Architectural Technical Leader

The Technical Leader is a Licensed Architect, accountable for the team’s adherence to Company QA/QC procedures and documentation standards, ensuring a high level of technical proficiency and quality. As part of the office management team (and firm wide technical team), serves as the resident technical expert infusing technical excellence into the office culture. Mentor teams in document control practices to maintain superior quality in construction document content, development, and coordination in conjunction with recommendations made by firm technical committees. Establishes local and/or implements firm wide best technical practices, QA/QC processes, and document standards. Inspires innovative use of systems, products and technology through the introduction of new products, systems, and technologies. The Technical Leader’s involvement will include input on staffing and performance and the ability to seal construction documents.

Attributes to support the NELSON Culture: Guiding Principles
• Culture of Transformation: Act as a community to accelerate firm impact
• Dedicated to Progression: A 360 approach to innovation and design
• Enable Engagement: Storytelling that educates and inspires
• Design with Purpose: Sustainable form and function

Qualifications:
To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty and responsibility satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Critical features of this job are described under the headings below. They may be subject to change at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.

Required Knowledge and Skills:

• Excellent understanding of building technology, documentation, and project delivery.
• Possess strong communication skills: verbal, written and graphic.
• Self-motivated with very strong management skills.
• Innovative and creative problem solver with strong design skills.
• In depth knowledge of building codes and regulations, to ensure teams have incorporated permitting requirements into the deliverables.
• Basic knowledge of design, trends, construction methodology, materials application, and manufacturer-supplier appropriateness.
• Experience across large-scale projects and a variety of building/construction types.
• Expert in construction administration management.
• Team collaboration and coordination.
• Ability to focus on concurrent issues.
• Basic knowledge of sustainability, integrated design, and LEED, Well, EnergyStar guidelines.
• Extensive knowledge of zoning and building codes and ADAAG regulations.
• Proficiency in Deltek Vision.
• Proficiency in understanding of financial management concepts.
• Proficiency in MS Office, including Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Good understanding of basic software used by the project teams including: Newforma, Bluebeam, Revit, Sketchup, Rhino, Grasshopper, ProCore, InDesign, Enscape, and CAD

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned:

Leadership

• Assist in planning developing the approach for executing large scale projects.
• Manage Quality Assurance procedures consist with Company protocols and Project Process requirements.
• Provide Quality Assurance reviews on larger projects.
• Establish goals and expectations that lead to high quality construction documents.
• Lead and manage risk through the office QA/QC process and document control processes.
• Space plan and construction document review for building code and ADA compliance as required.
• Review building and accessibility code reviews completed by teams or assist / train teams as needed.
• Assists teams as needed in working with local jurisdictions to address permit review comments and code interpretations.
• Review and comment on client contracts as requested.
• Embrace specific steps to create, develop and promote a diverse workforce and to promote an inclusive environment.
• Effectively communicate, both verbally and in writing.
• Organize and prioritize tasks as needed to complete within the identified time frame.
• Lead initiative and activities that strengthen our culture, knowledge base, and capabilities.
• Create an environment that attracts and develops talent (willingness to teach, mentor and learn).
• Foster a positive studio environment and maintain harmony.
• Provide opportunities to utilize individual’s strengths for their professional development as well as team performance.
• Deliver feedback to inspire continuous learning.
• Lead initiatives and learning programs during meetings such as Town Halls or Lunch & Learns that educate our project teams on best QAQC practices, technical design issues or other pertinent trends.
• Review and contribute to project proposal plans created by Project Managers for appropriateness of planned team, list of deliverables, and project phase durations against the proposed fee.

Resource Management

• Meet weekly with the project leads to ensure all work is progressing as scheduled.
• Provide direction to project leads to resolve issues that are project related or between Teammates.
• Evaluate teams’ skills and provide staffing recommendations to Practice Leadership.
• Participate in the staffing process; assist with seeking new talent and conduct interviews with Practice Leadership.
• Be knowledgeable about projects within the teams.

Technical

• Update and maintain NELSON QAQC Standards for quality and timely delivery and support the implementation of these standards.
• Ensure project leads are following NELSON protocol for QA/QC.
• Review project teams proposed story boards (cartoon set) for most efficient and effective approach to meeting the project deliverables and schedule.
• Oversee the assembly of construction documents (drawings and specifications) for each project phase.
• Raise awareness of potential risks that could affect the project’s success, review with the project manager and leadership team.
• Review documentation (drawings and specification) for technical and quality control at multiple times for all projects.
• Provide technical guidance to project teams on design details, documentation levels, and appropriateness and constructability of the project.
• Assist project teams in evaluating new construction systems/materials for appropriate applications and potential liability.
• Guide project leads in utilizing all NELSON resources within their office, within the team/account, and across the network to deliver quality technical and/or creative design.
• Support the initiative of the local/regional project teams; share experiences within the studio to inform best practices that will benefit the firm.
• Prioritize and effectively meet deadlines, delegate tasks, and provide high quality service to clients.
• Review and approve completed Revit details, assemblies or building systems to be moved into the Revit Library for use by other project teams.
• Conduct occasional site visits to observe technical detailing issues when appropriate to the project and share the information with other team members as a learning experience for the practice.
• Provide guidance during the Construction Administration process on appropriate level of responses to RFI’s and Submittal reviews.

Project Delivery

• Review project budgets and mentor/support Teammates to follow them; teach Teammates to prepare them on their own.
• Manage projects of a certain significance within the Practice and/or when necessary to support workload and meet expected utilization targets.

Financial Management

• Provide budget/proposal support including additional services and reallocations to assist project managers on project profitability.
• Review project budgets and coordinate regarding fees with peers to ensure profitability as well as consistency across studio and/or practice area.
• Highly skilled at defining scope of work, establishing project fees, and developing project budgets.
• Extensive experience working with legal on contracts and contract negotiations with Clients. 

Client Service and Business Development

• Participate in professional organizations and events to increase firm’s profile; strive for a leadership role such as Committee chair assignments/board level positions for industry and commercial real estate organizations.
• Maintain relationships with existing clients and build relationships with new clients, including specific service delivery partner relationships and ability to “salvage” troubled Clients, accounts, and/or projects if needed.
• Attend client meetings and KPI (Key Performance Indicators) reviews with Account Leaders and Practice Leadership as requested.
• Keep a pulse on client satisfaction; maintain solid relationships with clients and solicit feedback on performance regularly.
• Support business development pursuits with Practice Leadership by meeting with potential Clients, responding to RFPs, interviewing for new business/projects, etc.
• Maintain and foster a diverse network of relationships with Clients, Consultants and Vendors to promote and support business development efforts.

Certificates, Licenses or Registrations Required: 

• Architecture license required in at least one (1) State.
  
  

Education / Experience:

• Minimum of a Bachelor of Architecture from an accredited University
• 20 years of experience working in the field of Architecture.  
• Experience as a Technical Director, Account Manager, and/or Senior Project Manager required.