POSITION SUMMARY:
Under the direction of the Director of Capital Programs and/or the designated
supervisor, the Design Architect will be actively involved in all phases of the
planning and design process to include preliminary scope development through
construction documents and construction administration. The incumbent for this
position is responsible for the production, coordination and implementation of
high-quality design documents to successfully renovate and construct new school
facilities.
DUTIES and RESPONSIBILITIES: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.
Coordinates reviews for
schematic, design development and final plans and specifications for projects
involving alterations, additions and new construction of schools to ensure they
adhere to the standards;Provides technical
assistance for planning projects for the Capital Improvement Program, including
scope development and reviews estimates of probable construction costs prepared
by others and informs project team of issues and concerns;
Coordinates architectural
reviews for projects, working with the Department of Building Services and the
Senior Mechanical Engineer, among others, including reviewing and preliminarily
identifying errors, omissions and code defects in design documents in
preparation for bidding projects and assists in the review of architectural
services proposals, change orders and pay invoices;
Drafts correspondence between the department and
other agencies or firms for Request for Proposals (RFP), instructions and/or
procedural requirements to include preparation of design documents required by Maryland State Department of Education
(MSDE), the Interagency Commission on School Construct (IAC), the Department of General Services - Public
Schools & Community Colleges Construction (DGS) and Prince George’s County Department of
Permitting, Inspections and Enforcement (DPIE);
Performs on-site observations on behalf of the
project management team upon request and communicates directly with client
agents, subcontractors and architects;
Assists project teams to
ensure delays are adequately documented and mitigated;
Participates in all project
phases including design proposals, schematic and design development,
construction and administration documents;
Acts as liaison between
PGCPS and design and construction professionals, assisting in translating PGCPS
educational specifications and design standards into the finished designs and assists
in creating and monitoring adherence to system design standards;
Coordinates internal and
external design reviews with oversight of all formal responses to funding and
regulatory agencies;
Provides technical input
and estimates for the annual Capital Improvement Program;
Works to ensure capital
projects meet functional intent, quality standards and budget requirements;
Develops and maintains
PGCPS Architectural Master Specifications and Design Guidelines;
Incorporates scale and
balance designing elements that work or enhance programmatic goals including
meeting with appropriate staff members in the development and upkeep of the
Educational Specifications;
Develops a strategic plan for the master plan of
all facilities including addressing Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) deficiencies and scoping
holistic projects that address other architectural issues throughout the school
system in coordination with Building Services and within the framework of the
Capital Improvement Program (CIP);
Provides leadership on code changes and
sustainability efforts including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
(LEED)certifications,
standards development and other initiatives;
Produces in-house plans for project development
and/or permit and construction, as required;
Attends meetings with community representatives,
school principals and staff to explain design under the guidance of the supervisoror other senior staff; and
Performs other duties as
assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS:The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Must
be customer service oriented along with excellent oral and written
communication skills;
Possess
project management experience and successful project delivery;
Strong organizational skills, ability to
multi-task and follow through;
Must be able to bring fresh ideas to the team
that are project-appropriate and regularly follow trends in school construction
and design, architecture, and interior design that help make PGCPS a leader in
K-12 design;
Thorough knowledge of the principles, practices,
techniques and application of architectural design and engineering;
Knowledge of present building codes and standards, life/safety/health
standards, ADA codes and construction procedures, including construction
management, project and product cost estimations, zoning regulations and
mechanical/electrical and HVAC engineering;
Fluency with construction document development, design principles,
editing, calculations, specifications, cost estimating and error and omission
review;
Ability to establish and maintain effective and professional work
relationships with other school officials and outside agencies;
Proficient
experience with office and engineering programs, including AutoCAD, Revit and
Microsoft Office;
Demonstrated experience in standards
development, specification development and review, production drawings, and
construction cost estimating;
Must
possess good interpersonal skills involving the ability to work
cross-functionally to understand requirements, present alternatives and
recommendations;
Ability
to perform effectively in high-pressure situations while maintaining focus and
composure;
Demonstrated ability to make objective
recommendations based on a specific project’s needs that is well correlated
with the needs of the organization, including selection of in-budget materials;
Demonstrated ability to ensure quality and
efficiency for assigned tasks and deliverables; maintain billable efficiency
rate of 80%; and
Ability to travel and conduct field work as needed within the school
district.
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:
Bachelor's degree from an accredited
institution in Architecture Design or a similar field required. Five (5)
years' experience in architectural design and drafting under the supervision of
a licensed professional required; three (3) years' experience in the design of
K-12 school facilities or similar facilities preferred.
CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Must
possess or be eligible for Maryland State Architecture licensure.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES:
No direct supervisory responsibilities.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
The physical demands are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand, talk, hear, walk, sit, and use fingers, tools or controls. The employee is occasionally required to reach with hands and arms and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision such as to read handwritten or typed material, the ability to adjust focus, and depth perception. While performing the duties of this job, the employee may occasionally push or lift up to 25 lbs.
WORKING ENVIRONMENT:
The work environment characteristics are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
None.