole. Ensure compliance with the master program and timely release of documentation to project programs as a whole.
• Test and Approve design solution proposes by the Design team, ensuring that the design is the best in terms of
o Value Engineering / Cost Effectiveness / Value
o Health & Safety
o Sustainability
o Fit for purpose, functionality, and aesthetic compliance
• Provide and develop design solutions on various project and sub-consultant design matters being resolved during the Design stage and in post contract construction periods. This may involve facilitating workshops, designing, providing drawings, sketches, specifications, schedules etc and supervising the Architectural project team in order to resolve design issues.
• Prepare and assist in production of programmes, design deliverable schedules, monitoring and tracking schedules and action list for the production of design deliverables, RFI’s and submittals.
• Manage and coordinate all design issues relating to client approvals of material, design matters and local authority matters. Prepare, maintain, and update a programme for activities related to obtaining local authority approvals.
• Monitor Client approval / sign off of all design related information and the accuracy of information submitted for approval / sign-off with consideration given to drawings, schedules, reports, and specifications. Ensure Client approvals / signs off of all Architectural Design related submissions and reports at the appropriate stages of design to reduce risk and ensure Client satisfaction.
• Assist the Architectural Principal by motivating, team building and providing insets to achieve the required overall standards for the Design Department and to ensure that this has a strategic fit into the practice as a whole. Ensure that the Design Department are integrated into the entire practice structure ensuring that the staff under your control feel part of the overall practice.
• Monitor and coordinate the document/drawing record filing, drawing issue procedures, software protocols, leave and performance reviews of the Architectural team.
• Maintain and manage inspections, meetings, local authority submissions, key design deliverables and tendering activities.
• Have a positive and proactive role liaising and participating with other Departments to ensure that the Architectural Design Department runs smoothly and effectively within the practice as a whole.
• Recommend staffing levels, interview and recommend staffing employment and termination. This shall be undertaken in conjunction with the Design Principal, Executive Director and Human Resources Manager.
• Staff reviews and appraisals for staff under your control and recommendations to the Directors on matters arising in conjunction with the Human Resources Manager.
• Direct contact and proactive liaison with Clients and third-party consultants to co-ordinate input into the design and represent the practice.
• Overall responsibility to monitor the successful management and delivery of all design related tasks from inception through Design, Construction, and completion.
• Develop a ‘work smart’ policy to ensure maximum use is made of existing designs and archives without compromising the creative and innovation reputation DSA Architects International have developed.
• Responsible to hold regular and effective project / team meetings to brief the assigned Architectural and Technical team on current and forthcoming issues.
• Responsible to hold regular and effective meetings with other Departments to ensure sharing of ideas and brief other Departments on current and forthcoming design related matters.
• Ensure and develop the assigned Architectural and Technician team members understanding of the process and flow of information related to different types of projects. Improve the phased delivery of technical (design) information with agreed deliverables for each stage.
• Monitor and control the use and implementation of standard documentation, as used within the practice as a whole.
• Responsible for the timely preparation of required approvals including statutory approvals to ensure compliance with the required standards stipulated by these bodies.
• Assist the Design Principal & Project Director with reporting to the Executive Directors on a monthly basis on the performance of the assigned project per the agreed format including risk assessment feedback on all technical (design) related activities.
• Perform other duties of a similar nature and level.