Responsibilities

General Summary

The Design Architect is a skilled listener and collaboratively translates the needs and desires of a client into a memorable user experience. While responsible for leadership in discovery, feasibility and conceptualization, the Design Architect also guides the development and documentation of a project. The design architect offers new thinking, inspiration and motivation to internal teams and client groups alike.

Key Responsibilities

• Inspires and leads others in project team setting while under the guidance of the Director of Design

• Conceptualize design from both a functional and aesthetic perspective in concert with a client's requirements, budget and program

• Able to support the facilitation of stakeholder discovery workshops

• Understands and responds to the technical implications of design decisions

• Develops goals for excellence in design, execution, and sustainability

• Ability to engage in new thinking and critical thought

• Participates in marketing presentations and client meetings

• Coordinates contractors, consultants and vendor assignments

• May organize, direct and mentor junior staff

• Ability to check the work of others for accuracy and completeness and manage team to meet project budget and schedule

• Utilize BIM technologies in development of three-dimensional models of building and their components

• Leads design pin-ups and client presentations

• Understands complex facility program compilation, analysis and implementation

• Development of a design through hand sketches, physical models, electronic models, diagrams, massing studies, and other visual formats to express the design intent and communicate to project team, client, and building user groups

• Interpret and apply building codes and requirements of regulatory agencies in development of the building design

• Coordinate building systems (structural, mechanical, electrical, etc.) to ensure compatibility with the design intent

• Implement sustainable design principles into the building design and surrounding environment

• Develop building design in accordance with cost parameters

• Ensure that design intent is maintained through documentation and construction

• Ability to apply accessibility codes, applicable building codes, and life-safety codes to the design of a wide variety of project scopes and complexity

Qualifications

Education, Experience and Credentials

• 7-10 years of design experience required

• Architectural licensure must be in-progress or in-hand; ability to meet NCARB requirements for licensure in other states required

• LEED AP or WELL AP is preferred but intent to obtain either is a plus

• Architectural design leadership experience in commercial, workplace, multi-family residential, hospitality, institutional markets is preferred

• Degree in support of an Architectural license required (accredited Master's degree or 5 year Bachelor's degree)

• Proven experience with BIM software (Revit)

• Strong experience with design software (Twin Motion, Creative Cloud, Rhino, etc.) required

Overview

Since 1982, Ghafari Associates has taken a personal approach to highly technical projects in complex markets including: aviation, manufacturing, healthcare, retail, hospitality, K-12 and higher education. As a global team of engineers, architects, process designers, and consultants we blend insight with technological innovation helping clients elevate their efficiency, sustainability, and impact.

Continuously rated a Top Workplace to Work (https://topworkplaces.com/company/ghafari-associates-l-l/freep/) , Crain’s Cool Place to Work (https://www.crainsdetroit.com/cool) , and a Best and Brightest (https://www.ghafari.com/news-and-views/ghafari-is-a-best-and-brightest-company-in-detroit-chicago-west-michigan) company to work for in the US, Ghafari has made a name for itself through our culture, employee benefits, and portfolio of projects (https://www.ghafari.com/projects) .

Over a quarter of Ghafari employees have diverse identities that are championed by our growing approach to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. We provide flexible work environments allowing team members a schedule that benefits them, whether it is fully remote, hybrid or an in-office experience.

Through career mapping, Ghafari employees are encouraged to seek licensure, coached for knowledge growth, and provided opportunities for management and mentorship roles if interested. Our robust internship program recognizes undergraduate and graduate students from across the world, having an over 90% success rate of hiring our interns after graduation.

Join our team and work on forward-thinking projects all around the world. Ghafari’s global reach creates an environment where individuals can build professional relationships while building sustainable and cutting-edge facilities. Are you ready to take that leap? Apply now! (https://www.ghafari.com/join-the-team)

Ghafari Associates, LLC is an Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action employer and is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to individuals with disabilities in the employment application process. If you need an accommodation due to a disability in order to use our online system to apply for a position at Ghafari Associates, LLC, you may apply for positions in the following ways:

Connect to our job portal (https://ghafari.jobs)

By fax at 313.436.8624; Attn: Human Resources

By mail at 17101 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126; Attn: Human Resources

In person at 17101 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI 48126.

By email at hr@ghafari.com

If there are any questions or additional accommodations that are required, please contact 313.441.3000 for assistance.

It is Ghafari Associates, LLC’s policy not to discriminate in its employment and personnel practices because of a person’s race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, age, weight, height, marital, pregnancy or parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (including family medical history), political affiliation, military service, status as a qualified individual with a disability or a protected veteran, or any other classification protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance.

Working Options

Fully Remote, Hybrid, In Office

Job ID 2022-2065

Job Location US-MI-Grand Rapids

Category Architecture