Architect

Overview

Hamilton County Schools, located in Chattanooga, TN, is working to ensure that all students thrive and experience a future without limits. We are committed to excellence for every student and are seeking outstanding leaders, teachers, support staff, and district employees who desire to make a difference in the lives of students. With nearly 75 schools, we are confident that you can find your place in Hamilton County.

Learn more about working for Hamilton County Schools at careers.hcde.org and get to know us and our strategic plan, Opportunity 2030.

The purpose of this job is to provide in-house architectural design services for the Hamilton County Department of Education (HCDE).

Responsibilities

• Acts in a professional, respectful, and welcoming manner at all times.
• Creates a customer-focused climate and provides quality services and support to school and other stakeholders.
• Complies with applicable district, state, and federal codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures.
• Directs the work of the architectural CAD drafter.
• Coordinates daily work activities; organizes, prioritizes, and assigns work; monitors status of work in progress and inspects completed work; consults with assigned staff, assists with complex / problem situations, and provides technical expertise.
• Interprets and ensures compliance with standard building codes, life / safety codes, handicapped codes, and all other applicable codes, laws, rules, regulations, standards, policies and procedures; ensures adherence to established safety procedures; monitors work environment and use of safety equipment to ensure safety of employees, students, and other individuals; researches code books for code interpretation as needed; initiates any actions necessary to correct deviations or violations.
• Consults with direct supervisor, School Board members, County Commissioners, and other officials to review operations and activities, review / resolve problems, receive advice / direction, and provide recommendations; makes recommendations to School Board on needed ADA upgrades, code compliance issues, or other priority projects.
• Provides design documents for capital maintenance funding for new construction, upgrades, remodeling, re-roofing, and other major projects.
• Writes criteria specifications and programs for all new HCDE projects.
• Utilizes computer aided design (AutoCAD) software to prepare project designs and plans; creates library in AutoCAD system of drawings of all HCDE schools.
• Reviews shop drawings, architectural drawings, and specifications for projects; evaluates, marks up for corrections, and approves / returns as appropriate.
• Performs construction contract administration on capital maintenance projects; prepares contracts for capital maintenance services by outside contractors; administers bidding and negotiations for capital maintenance project contracts; schedules work sequence on projects and distributes schedules; assists with HCDE reviews of work performed by contracted architects.
• Performs budget administration; prepares budgets for capital maintenance projects; assists in preparing budgets for capital contract projects; reviews pay applications from contractors on capital maintenance projects; monitors expenditures to ensure compliance with approved budget.
• Assists in acting as owner's representative on contract architect projects; participates in on-site and in-office meetings as owner's representative; conducts periodic on-site observation of work during construction to monitor compliance with plans.
• Coordinates preparation and submission of various documents and reports to State Fire Marshal, City of Chattanooga, Hamilton County, or other individuals / agencies as appropriate.
• Evaluates and researches construction materials and products; determines specific products for incorporation into criteria specifications issued to contract architects for new construction.
• Travels to schools and other locations within the district.
• Communicates through the proper channels to keep supervisor and other appropriate personnel informed of impending problems or events of unusual nature.
• Follows established procedures for ensuring assigned areas are safe.
• Works collaboratively with school staff, students, parents, and other stakeholders.
• Attends work and arrives to work on time.
• Maintains confidentiality.
• Adheres to the Teacher Code of Ethics as defined by Tennessee Law.
• Attends meetings as needed.
• Maintains a comprehensive, current knowledge of applicable codes, regulations, and standards; reviews new codes and changes to existing codes; maintains an awareness of new construction materials, methods, trends and advances in the profession; reads professional literature; maintains professional affiliations; attends seminars, workshops, and training sessions as appropriate.
• Prepares or completes various forms, reports, correspondence, architectural programs, construction contracts, budget documents, schedules, architectural drawings, specifications, sketches, presentations, or other documents.
• Receives various forms, reports, correspondence, budget documents, financial reports, contractor requests for payment, shop drawings, engineering drawings, architectural drawings, specifications, soil reports, surveys, codes, federal register, standards, policies, procedures, catalogs, product literature, publications, manuals, reference materials, or other documentation; reviews, completes, processes, forwards or retains as appropriate.
• Operates a computer to enter, retrieve, review or modify data; verifies accuracy of entered data and makes corrections; utilizes word processing, spreadsheet, database, computer-aided design (AutoCAD), presentation, email, Internet, or other programs; performs basic maintenance of computer system and office equipment, such as backing up data or replacing paper, ink, or toner.
• Operates a variety of equipment associated with work activities, which may include a motor vehicle, microcomputer, server, plotter, printer, blueprint machine, copy machine, fax machine, digital camera, drafting tools, surveying tools, measuring instruments, calculator, or telephone.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Knowledge / Education / Experience :

Skills / Qualifications :

Compensation :

Salary is based on a combination of relevant education and experience.

Grade L

Salary Scale