Architecture Republic is a young team of designers and architects who are riding a building boom that has turned into a construction frenzy. We specialise in residential and small-scale commercial projects with an emphasis on quality documentation and sustainable design.
We're looking for a residential designer with experience managing design projects. We want down to earth design flair, technical detailing knowledge and a good rapport with clients.
Based in Canberra, you will work mostly from home but occasionally with our other Canberra designers. Also featured will be occasional trips to Moss Vale to work with our Highlands team. There's also plenty of opportunity to work from the beach, or the café, or wherever you like. Most of our staff (total of 11 so far) work from home.
Hours are flexible but we are looking for someone who can work 5 days a week. The position is a permanent one so we are looking for someone who'd like to stick around.
There's a lot to do, so no two days will be the same! As a Project Architect, you will have your own 'handful' of clients that you guide through the design, documentation and approvals/construction process. You will work collaboratively with them to realise the vision of their future home (in partnership with the rest of our design team). You'll assist your design team in project and task management, as well as solo work designing, reviewing designs, delegating design and documentation tasks, interpreting legislation, and long chats with clients and builders.
A few things we'd like you to do:
- Designing houses (yay!) - everything from small renovations to grand country houses, and from traditional construction to straw bales and rammed earth.
- Project + task management: Co-ordinating others (designers + drafties) to design and document houses
- Checking others' work - from a design and technical point of view.
- Sales - Attending initial consultations and client inquiries.
- Contract administration - managing the paper trail that every construction project generates
- Systems Champion - work with our knowledge workers to improve, create and update existing business systems
- Document + Information management
- Reading and interpreting legislation + planning documents
- Co-ordinating planning approvals + submissions with our office manager
- Consultant Liaison (e.g. surveyors, engineers, planners)
A few things we'd like you to have:
- A passion for houses and creating inviting spaces that people love living in
Digital native - “I don't know how to do that, but let me google it”
- Proficient in SketchUp (and LayOut)
- Driver's license + willingness to occasionally go for a long drive.
- Relevant qualifications in architecture or building design (e.g. B.Arch/M.Arch, Dip. Building Design etc).
- A sincere love of organisation, clear communication and order.
- Ability to read and interpret complicated written English (e.g. NSW planning legislation)
- Supernatural ability to spell (or look words + names up on Google to find correct spelling)
- Great phone manner and comfort speaking to a range of people on the phone (from clients to consultants)
- Research skills. Sometimes we need to go on wild goose chases to find obscure information relevant to projects.
- Previous experience in architecture or the construction industry.
- Previous experience in residential design is a bonus, but not essential.
- Confidence (sometimes you'll need to keep the clients and builders on track!)
- Enjoy working in a team of vibrant, young creative people.
- COVID Vaccination