Montgomery County Government | Architect III

This position manages and oversees capital improvement construction projects, including maintenance, repairs, and renovations of County capital infrastructure. This includes individual projects as well as recurring annual projects for the Engineering Department.

Minimum Experience Level:

Seven (7) years of experience in Architecture under a licensed professional is preferred, or any equivalent combination of education, training, and experience which provides the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities for this job.

Minimum Education:

Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university in Architecture

Certifications, Licenses:

• Must possess a valid driver’s license.
• A pre-employment criminal background check is required.
• License in Architecture through NCARB – Level III.

GENERAL POSITION DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Will serve in some capacity of Project Management and Design depending on experience and oversight needed from the Sr. Architect and/or Chief County Engineer.
• Manages design consultants and the review and quality control of plans and specifications. Oversees and monitors work performed by contractors to ensure that contract plans, scope and specifications are being followed.
• Prepares, maintains, and updates project files and records in order to document significant activities; prepares weekly and monthly progress reports of on-going activities.
• Serves as a liaison to other County departments, regulatory agencies and contractors related to projects.
• Prepares and monitors project budgets; receives purchase orders and approves project invoices to process payments.
• Conducts design reviews and site plan reviews.
• Performs quality control field inspections and approves inspector daily reports; performs field design as required; coordinates or schedules the work of survey crews as needed.
• Provides service to customers by answering questions, providing information, making referrals, and assuring appropriate follow-through and/or resolution.
• Communicates on the progress and quality of the work during construction, issuance of stop work orders, liquidated damages, or field corrective orders if contractor does not adhere to specifications.
• Attends project status meetings between County and Contractor. Ensures final project is completed and completes closeout documents.
• Assists in requesting or applying for grants to assist in the funding of Capital projects.
• Retrieves, reviews, or modifies data within the County’s GIS/modeling programs for accurate reporting and record keeping.
• Serves as a resource to communicate design standards and ordinance requirements for project planning meetings, pre-construction meetings, or other communications for architects, engineers, consultants, developers, residents, and technicians.

Assignment of these functions will be dependent upon skill and experience level

• Plans, designs, organizes, coordinates, and oversees assigned capital improvement, facilities, systems, and other municipal design projects.
• Serves as project liaison, including control of meetings, communications, and documentation.
• Documents existing structures by measuring and photographing to create existing plans where none exists.
• Investigates existing structures to determine the needs for and methods of replacement or repair of defective existing conditions.
• Completes programming of proposed area needs for renovations and new construction projects that may be designed in-house.
• Produce and review certain concepts and Schematic Design options with the affected County Departments for in-house or consultant lead projects.
• Completes Design Development phase of any selected Schematic plans, and then proceed to issue Construction drawings as the Architect of Record on small renovations and new construction projects that the Department decides to design in-house.
• Completes and issues a Project Manual that includes Bidding requirements and Technical Specifications on in-house designs, and bidding sheets for consultant lead projects.
• Participates in the preparation of construction cost estimates.
• Prepares plans and all bid documents related to these projects. Coordinates with other agencies to meet the appropriate schedules and budgets.
• Assists with the development of requests for proposals, bids, and quotes.
• Manages and executes contracts with outside firms.
• Conducts pre-bid and pre-construction conferences to ensure a thorough understanding of proposed construction programs and a smooth scheduling of work for completion consistent with the schedule.
• Ensures contractor follows project specifications, cost control, and time requirements.
• Confers with contractors, subcontractors, and supervisory personnel to discuss work procedures, complaints, and construction matters.
• Provides expert advice and descriptions to ensure an understanding of proposed projects.
• May appear before certain committees or the Commission on special matters or to clarify construction projects.
• Keeps the Chief County Engineer and/or the County Sr. Architect promptly informed of important developments in areas of accountability to ensure prompt resolution of problems, and a thorough understanding of the construction program.
• Assists with the review of concept plans, preliminary plans, construction plans, plats, or other supporting documentation for development review and permitting approval.
• Provides project updates and communications with audiences such as County officials, other local governments, and the general public, and responds to questions regarding the status of projects.

FISCAL RESPONSIBILITIES

This position has no fiscal responsibilities.

SUPERVISORY RELATIONSHIPS:

These positions report to the Senior Architect.

JOB QUALIFICATIONS – KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

Knowledge of:

• Construction techniques, inspections and basic design principles related to modern and historical building structures.
• Legal processes involved in encroachments, land acquisitions, and other land development issues.
• Municipal project facilitation, coordination and contract execution related to environmental and infrastructure projects.
• Architectural design software including AutoCAD, BlueBeam, Adobe Pro, Google Sketch UP, and others that may be beneficial to the department.
• Architectural design principles and practices.
• Local government operations and administration.
• Community dynamics including intergovernmental relations, civic organizations, and special interest groups.
• Project Management principles and practices, including program planning, contract requirements, budgeting, direction, coordination, and evaluation.
• Principles, procedures, and techniques of labor contracts and negotiations.
• Principles and practices of budgeting, fiscal management, project management principles and techniques.

Skill in:

• Identifying technical and operational problems and recommending appropriate corrective actions.
• Analyzing complex administrative information and issues, defining problems and evaluating alternatives, and recommending methods, procedures, and techniques for resolution of issues.
• Organizational and time management to prioritize duties to accomplish a high volume of work product while adapting to constant changes in priority.

Ability to:

• Perform detailed work accurately and independently in compliance with stringent time limits requiring minimal direction and supervision.
• Think quickly, maintain self-control, and adapt to stressful situations.
• Establish and maintain accurate records of assigned activities and operations.
• Effectively utilize the principles of strategic and long and short-range planning.
• Interpret and implement local policies and procedures; written instructions, general correspondence; Federal, State, and local regulations.
• Perform mathematical calculations required of this position.
• Communicate clearly, concisely and effectively in English in both written and verbal form.
• Analyze facts and to exercise sound judgment in arriving at conclusions.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships with those contacted in the course of work.
• Maintain confidentiality and discretion regarding business-related files, reports, and conversations, within the applicable State and Federal statutes.

PHYSICAL AND MENTAL REQUIREMENTS/ACTIVITIES:

• This work requires the occasional exertion of up to 50 pounds of force; work regularly requires sitting, frequently requires standing, speaking or hearing, using hands to finger, handle or feel and repetitive motions and requires walking on uneven terrain, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, climbing stairs and ladders, and reaching with hands and arms.
• Work may involve mobility over rough or difficult terrain. Work may also be performed above or below ground, to include heights over 10 feet, as well as underground crawl spaces.
• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close, distance and peripheral vision; depth perception; and the ability to adjust focus. Will spend a large amount of time viewing a computer screen.
• Vocal communication is required for expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word.
• Hearing is required to perceive information at normal spoken word levels.