Lead Architect Designer

Overview

About Us:

Bartlett & West is an engineering, architecture, technology, and other professional services firm headquartered in Topeka, KS with 19 offices in seven states throughout the Midwest. As a completely employee-owned company, Bartlett & West has a “We Before Me” mentality. We prioritize service to our clients, communities, and each other. We’re less concerned about titles and more concerned about how each person can be supported to make the greatest impact.

POSITION SUMMARY:

At Bartlett & West our architects combine design and technical abilities together with one informing the other. Our teamwork atmosphere lends itself to client focused innovative solutions with a strong commitment to design excellence. This position is a conceptual, design, and technical specialist with in-depth knowledge for architectural design, programming, and planning projects from start to finish. The position may identify and develop the scope of work, assist in pricing contracts, oversee project quality, identify team resources, and responsible for meeting project deadlines. The Lead Architect Designer provides comprehensive architectural services for internal clients and external clients and may be expected to serve as the project’s Architect of Record.

Responsibilities

Essential Functions & Responsibilities:

• Acts as a design and technical specialist in the focus of architecture.
• Collaborates with a project manager and the project planning components as follows:
  • Provides design and technical guidance on the development of the project scope.
  • Assists in project concepts and strategies to be used.
  • Estimates of effort, fee structure and amount.
  • Develop construction cost and budget estimates for the project.
  • Identification of other required resources, risk management, and schedules necessary to complete the project.
• Directs, manages, and participates in the production of the project deliverables, up to and including signing and sealing of work products as a Registered Licensed Architect. Performs or participates in some or all the following:
  • Preliminary studies, plans and cost estimates.
  • Plan, oversee, and develop final report for studies.
  • Create conceptual design using graphic design software program(s).
  • Collaborates with a project manager in client meetings to gather client needs, present design concepts, and serve a resource/consultant to client(s).
  • Definition of and oversight of design process.
  • Designs and plan production using graphic design software program(s).
  • Conducting project status/review meetings.
  • Specification (using SpecLink software) and contract document development and production (using AutoCAD/Revit software).
  • Bidding and contract award.
  • Contract Administration oversight.
  • Monitors and maintains quality on all facets of the project deliverable.
• Performs site investigations and prepares report(s) documenting existing conditions.
• Provides input to the project manager and/or others regarding the monthly project accounting process, including review of time and expense charges to projects.
• In coordination with the project manager and team leader, oversees and directs the assignments of architects, designers, and technicians assigned to a project.
• Provides internal design and technical advice to project managers throughout the company for the purpose of preparing proposals and developing client presentations.
• Develops and fosters an open environment encouraging communication and collaboration among team members assigned to a project. Provides constructive performance feedback to project team members and coaches to improve performance.
• Provides performance information on all project team members to the team leader, Delivery/Marketing leader or project manager.
• Stays abreast of new architectural trends, techniques, strategies, philosophies, and methods. Participates in professional organization(s) in the architect’s area of expertise and/or client focus. Maintains professional licensure in the states required by the company.
• Regularly analyzes specific issues for project manager’s project to recommend solutions that are efficient and cost effective.
• Meets with vendors of building materials on a design and technical basis with project managers and project teams as directed.
• Selects appropriate materials and equipment for the project application, accounting for desired performance, costs, and operation and maintenance considerations.
• Typically works with complex, difficult projects that could also be large in focus and complexity.
• Participates in client meetings to gather client needs, present design concepts, and serve a resource/consultant to client(s).
• Incorporates green/sustainability initiatives as appropriate.
• Provides mentoring and support to landscape architecture staff.
• Maintains professional licensure in the states required by the company

Qualifications

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Knowledge of architectural design, planning, and green/sustainability practices and methodology.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skillsets to maintain client and employee relationships in all ow the following:
  • Verbal and Written
  • Listening
  • Reading & Proofreading
  • Presenting and Public Engagements
• Ability to lead, train, and mentor others.
• Self-awareness: Knowing one’s strengths and limits with a strong sense of one’s self-worth and capabilities.
• Self-regulation: Keeping emotions in check; trustworthy; taking responsibility for personal performance; flexibility; innovative.
• Collaborative and team oriented.
• Ability to negotiate.
• Demonstrates a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing and problem analysis and resolution.
• Ability to embrace new technology and processes including learning other software programs as needed (Adobe, Bluebeam, Deltek Vision accounting and project planning software, Client Relationship Management software, etc.)
• Exhibits initiative, responsibility, flexibility, and leadership
• Excellent time management skills with ability to handle complex deadline driven workload while working both independently and within a team successfully.
• Ability to interpret technical information and communicate it in a manner that is easy for the client to understand.
• Ability to assess financial performance of project against the effort to complete the scope of work.
• Strong proficiency in MS Office, graphic design, and AutoCAD/Revit software programs.
• Demonstrates a high degree of creativity, foresight, and mature judgment in planning, organizing and problem analysis and resolution.

Education:

Bachelor’s Degree and/or Master’s Degree in Architecture curriculum required.

Experience:

8+ years’ experience in architecture with license required. Strong proficiency in MS Office, Enscape, Lumion, SketchUP, or other graphic software required. AutoCAD/Revit design software skills also required. Cost estimation experience required. LEED and/or sustainable design experience preferred. Must obtain professional licensure in the states required by the company as soon as possible.

Travel Expectations:

This position will have minimal travel. Must be able to travel in-state and out-of-state on occasion, which usually would consist of visiting other company locations, attending seminars or business meetings. Minimum travel is 10-25% of the time depending on projects.

This job description is not designed to cover or contain a listing of all functions and responsibilities that are required of this position. Employee owners are expected to take on additional responsibilities as requested.

An offer is contingent upon successfully passing the pre-employment drug screen. Drug screen will need to complete within 48 hours of being contacted.

Nearly all positions at Bartlett & West can require employee-owners to operate a motor vehicle on public roads in the course of their duties. Accordingly, all employees may be required to have acceptable driving records and to provide an authorization to the Company to periodically obtain MVR reports”.

Bartlett & West partners with businesses and communities to build smarter, stronger, more connected infrastructure. From railroad GIS to industrial parks and city planning, we provide innovative technology and engineering solutions to clients worldwide. With deep industry knowledge and a passion for creative problem solving, we engineer better tomorrows.

Bartlett & West is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, sex, age, sexual orientation, status as a protected veteran or status as a qualified individual with disability.