Description

  • Are you a creative and innovative thinker?
  • Are you a collaborative team player?
  • Are you a successful problem solver with strong technical design skills?

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC), a six-time National Recreation and Parks Association Gold Medal Award Winner, is seeking an Architect to join our team of architectural professionals who plan, design, and manage building renovations and new construction projects within the park system. Montgomery Parks maintains a large portfolio of buildings including ice rinks, park activity buildings, offices, nature centers, picnic shelters, restrooms, maintenance yards, barns, boathouses, and over 100 historic structures. New buildings are sustainably constructed to meet the growing needs of Parks staff and the expanding interests of the County’s residents.

This is an exciting time to join the Department of Parks, which serves a diverse population of more than one million residents in Montgomery County, Maryland, and manages 421 parks on more than 37,220 acres of parkland with a career staff of approximately 830 employees. The role and impact of parks have expanded considerably over the last few years, especially during and as a result of the pandemic.

 

Examples of Important Duties

An Architect in this role independently designs and manages a variety of project types, including site planning, new construction, renovation, and space planning, that serve park users and Parks staff. Projects may be stand-alone buildings or may be located within an overall Park project, requiring additional coordination with a larger project team. All projects require the Architect to work collaboratively with staff throughout the park system who provide insight into the use and operations of park buildings.

The Architect will work on all phases of architectural design and construction as a project manager. In addition to project management, the architect in this position will also design and permit projects inhouse. Projects will vary in scale and are often technically complex, politically sensitive, and/or highly visible. This job level is for a fully experienced designer/project manager who is a registered Architect with the ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective, sustainable, and timely projects.

  • Designs and manages all aspects of projects in a multi-disciplinary team setting including: developing project scopes, preparing in-house concept designs, presentation graphics and construction documents, coordinating work with stakeholders, utility companies and regulatory agencies, and procuring/managing design services performed by outside consultants.
  • Implements effective project budgeting and cost control, estimates project costs, monitors and reviews contract payments, manages consultant schedules, ensures timely comprehensive project reviews, and proactively manages projects through construction bidding.
  • Meets with stakeholders to explain designs, understand their needs, and obtain their suggestions and ideas on proposed projects, and integrates buildings and structures within a park setting.
  • Reviews construction drawings, specifications, and submittals for quality assurance.
  • Provides technical reviews for projects located on parkland, which may be designed and constructed by other public agencies, developers, and public-private partners.
  • Prepares in-house designs for building renovations, space planning, pre-engineered structures, and various park facilities. Incorporates current guidelines and standards into appropriate design and/or construction solutions for renovation projects. Certifies plans and documents, appropriate to discipline.
  • Utilizes condition assessments, record drawings, field measurements, and other available information to determine the best approach for individual projects.
  • Identifies and tracks assets created or impacted by projects using Enterprise Asset Management (EAM) software.
  • Facilitates inter-divisional coordination and collaborates with operations staff and leadership to understand needs and constraints and incorporate them in a responsible manner. Maintains positive and productive relationships with members of the project team and collaborates to resolve conflicts.
  • Identifies appropriate regulatory requirements and applies good judgement to individual projects regarding design standards and permitting needs. Coordinates with all agencies and applies for all necessary permits and approvals in a timely manner.

 

Minimum Qualifications

  1. A Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture or a degree in any related field.
  2. Five years of progressively responsible architectural designer and/or construction manager experience that includes substantive work in the range of duties and responsibilities in this class specification.
  3. An equivalent combination of education and experience may be substituted, which together total 9 years.
  4. Valid Registered Professional Architect License issued by any state within the United States is required for eligibility.  A valid Registered Professional Architect License issued by the State of Maryland is required within six months of appointment to a position in this class.
  5. Valid driver’s license in accordance with both State and Commission rules and regulations.  Driver’s license must be unencumbered by restrictions, revocations, suspensions, or points that could limit the employee’s ability to drive Commission vehicles or perform driving duties required by the position of assignment.

 

Supplemental Information

Class/Specification: Architect

Preferred qualifications: 

  • Proficiency with use of technology: Databases, Microsoft Office Suite, ArcGIS, Bluebeam, AutoCAD, advanced graphic software, etc.
  • Knowledge of local, state, and federal government regulatory permitting associated with building and site development projects.
  • Knowledge of accessibility codes and standards.
  • Comprehensive professional knowledge of the concepts, principles, practices, and techniques of architecture.
  • Skill in using design and construction project management methods and techniques to manage a full range of projects.
  • Good working knowledge of directly related fields such as, but not limited to, landscape architecture, environmental, geo-technical, civil and structural engineering, and construction management.

The Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (M-NCPPC) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate a workplace culture of diversity, equity and inclusion without discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, or any other non-merit factor.