Architect

Competency Profile
Description of Work:
Positions in this class typically plan, design, manage, and review construction, development, or manipulation of the physical environment for
practical, esthetic, religious, or creative objectives, such as university facilities, office buildings, theaters, industrial facilities, landscaping,
and/or other physical property. They assess programmatic needs, available funding, site constraints, and regulatory requirements and
develop a design that addresses project requirements. They may analyze and/or review consultant firms construction and renovation plans
to ensure all plans are functional, safe, economical, and sufficient to meet the needs of the community. These positions are typically involved
in all phases of project development, from the initial programming and scope definition with the user groups and other stakeholders through
the entire construction process including close -out. These positions may be involved in obtaining construction bids, selecting contractors, and
negotiating construction contracts. After discussing and agreeing on the initial proposal, some may develop final construction documents
(drawings and specifications.) Typically included in these documents are: drawings of the structural system; air-conditioning, heating, and
ventilating systems; electrical systems; communications systems; plumbing, utility, site; landscaping, and/or related physical structures. The
documents specify the building materials and, in some cases, the interior furnishings. In developing designs, these positions follow building
codes, zoning laws, fire regulations, and other ordinances. As construction proceeds, they visit building construction sites to make sure that
contractors follow the design, adhere to the schedule, use the specified materials, and meet work quality standards. Positions within this
profession have similar job duties, but differ primarily in relation to the size, scope, and complexity of the projects they are assigned. Positions
at the highest levels tend to work on large scale projects and/or oversee programs that have a significant budgetary, economic,
organizational, and community impact

Contributing Journey Advanced

These individuals are normally involved in Individuals at this level are normally Individuals at this level may be expected to provide
the architectural design - of a limited or handling the coordination and planning building or renovation design solutions, coordinate
specialized range of architectural services. of mid-large scale renovation and or consult on large-scale construction projects;
Work is normally defined within a limited construction projects. Positions may act supervise/oversee lower level engineering,
range of physical structures, materials, as agency/university leads, project architectural, trades, and administrative staff. They
building materials, and coordination of managers, or supervisors of lower level will be directly involved in the long-term
services with a lesser range of professional or technical staff. They organizational or master planning and design and
professional, trades, and contractor directly work with agency and university construction. of facilities that have significant
considerations. This level is generally professionals, committees, advisory financial, economic, community, commercial, or
differentiated from the Journey by its lesser boards, and community officials to plan environmental impact. Given these positions level of
complexity of projects, scope, variety, architectural projects. This level of expertise, they will also typically be the University or
budgetary impact, and work is often competency is primarily differentiated agency initial contact for legal matters associated
conducted under the direction of higher from the Advanced by its lesser degree with construction and/or act as agency/university
level professionals, mangers, and/or of involvement the long-term professional representatives.
Directorial staff that are afforded the organizational planning of
decision making authority. campus/agency objectives, lesser or no
involvement in the development of
original designs, and lesser involvement
in the supervision of staff.
 Architect
Competency Profile
Competency Definition
Professional/Technical Knowledge A demonstrated understanding of building design and construction from site analysis and
programming through close out. Understanding of structural, mechanical, electrical,
communication, utility, plumbing, and/or architectural specialty systems/components.
Experience with administration and management of projects, customer service and guidance,
building specifications, permitting/safety, and land usage rules and regulations. And a
demonstrated understanding of the relationship between all organizational concepts.
Project Design, Development, Planning, The ability to analyze programmatic requirements and site and budget restraints to produce
and Analysis designs that address project criteria effectively. Alternately, to be able to assess consulting
design professionals proposed design solutions. The ability to develop project directives,
outlines, projections, budgetary estimates, time lines, resource studies, and strategies to meet
pertinent building/construction rules, regulations, and permitting.
Administration and Management Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning/problem
solving, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production
methods, budgetary analysis, and coordination of people and resources.
Communication The ability to understand and analyze projects and communication in either written, verbal, or
graphic representations for user groups, contractors, administrators, consultants, engineers, and
to a variety of non-professional contacts. The ability to present projects to advisory committees
or other large groups.

Note: Not all competencies apply to every position/employee; evaluate only those that apply. Competency statements are progressive.
 Architect
Competency Profile
Professional/Technical Knowledge
A demonstrated understanding of building design and construction from site analysis and programming through close out. Understanding of
structural, mechanical, electrical, communication, utility, plumbing, and/or architectural specialty systems/components. Experience with
administration and management of projects, customer service and guidance, building specifications, permitting/safety, and land usage rules
and regulations. And a demonstrated understanding of the relationship between all organizational concepts.

Contributing Journey Advanced

1. Applied understanding of a broad range 1 Applied understanding of a broad range 1. Applied understanding of a broad range of
of architectural concepts-including design of concepts, such as building and concepts, such as building and construction,
and construction, related engineering construction, design, engineering and design, engineering and technology, administration
fields, administration and customer - technology, administration and and management, mathematics, computers and
service, public safety and security, and management, mathematics, computers electronics, customer and personal service, public
applicable building codes and regulatory and electronics, customer and personal safety and security, and applicable safety/legal
considerations. service, public safety and security, and considerations.
applicable safety/legal considerations.

2. NA 2. Knowledge of business and 2. Extensive knowledge of business and

management principles involved in management principles involved in strategic
strategic planning, resource allocation, planning, resource allocation, human resources
human resources modeling, leadership modeling, leadership technique, production
technique, production methods, methods, community perceptions, standards, fiscal
budgeting and coordination of people and policies, and the overall objectives of the agency or
resources. university.
 Architect
Competency Profile

Project Design, Development, Planning, and Analysis

The ability to analyze programmatic requirements and site and budget restraints to produce designs that address project criteria effectively.
Alternately, to be able to assess consulting design professionals proposed design solutions. The ability to develop project directives, outlines,
projections, budgetary estimates, time lines, resource studies, and strategies to meet pertinent building/construction rules, regulations, and
permitting.

Contributing Journey Advanced

1 Architectural staff focused on projects of 1. Individuals are able to review and provide 1. Individuals are normally able to provide
limited size and complexity and/or a member guidance and direction to designers and building or renovation design solutions, and
of a larger team working on a particular contractors for med-large scale/complex can provide guidance and direction to
project/program, most commonly supervised projects; as well as provide guidance to consulting design professionals and
by an individual in a journey or advanced university or agency officials in the long-term contractors for med-large scale projects; and
position. development of buildings, facilities, roads, can provide guidance to university or agency
parking structures, or other planning officials in the long-term development of
regarding the physical environment. structures to meet specialized needs.

2. Positions are expected to analyze 2. These positions are agency or university 2. These positions are agency or university
agency/university programmatic needs main points of contact for the long-term main points of contact for the long-term
associated with a given project and see it to planning and development of projects. They planning and development of university or
completion. often act as leads for multiple med-large agency projects.
scale/complex projects, acting in an
administrative/ advisory/review capacity.
3. Work is generally conducted 3. Such positions will also provide guidance, 3. Positions may have supervisory or
independently, but subject to review of approval, and coordination assistance for oversight responsibilities including
higher-level staff, supervisors, or managers. alterations conducted by facilities, such as responsibility for reviewing the finish work of
office design changes, space planning, his/her subordinates, such as lower level
HVAC/Electrical system changes, and/or architects, engineers, technical staff, trades
related alterations to the original blueprints of staff, and contracted employees.
university or agency structures. They will also
be expected to review multi-project designs
schematics to anticipate structural issues that
may affect contracting estimates, project
budgets, time-lines, and related construction
implications.
 Architect
Competency Profile
4. see Contributing level 4. They are able to effectively assess the
4. Positions will normally be responsible for programmatic needs of the user groups and
coordinating the work of contractors and make recommendations for new large-scale
internal staff to complete projects of a limited projects.
size and complexity or in a specified range of
architecture.
5. NA 5. NA 5. Positions may generate project design and
documentation or may act as the final -
approval contact for projects designed by
consultant design professionals.
6. NA 6. NA 6. Positions normally have signature
authority on contractual services and/or able
to halt construction if the project is not being
completed in accordance with previous
determined budgets, plans, specifications, or
if extraneous issues are identified that he/or
she deems significant.
 Architect
Competency Profile

Administration and Management

Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning/problem solving, resource allocation, human resources
modeling, leadership technique, production methods, budgetary analysis, and coordination of people and resources.

Contributing Journey Advanced

1. Positions as this level provide professional 1. Positions as this level provide professional 1. Positions at this level actively manage and
services and are typically involved in all services and are typically involved in all coordinate multiple, varied, and/or large
phases of development, from the initial phases of development, from the initial scale new construction, renovation, repair,
discussion with the client through the entire discussion with the client through the entire and rehabilitation projects.
construction process for projects of a limited construction process.
size and scope.

2. Positions will provide guidance to 2. Positions will normally be expected to 2. Positions may be overseeing or
university/agency representatives, planners, handle project initiations, designer selections, supervising lower level architects,
budgeting, construction, landscaping, and/or and project planning. architectural technicians, specialists, or
grounds staff on the development of new related technical staff. Some job duties may
projects. be assigned to lower level staff by this
employee.

3. NA 3. Positions will complete reviews of projects 3. Positions tend to have significant fiscal
through all phases programming and site responsibilities associated with
analysis; schematic design; design projects/programs.
development; and construction
documentations.

4. NA 4. Positions may be required to coordinate 4. see Journey level

bidding activities with out-side contractors,
bid negotiations, and award contracts.
 Architect
Competency Profile
Communication
The ability to understand and analyze projects and communication in either written, verbal, or graphic representations for user groups,
contractors, administrators, consultants, engineers, and to a variety of non-professional contacts. The ability to present projects to advisory
committees or other large groups.

Contributing Journey Advanced

1. Able to effectively provide information to 1. Able to effectively provide information to 1. Positions are expected to effectively
supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates communicate with a broad range of
by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in agency/university officials and delegating
person. person. bodies. Positions will be expected to advise
and provide oversight for large-scale
projects and be able to effectively
communicate the long-term structural
objectives to the university, agency, or
governing bodies. Ability to present to
advisory committees or other large groups.
2. Able to actively listen to client needs and 2. Able to actively listen to client needs and 2. Positions will often be required and
concerns. concerns. afforded the authority to revise internal
policy and procedural. May make
recommendations to the state level.
3. NA 3. Positions may be required to be actively 3. see Contributing level
involved in advisory and planning boards for
the development and long-term planning of
large scale, physical structures, including but
not limited to facilities, roads, parking
lots/decks, etc.

Minimum Training and Experience:

Graduation from a four-year college or university with a degree relevant to the area of assignment and a minimum of one year of directly
related experience. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
Necessary Special Qualification -Positions require a valid license to practice architecture or landscape architecture granted by the North
Carolina Board of Architecture or the North Carolina Board of Landscape Architects.

Note: This is a generalized representation of positions in this class and is not intended to identify essential work functions per ADA.
Examples of competencies are primarily those of the majority of positions in this class, but may not be applicable to all positions.